Lifter tick

[Huw Powell]

> After some enlightenment by listers and some careful listening under
> the hood, it definitely seems to be the vacuum pump.  I should've
> known regular ol' lifter tick wouldn't make that kind of noise.

> That said, what are some of the pro and cons (if any) to removing the
> pushrod from the vacuum pump?  Will it hinder braking performance at
> all?

What the vacuum pump gives you is braking boost when there is no intake 
manifold vacuum - ie, when your right foot is down, too.

On my 82 coupe, which has no pump anyway, and on my 89 90Q, which lost 
its pump years ago due to ugliness, if I experiment with braking while 
revving at 3k or so, I get about 3 pumps before the pedal gets much stiffer.

In "normal" driving, there is no noticeable effect at all.

If your racing plans involve heel & toe braking, etc., you might want to 
consider having it in there.  You could, as you say, simply reinstall it 
for race days.  You could also try to fix it.  I have read in these 
pages that the clatter is due to oil building up on the other side of 
the vacuum pump and that it can be cleaned out.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/