Offroad-Express

Break light on dash locked on today.Missus kids in truck.Noticed a loose hose from vacum pump on rear of alternator.No clamps on this hose.Replaced said hose ,carried on my way.Went to break on a corner,foot break peddle would not depress.Pull over again.Same hose had come off,this time engine oil comming out of vacuum supply pipe.Got towed home.Oil warning light never activated.Placed clamps on hose.Topped up oil.Still no joy with depressing foot break peddle.Anyone know what may have gone wrong.What can be done.Does this sound expensive?
Cheerz in advance fella`s..

Have you replaced your pads recently? I had a problem a while back where I couldn't press the brake pedal down, it was caused by me replacing the pads.

The level of the brake fluid in the reservoir was too high.... just a thought...

It helps to know what vehicle we are discussing.
The Brake warning light can be H/Brake on, Low Brake Fluid, or, on a diesel, low vacuum. Check for vacuum at the pump, should be about 20 inches mercury. Check for other hoses off, they perish, check that the spline on the rear of the alternator that drives the V/pump hasn't stripped
J Top

Hi JTop.Truck is a Patrol.Will pass on your advice to the mechanic on Tuesday.

hows the clutch working - it should be vac assisted too , engine oil in the vac supply sounds pretty wierd- the pump is supposed to create vaccuum by pumping from tanks under the bonnet throught the pump into the crank case, if theres oil in those lines somthing has gone seriously wrong, i would take a good look at the vac pump on the back of the alternator

Clutch worked OK on the day.Thing is after taking of the lids on the clutch and break resverior`s and pumping the break foot peddle.I noticed the fluid in the clutch reservior was black.Any ideas what might be up?

Almost sounds like the seal into the vaccum pump has gone, and somehow the cooling oil fed to the pump as getting forced through to all the components that use it - although isn't there normally a filter or a one-way valve to stop this? And isn't the vaccum assy no the clutch and brake master cylinders separate from the hydraulic section?

Sounds very very odd.

Water and dirt in the brake / clutch fluids will make it appear black - how black is it when on your finger?

...just some random thoughts... wierd...

Steve

Black is just old age, import regs require brake fluid to be changed when the vehicle is first vin' ed but no one ever changes clutch fluid.
The vacuum pump is pressure fed from the engine oil galleries, if a seal fails the oil can go through the alt or elsewhere.
With lack of servicing, ie Safari imports there can be high wear in the pump. Pumps are available new apart from Ni$$an.
J Top

JTop,you`re onto it.Spline on rotor shaft pooped itself.The mechanic got a replacement alt & V/Pump from a wreckers($350).He said Repco wanted nearly $1000:00 for the same parts.$525 all up with labour.Thanx for the advice everyone.Clutch fluid seems OK now as well.