Charlie,
Actually, most Diesel-powered vehicles DO have vacuum available, butit comes
from a vacuum pump, not the manifold. A vacuum source is necessaryfor the brake
booster, and often for the A/C & heater controls. Even my VW RabbitDiesels had a
vacuum pump.

Sounds like the system worked well, but based on my experience withbrakes, I can
certainly see the problems. Hydraulic brakes are a PITA on a vehiclethat sits
much of the time. Once the vehicle is a few years old, the pistonstend to sieze
in the cylinders, making the brakes inoperative or draggy; I've hada couple of
pickup trucks that had problems like that. No brakes at all until youreally push
on the pedal, then BANG, they're on, and they don't release when youraise your
foot.

OTOH: From what I see of the electric brakes on my A/S (my first actual
experience with electrics), they look to be pretty reliable and muchless likely
to have problems due to sitting for 6 months at a time. The previousowner of my
trailer never used the brakes (and owned it for 3 years), but the guybefore him
had lightly greased all of the pivot points. If the RH magnet hadn'tbeen smoked,
I have no doubt that the brakes would have worked just fine.
 

Charlie/Betty Burke wrote:

>
> vacuum, typically at the power brake booster. No diesels need apply.The rear
> vacuum fitting had a check valve to prevent loose of tow vehiclevacuum. To

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