Brakes failing on 1974 504D

Hi. I live in the US.

I took my beloved 1974 504D four door to the local gas station
mechanic, after the brake pedal began to get a bit stiff and the
brakes stopped working as well as they should (to the point where it
would take 2 or 3 times as long in terms of distance to come to a
stop).

The mechanic does not get any other Peugeot's besides mine, but has
worked on mine before. He said he thinks the "air pressure" pump is
failing and I need to buy a new one from Paris.

Someone else (over Internet) has told me that it needs a "vacuum
pump". Someone at a Peugeot parts store in Spain (who I reached
through a friend that lives there) said that it actually needs a
"replacement water pump" (that doesn't make ANY sense).

Any ideas/suggestions?

Jerome

 

Hello,

From what you wrote above, it may well be the vacuum pump, used to create
the depression for the powerbraking (aka Mastervac). First check the belt
(and I assume it's OK) and the couple of pipes.
Then look for a pump.

HTH,

 

May be he needs a water pump for his car and your going to pay for it
hahahaha

 

Hi,

Eeer, well, no, I won't pay for that
I guess there was a misunderstanding between "vacuum" and "water", or
something.
I'll add this kind of vacuum pumps (belt-driven & membrane type) was very
common because the only one type fit until the beginning of the 90's, which
doesn't make it easier to source in northern America - though being the same
than on 505's, which was the most sold Pug in the USA*.

* and even the very first TD ever produced were reserved for export in the
USA, partly because of the NYC & LA cabs market won by the 505 TD in 1979,
resulting in something like 5-6k units. May well be one of, if not the cause
for the EPA rules change in 1983, too.

Regards,

 

In the UK the membrane (diaphragm) was available as a spare part - not
difficult to change and cheap.

Julian.

 

Hi,

It seems it was the case in France too, the fixing kit (membrane, bolts and
some other stuff) was available at least at Pug's under P/N 4599.11 (for
models until Jan 1984) or 4599.24 (beyond 01/84).

Il could well be a pain to source in the US, though.

Regards,

 

Possibly best to source it in Europe esp France/UK. Posting it to US
should be cheap enough.

Bob

 

It seems that this was a belt-drive vacuum pump after all.
I was able to convince a friend of mine to purchase this part.
I left it with the mechanic this morning -- hopefully it will not cost
too much to actually do the work.

Now I am left with possibly replacing the "seals" in the engine and/or
oil pan, as the car is leaking about a quart of oil per week. Any
suggestions?

 

Check the leak is not from the oil pressure switch. I have had several
leak on different cars.