Was giving my son a driving lesson in a car park and after some kangarooing he said the brakes weren't working properly.  I had a check and they were just about able to stop the car at slow speeds but the pedal was hard and needed a lot of strength to get anywhere near half decent braking.

Had a check and the vacuum pipe from the servo that runs behind the engine was split and loose on the right hand side where it meets the engine block,  I had some electrical tape so temporarily repaired it and it held a vacuum long enough for me to try every scrap-yard within about 40 miles of where I live with no joy.

Ended up getting one from the main dealers for £36 and replaced it in a few minutes.

Just thought I'd share incase anyone else gets this issue.  A new servo fitted is about £400 inc. labour so always worth checking the vacuum pipe.

As a side note, while removing the old pipe I noticed the left hand side that goes into the servo was also split and taped up with black tape and had been that way for the 3 years I've had this car, so a flimsy bit of tape had been keeping my brakes working  (and me and my family alive) for 3 years!  Never picked up on an MOT either...

Thanks for posting this. It's not just a Roomster issue and it's not just a recent issue.

 

I bet the replacement you got looked exactly the same as the original? Same materials, same unreinforced push-fit connections over hose barbs?

 

There have been recalls for this on some of the VAG brands, but not others even though they use the identical part/part number. No recalls on Skodas AFAIK.

 

I've found several in shocking condition while doing jobs on friends cars; you'd've thought they would have improved the design or materials by now, but replacements still seem identical.

Here are some scary examples that make me check these servo hoses with fingertips on any VW group car I open the bonnet of;

 

 

7 hours ago, joeski said:

my son a driving lesson in a car park and after some kangarooing he said the brakes weren't working properly.

Well. other than the repair the other critical point to take from this is that a failed vacuum servo pressure assist does not stop the brakes working, you just have to push the pedal (much) harder.

12 hours ago, Wino said:

I bet the replacement you got looked exactly the same as the original? Same materials, same unreinforced push-fit connections over hose barbs?

 

Yep, it looked the same as the old one, just not split (yet)