vacuum pump

[dyoungen]

How do I tell what type of vacuum pump I have? My Jetta is a 1985 Jetta Delux n/a with a 5 speed and very little brakes.

[Turbinepowered]

If it looks like you have a small soup can sitting where a gas car would have a distributor, you have a rotary vane vacuum pump.

If you have a funky looking contraption like a UFO turned on its side and hanging off a shaft, with a box on the other side, you have a diaphragm pump.

[vanbcguy]

If it looks like you have a small soup can sitting where a gas car would have a distributor, you have a rotary vane vacuum pump.

If you have a funky looking contraption like a UFO turned on its side and hanging off a shaft, with a box on the other side, you have a diaphragm pump.

BEST DESCRIPTION EVAAAAAAARRR!!!!!!!!!! 

[Turbinepowered]

If it looks like you have a small soup can sitting where a gas car would have a distributor, you have a rotary vane vacuum pump.

If you have a funky looking contraption like a UFO turned on its side and hanging off a shaft, with a box on the other side, you have a diaphragm pump.

BEST DESCRIPTION EVAAAAAAARRR!!!!!!!!!! 

*Takes a bow* Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week!

[dyoungen]

Thanks guys, looks like I have the rotary vane vacuum pump. Can these be rebuilt or do they have to be replaced?

[jseeley]

Thanks guys, looks like I have the rotary vane vacuum pump. Can these be rebuilt or do they have to be replaced?

They can be rebuilt (I hear this a regular maintenance with the rotary pumps) I have a vane pump so I dunno too much else about them.

http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volkswagen/Golf/Engine/416/1

[rabbitman]

IFAIK vane pumps never fail and therefore aren't rebuildable .

Diaphragm pumps otoh fail yearly

[Turbinepowered]

Check all your vacuum hose connections and bleed the brakes before you go shotgunning parts at the system.

As state, the rotary vane pumps are practically indestructable, and very rarely fail. Replacing a good pump with another good pump when it's a crack in the big fat vac hose to the booster that's the problem does nothing but lighten your wallet.

[ldeikis]

What sort of very little brakes do you have? (just to make sure we're all beating the same bush).

When the vacuum pump is kaput (or the hoses leaking horribly) the car stops fine, you just have to push like all hell on the pedal.   The pedal, in turn, feels about as giving as a brick.  Instead of going down firmly like normal, it feels like you're stepping on a...  softball maybe?  There's just the tiniest bit of give.

The vane pumps are supposed to be invincible, so look hard elsewhere before spending money.  Also, because they're invincible, they're plentiful in junkyards etc (unless someone with an earlier car swiped it--they're a straight drop in on mk1s).  PartsPlace etc sell them for an awful lot of money, but you should be able to score one used without huge difficulty.

Luke

[8v-of-fury]

for picture reference..



Rotary/Vane on top, Diaphragm on bottom

[Rabbit on Roids]

put a TB cover on that thing jeremy. it will thank you next time a rock comes up that way.

[8v-of-fury]

put a TB cover on that thing jeremy. it will thank you next time a rock comes up that way.

Haahaa NO WAY kevo I rock the no cover styleee.. I just need to get it cleaned, prepped and painted and its back on (after then engine gets a huge degrease lol