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How a vacuum brake servo/booster works.
Disc Brakes - An explanation of a disc brake system including drum in disc park brake.
Disc Brakes/Calipers - An explanation of how disc brakes and calipers work including sliding calipers
Twin Leading & Leading Trailing Drum Brakes
Split/Divided Hydraulic braking systems on modern cars
A Vaccum Servo also known as a power booster or power brake unit uses a vacuum to multiply the drivers pedal effort and apply that effort to the master cylinder.
The Servo unit is situated between the brake pedal and the master cylinder, and is failsafe. If the source of vacuum is lost or the unit fails for any other reason, there is a physical connection between the pedal and the master cyclinder allowing the brakes to be applied, however, without assistance the braking force is reduced and the stopping distance will in turn increase.
How to test a Vacuum Brake Servo/Booster.
There are a couple of simple tests that can be carried out to determine the operation and servicability of the vacuum servo unit.
These tests can be carried out while sitting in the drivers seat and will show the vacuum servo's ability to boost the drivers efforts and retain vacuum in the event of a vacuum pump failure.
