brakes when engine is off

[eskimodoodle]

Was parked on a steep hill the othe day and noticed when engine is off the brakes were not working and would roll down backwards ( hand brake down / neatural and just foot on brake)
Pedal was extremely hard and had no play .

When engine was turned on the brakes started working immedietley and pedal feel was normal

normaly you would stil be able to hold the vehicle on brakes when engine is off yes ?

[Jim Archer]

Engine off means no vacuum servo assist after a couple of operations of the pedal, or you have a vacuum leak that the pump can just about cope with.

Jim

[dumper]

Yes as Jim says I agree but for you not able to hold it on the foot brake with the engine off I’d be thinking that you’re brakes are not very good or you are unable to put enough pressure on the pedal you should still be able to stop the van with the engine off but at a longer distance.

[Jim Archer]

Agreed. The handbrake should be able to hold the vehicle unless it was a very steep slope, that all 4 calipers couldn't halt the roll reasonably quickly suggests there is piston siezing issues.

Jim

[eskimodoodle]

thanks

The handbrake has got a litle weak and on a very steep hill it does not hold hence I noticed brake pedal not holding when engine is off .
Pedal gets solid until engine is tuned on then gets soft .

I'll get it checked out or is there a way of checking brake servo myself ?

thanks

[knobby1]

thanks

The handbrake has got a litle weak and on a very steep hill it does not hold hence I noticed brake pedal not holding when engine is off .
Pedal gets solid until engine is tuned on then gets soft .

I'll get it checked out or is there a way of checking brake servo myself ?

thanks

Your brake servo is working as it should, with the engine off, you'll get no servo assistance...pedal will be...and should be solid. I'd be checking all the rotors, calipers and pads for strangeness.

Handbrake cables and levers on the calipers all free to move..???

Lord Knobrot