Volvo: stalls when braking, volvo 240 dl, engine vacuum

Question
I have a 1986 Volvo 240 DL. Several months ago I experienced ignition problems (first it wouldn't start in damp weather, and then not at all), so I had a friend experienced in Volvo repair look at it. He adjusted the timing, and it started with no problem. He said I may need to replace the timing belt (it has about 185,000 miles on the engine, and I don't know when the belt was replaced last). Since then, the car has been stalling with sudden braking. If I don't brake very gradually, the engine will likely stall. This is accompanied by occasional surging when I ease off the brake. I don't understand why there should be such an intimate relation between the engine and the brakes. Is this another symptom of a worn timing belt, or something else entirely? Your help is appreciated.

Answer
David,
You have power assist to the brakes and the booster operates on engine vacuum. Everytime the brakes are used vacuum assists and if the line that carrries the vacuum is broken or the small valve in the booster itself is broken, then when you step on the brakes you are creating a large vacuum leak. So test that out and see if that is your problem.
If that system is all ok, maybe that t/belt has jumped a tooth and that is your running/dying out problem. That may have been the same problem last time also. Now the belt is so far off that the engine does not want to run.
If that belt is that old do not hesitate to replace it. The life expectincy is only 50K miles.