What Causes Air Leakage in a Vacuum Booster Pump?
2 Answers
Specific reasons are as follows: 1. Lack of necessary maintenance on the braking system, excessive impurities in the master cylinder, poor sealing, vacuum booster pump failure, excessively dirty brake fluid or mixed use of several types of brake fluid leading to vapor lock when heated, leakage in the master cylinder or wheel cylinder, air leakage in the air reservoir or pipeline connections. 2. Component failure due to improper operation. 3. Severe overload increases the vehicle's motion inertia under the effect of gravitational acceleration, directly leading to brake failure. Extension: Introduction: The brake booster pump, commonly known as the brake assist pump, controls the vacuum entering the booster pump during braking to move the diaphragm. Through a linkage device, the push rod on the diaphragm assists the driver in stepping on and pushing the brake pedal, thereby amplifying the force exerted by the driver on the pedal.
Last year I encountered a vacuum booster pump air leakage issue, where the brake pedal felt spongy and scary when pressed. The most common cause is aging and cracking of rubber seals, especially in older cars that have been driven for seven or eight years. The high temperatures in the engine bay can harden and crack the rubber. Another issue could be sand holes or cracks in the booster pump housing, caused by casting defects or winter freeze cracks. The vacuum tube connected to the intake manifold is also prone to problems—it can get burned by the turbo or the hose clamp may loosen, causing a hissing air leak. If you often notice unstable engine idling, it might be due to a vacuum leak leading to an overly lean air-fuel mixture. Don’t underestimate this issue—when the brake booster fails, you’ll need to use all your strength to press the pedal, which is extremely dangerous on the highway. If you notice the brakes becoming harder or hear air leakage sounds, check the vacuum lines immediately.
