Brake servo corroded (MOT)

[K clio]

MOT on 2004 Clio advisory brake servo corroded. Is this likely to cause problems soon? Is it an easy or difficult job to change it? Or is it likely I can easily access to rust kill and paint without removing much?

 

[JackJack]

Could just be someone has spilled brake fluid on it which has taken the paint off and mad it rust, so yeah your fix could work. Post up a picture of it.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Most brake servos are rusty.

 

[Touring_Rob]

Most will be minging mate, especially at the bottom.

They are easy to access and sort if you take the engine out first.

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

I've been doing some rust treatment on my 172. I'll add this to the areas to i need to go and check...

 

[K clio]

They are easy to access and sort if you take the engine out first.

So it's best to just leave it until it fails the MOT (in another 10 years)?

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

So it's best to just leave it until it fails the MOT (in another 10 years)?

I'd slap some rust converter on, then a coat of hammerite. Should give you another 20 years.

 

[K clio]

I don't want to take the engine out!

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

I've not tried this yet, but I'd try getting a hand to it either from the wheel arch or from underneath.

 

[K clio]

I'll try that, and stick a paintbrush on a stick if necessary

 

[Touring_Rob]

I'm only half joking. If you take the drivers side wheel off and liner you can get a good look at it, enough to give it a bit of a clean up:

The half not joking:

 

[K clio]

Do many of them fail due to rust damage or is it mostly just cosmetic, cause I don't really want to bother if it's thick enough metal to last.

 

[Touring_Rob]

How bad is it?

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

Rust can go from unsightly to catastrophic suprisingly quickly and at usually at an inconvenient time, so for the sake of 45 minutes I'd give it a clean and a brush and slap some hydrate 80 on it.

 

[K clio]

Its quite greasy around the reservoir - looks like someone spilt a bit when refilling. I can't see the servo properly from the engine bay, will look sometime when I have the wheel off. Definitely can't access it from the engine bay

 

[K clio]

If I use spray gunk engine foam degreaser around it with a toothbrush to remove the fluid, and then use a spray bottle of warm water to wash it off, it's ok isn't it? There's no electrics round there?

 

[Bankrupt_drunk]

That'll be fine. I usually use brake cleaner...

 

[K clio]

Had a look yesterday and quite a bit of rust on the bottom of it. Will def rust treat it this weekend. Can access half of it easily by taking one clip off the liner and bending the liner back. The inside half I'll have to get at from underneath. Glad the MOT highlighted this as it def needs treated. MOT also highlighted slight rust on the shocks which I'll also treat, but nothing like as bad as the rust on the brake servo.

If the servo ever needs replaced can it be replaced from the side and underneath without taking the engine out. Is £250 a rough garage price for getting it done or would it be more?

 

[K clio]

Looked worse than it was, surface rust, looked like from fluid spilling when filling. Not easy to access but managed with a small wire brush, coat of kurust and a coat of black hammerite. Should last longer than the rest of the car now.