Daughter's car brakes went from power brakes to barely manual on her way here. Son in law had just done the front pads this past weekend, his first time ever. So dad ends up double checking his work which was just fine and the head scratching begins.

Turns out this is a common problem with this model and a new one on dad.

I suspected something around the booster as dad knows old V8s and vacuum lines off the carb and intake but this one's got none of that. Turns out this one has a turbo four banger with a vacuum pump operated off the exhaust cam and this pump has a known tendency to seize and grenade inside the valve cover.

I've tore into it enough to confirm that this in fact has occurred by pulling the cam sensor and taking a peek inside to see a fresh break on the pump housing.

Now I'm wondering just what downstream damage I may possible encounter with loose bits of aluminum pot metal in the valve train. Possibles that come to mind are potential cam/valve timing due to the cam hitting the resistance of a seized pump to even timing issues at the chain on the other end of the cam. I'm assuming, more like hoping, that it escaped that as it was driven into the yard and seemed to run just fine.

Seems like this is a common issue as my research found a class action suit in process and calls for recall.

Oh, and the process for a simple three bolt removal and replacement of the pump itself starts with removal of everything on top to include wiring harness, evac lines, coil packs, fuel line and rails, throttle body and air tube, battery and associated power and fuse boxes, turbo coolant line and associated parts just to remove the valve cover to clean out the bits and pieces. Then putting all the above back together with a new two piece valve cover gasket just to slide in the new pump and three bolts. A new pump that more than likely will grenade at some time in the future.

Meanwhile this is her only ride that she still owes on. Being Dad never ends I guess.