2001 Volkswagen Passat 'Y' reg Passat brake pedal needs to

Tiny
ARTHUR BOLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 91,770 MILES
My son owns a 2001 reg VW Passat saloon 1984cc manual. He experienced high fuel use when having driven the car 5 to 7 miles and it had warmed up. He could smell the brakes when he checked and found them very hot, so the brakes are locking on. To releasethe brakes the pedal has to be pulled up about an inch and a half then the car drives great and the brake lights go off until you brake again and the same thing happens. He took the car to Kwik fit in his area and they advised changing the pads front and rear and also the discs (rotas?) On the front, this was done and there was no inprovement. He took car back and the fobbed him off with a story and did a free CO2 test and said that the Catylic Convertor could be braking up? My son is not Mechanical, so I advised taking the car back and demanding refits or rechecks of the full system, my son did not do as told. I ended examing the vehicle after 4 months and found the battery dead and this brake pedal problem. A new battery was fitted and the car is running well except for the need to pull the brake pedal up after use! I have checked the vaccum pipes to the servo unit and around the engine the non-return valve is okay and the brakes work fine. One of the guys from kwik fit said there was a recall on this car for the servo unit air release valve, but I have checked this and VW say no, no recall for this car. Is there something I've missed on the servo unit side?
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Saturday, August 14th, 2010 AT 5:06 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
Hello .. thanks for the donation .. much appreciated

There are no recalls for the braking system on this vehicle ... I would replace the brake servo/booster it could be the return spring inside the servo/booster is worn damaged ? also check the pedal return spring is good ?


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Saturday, August 14th, 2010 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
ARTHUR BOLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for your reply, I have considered renew of servo unit, but seems a big job, anyway the spring on the brake pedal is that on the brake, clutch mounting assembly on the rod or spindle that carries the two pedals? Does it mean removing the brake master cylinder as well?

Thanks, AB
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Sunday, August 15th, 2010 AT 6:43 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS


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Monday, August 23rd, 2010 AT 3:54 AM
Tiny
ARTHUR BOLTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have repaired the car, I replaced the Servo unit (booster) and the master cylinder and the stop switch. The problem was the rod connecting from brake pedal to servo had become dislodged from it's position inside the unit. It should have been sealed to the servo unit but had seperated, the spring that returns the pedal that last inch or so had rusted and had no pressure on it, it had come away from the back support on the end of the servo unit mounting. It was a straight forward job to do, the brake pedal has a plastic housing inside the folcrum which is a bit a fiddly to rest in position and make sure you adjust the rod lenght before you try and fit it. The plastic windscreen cover above the servo brake unit had to be split to accept the unit, I just silisconed it up after and it looks fine. The stop switch was in a bad state and was easy the replace and adjust. The brakes work great and the stop lights work when they should. Total cost for parts  253.00 Inclusive of vat.
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Sunday, September 12th, 2010 AT 4:50 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,383 POSTS
Thanks for letting us know your final fix .. please use our forum again in the future should the need arise and spread the word to family and friends.

Happy motoring


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Sunday, September 12th, 2010 AT 2:02 PM

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