Brake servo/valve issues? 02 hdi auto

[bunglebungle]

HI, apologies this is my first post, I have been seraching through the forum and saw similar issues but wanted people's thoughts.

This morning I pulled my handbrake too hard and it's gone floppy, not a big deal I can sort that.

Co-incidently Ive noticed my brakes have gone hard (this cant be related can it?)

I know all the brakes are in working condition, just passed it's mot and had new pads etc and an inspection.

Here's what's happeneing:

Start car with foot on brake, pedal depresses slowly by an inch or so.

Engage Drive but only lift off the brake enough so the car goes forward, brakes work fine and are sharp.

Now do the same but when pull off, lift foot from pedal completly, then re-apply and they are rock solid and take massive effort to bring the car to a stop.

Im a novice DIY'er but I like to get my hands dirty and read up, It's obviously servo related I reckon? unlikely to be the servo itself?

I know there was a recall on the non return valve? is this the round rubber connector directly attached to the top left of the servo? should I remove this and the pipes attached and do the "blow" test to make sure it's one way?

Any other ideas where to start looking?

many thanks in advance

[trem1]

could be the vac pump. thats been known to cause this issue before and a very simple fix, if im right of course

[bunglebungle]

any idea where to start diagnosing that? I understand its at the end of the camshaft?

also, following some advice of a post on a different forum with someone with a similar issue:

"pump brake as before start engine then turn engine off while holding brake pedal down.Does the the pedal push your foot back up ? if it does you have a vacuum leak"

When I do this the pedal does push my foot back up when I turn the engine off, albeit slowly.

So indicative of a vacuum leak somewhere?

Also, I have performed the following test which according to another site means I have a faulty master cylindeR?

Turned engine on
Push HARD on brake pedal

and the brake pedal slowly depresses down for 10 secs

When it does this there is what only can be described as an electrical groaining whine coming from near where the servo is (I think) it stops if i take my foot off

[bunglebungle]

I have just checked out the pipes they all look good.

Did the following test, if this shines any light?:

Got the better half to start engine and applied brakes hard

I held my head under the bonnet

As soon as she lifted off the brakes there was a wooosh noise like a release of air from near the servo, does the same every time

is this normal?