This 'pedal goes down on start up < with pressure applied to the pedal >
is THE 'classic brake booster test' ...
going back in automotive diagnostics to the 50's or so,
when what we regard as conventional vacuum brake boosters became
standard and common. ( there are other types of power brake systems
besides what our vanagons use ).

you can also operate the pedal several times before starting the engine
to bleed off stored vacuum,
then do the test as above.

scott

On 6/1/2014 6:44 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Doing what it should, helping you push the pedal down.
>
> Dennis,
> >From my phone.
> ________________________________
> From: David Parsons<mailto:bugnut1@COMCAST.NET>
> Sent: ‎6/‎1/‎2014 9:52 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Brake booster?
>
> I'm looking at a 81 vanagon. It's got good brake pedal with the vehicle off. When you start it the pedal travel goes way down? Bad booster? Can I plug off the Vacuum line and drive without the booster? I did it with a 71 bus for a while.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>