Coupé brakes vacuum pump: is it indispensable?

[Maxmax]

Hi all,
I'm finding fantastic amounts of info in this forum on our Dinos.
I'm starting to go for some more serious restaurations on my 2.4 coupé.
I realize that my brake vacuum pump doesn't work any more, probably since a long time. I'm checking all the parts, electrical and mechanical.
But the question is: does this pump is really that necessary? My circuit shows good vacuum and the car brakes satisfactorily.
Does anyone is driving without the pump working?
Cheers
Massimo

[Gaelicguy]

Bom dia Massimo,
I think you will probably not get the response you’re looking for on this forum. What you’re asking for is validation that it’s safe to drive a car with a major component missing. If you are serious about the restoration, rebuilding the brake system is a vital part of the job. You cannot expect 60 year old components to be reliable without renewal.
The servo is not easy to get out if it’s just that part you want to service. I would say at least 4-5 hrs work if you are not pulling the dash of first.
But when it is out it can be completely restored for about €350 assuming the master cylinder does not need replacing. That’s inexpensive “peace of mind”
Just my humble opinion
Michael

[Maxmax]

OK, I'm refurbishing the system anyway.
My comment was just that I had the car with the pump working and with the pump not working and that it seems hard to notice a difference in braking.
By the way, the technical info indicates that the pump works only for a maximum 12 seconds each cycle, so it is clearly not designed to compensate for leaks.
My car has a robust depression from the engine alone.
I still wonder if all this complexity is it is worthwhile .
Cheers
Massimo

[agnatus]

Bom dia Massimo,
I think you will probably not get the response you’re looking for on this forum. What you’re asking for is validation that it’s safe to drive a car with a major component missing. If you are serious about the restoration, rebuilding the brake system is a vital part of the job. You cannot expect 60 year old components to be reliable without renewal.
The servo is not easy to get out if it’s just that part you want to service. I would say at least 4-5 hrs work if you are not pulling the dash of first.
But when it is out it can be completely restored for about €350 assuming the master cylinder does not need replacing. That’s inexpensive “peace of mind”
Just my humble opinion
Michael

@Gaelicguy:

It's not about the brake booster, but about the vacuum pump for the brake booster.
That's a part that doesn't exist in the Fiat Dino Spider 2000, like the one you have.
Of course, the braking system works without an "additional" vacuum pump; it works in the other Dino models, too.
But if Fiat installed the part back then, they must have known why they did it, and it must have served a purpose.

So I would definitely repair or replace it.

[Maxmax]

Thank you Agnatus.
My point is just that we cannot see a difference in braking with and without the pump working.
And I belive that many 2.4 Coupé out there have the pump not working without knowing this.
Cheers