Scudo brake servo renewal

[uglymug]

hi all, my citroen dispatch has had to go to the great yard in the sky, so have bought a cracking Fiat Scudo to replace it. Its a '56 plate 2.0l JTD. Very pleased with it so far. Anyway when I bought it a few days ago it came with a brake problem. Thought it was a leaking servo pipe, just a quick change etc. Now after all the checks I think it has turned out to be the servo. Previous owner has been a good boy and fitted new vacuum pump/booster at £125. Not this as it holds -30inHg vacuum, so does all pipes right down to the servo when engine running. Holds vacuum so non-return check valve is working. Use the brake and it tails off to zero very quickly. Take foot off and comes back. This has the effect of when using the brakes the effort needed increases as vacuum is lost, ie pedal gets harder to push.
Now before the dispatch went to the graveyard I did manage to have a look at getting the servo out. Not easy but do-able if you can cut a nice 4 inch square hole in the bulkhead over the back of the servo from inside the van. Its a potch but can be done. I did it in 2 hrs.
Anyway question is, am I definetely 100% in the right direction or do I need to check something else, have done a few searches on forums etc but no one has a definitive answer.

p.s I dont know if owner has changed brake pads and forced caliper piston in forcing the seals to go in the master cylinder, (common problem) but i would not think this has any effect on the loss of vacuum.............................................cheers

[GreenV8S]

uglymug said:

Use the brake and it tails off to zero very quickly.

'It' being braking effort, or vacuum?

[imagineifyeswill]

Ive changed a servo on a Scudo once and certainly dont want to do another, it was an absolute pig of a job mainly due to the remote operation, pedals on o/s servo on nearside with linkage across the bulkhead, if I remember correctly it was this linkage that made it so difficult.

[uglymug]

hi, the loss of vacuum means more of an effort to push the brake pedal, all of us who can remember driving the old cars without a servo will know. I know its not the linkage and assy as that all works. What I cant fathom out is the servo is losing vacuum as soon as pedal is depressed, then goes back up when released. Maybe there is a pin hole in the servo diaphragm etc.
I think I will take the plunge and fit a different servo, if I'm wrong will buy a box of Swan Vesta's.....LOL.............