[Vwdiesel] vacuum pump

[Roger Brown]

Newer style vane pump is an option.

For the diaphram pump, consider adding a bypass hose from the crank case outlet line to 
the valve cover.  VW used to offer a special hose for that, but you can add one with a 
couple of tee fittings.  One at the vacuum pump and one at the valve cover breather then 
add a hose between the two.  I did something like that on my '82 (1.9D engine) and had it 
on my old '81 (no photo though):
	http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/Images/vw82_engine.jpg
On my old ;'81, I went though pump rebuilds (usually the valve kit and one time the 
diaphram kit) every few months.  I think there was some very intermittent blowby out of 
the crank case that would hit the pump and damage the plastic valves.  Alternately, the 
oil mist out of the crankcase would condense in the pump and that oil ate up the rubber 
diaphram.  After rebuilding my pump the last time and adding the breather hose, never had 
a vacuum pump problem with that engine again.


On 12/2/2012 7:17 PM, Scott Alexander wrote:
> Just got my '82 Rabbit Diesel back from the mechanic who did the valves.  It's amazing how much that's improved things.
>
> However, within a day of getting it back, I think I've had the vacuum pump go bad again.  Yesterday I had power brakes on the first press and had to really stand on the pedal if I wanted to brake again in quick succession.  Today, I'm standing on the pedal every time I want to stop.  I need to get a moment to do a more thorough job of checking to make sure that there's not a leak somewhere, but a quick check didn't show any loose hoses.
>
> Assuming it's the diaphragm yet again, this one last only about 10 months.  Given that, I'm wondering if there's a better answer.  Is there a source for diaphragms that hold up?  Alternatively, is there some sort of conversion that's more durable, perhaps to an electric pump?  Obviously, this isn't one of the hardest repairs to perform, but I also hate that sense of surprise when the brakes don't work the way that I expect.
>
> Thanks,
> Scott Alexander
> Warren, NJ

-- 

   Roger