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09/29/24
Perhaps the most important safety system on any car is its brakes. If you aren’t able to bring a car to a safe stop, nothing else matters. Automotive braking systems are complex with many mechanical parts, electrical components, and hydraulic systems. That means any number of problems can occur with your brakes, leading to unsafe driving or even a collision.
Let’s explore ten of the most common problems you may experience with a car’s brakes, what can contribute to the symptoms, and how to address the problem best with parts from Trodo.com.
ABS light or traction control light is illuminated
A common problem that can occur is an anti-lock braking system (ABS) or traction control system (TCS) light on the dash. It might turn on while you drive or it may be on as soon as you start the car. An ABS or TCS light is part of your car’s safety systems to prevent the loss of traction when accelerating from a stop or when braking. It’s almost completely an electrical system, and in most cases, doesn’t affect how your car’s mechanical brakes work. That means you should be able to brake normally, but your brakes can lock up if the road is slippery and you’ll slide.
For the ABS light and the TCS light, common part failures are wheel speed sensors that are corroded or have broken or damaged wiring or connectors. In some circumstances, it could be a deeper problem like an ABS hydraulic unit or an ABS control module that has failed. The first thing to check, though, is the brake fluid level in the reservoir since the ABS light can also be a warning of low fluid.
The Brake Pedal Feels Spongy When Pressed
If you press the brake pedal, it should feel firm and even throughout its travel, then it should return to the top when you release pressure. A problem that can occur is a spongy brake pedal where the downward travel feels spongy or bubbly, and it can also return slower to the top. A spongy brake pedal is a sign that there is air in the brake fluid. Since air compresses much easier than fluid, air in the brake lines changes how your braking feels.
The immediate correction for a spongy brake pedal is to bleed the air from the hydraulic system, then top up the reservoir with new, clean fluid. If your brake fluid has been in use for more than two years, take the opportunity to flush the old fluid from the system and replace it completely. However, air may have entered the system due to a leak from a brake hose, caliper seal, or loose connection, so watch for a potential problem.
Brake fluid is disappearing from the reservoir
There are only two things that can cause the brake fluid level to be lower in the reservoir: either your brake pads are worn or there’s a fluid leak. As you drive and the friction material on your brakes wears down, more brake fluid is needed in the lines and hoses to extend the calipers further, which reduces the volume remaining in the reservoir. Or, fluid may be leaking from one of many components like a corroded steel brake line, cracked rubber brake hose , leaking caliper piston, or leaking ABS hydraulic unit or reservoir. If the leak is on a vehicle with drum brakes, the wheel brake cylinder is often the culprit.
Identify where the fluid is leaking from your braking system. Once the repair is complete, bleed the brakes, top up the brake fluid reservoir, and monitor the level to ensure there aren’t any other leaks.
Brake pedal goes to the floor when pressed
If the brake pedal sinks all the way to the floor with pressure on it, it’s a serious and immediate safety concern because your car could begin creeping forward unexpectedly. This condition happens when there isn’t enough hydraulic pressure to the calipers to hold the brake pads fast against the rotors. It can be due to low brake fluid in the system, or it can be from a faulty brake master cylinder. When you press the brake pedal, a piston forces fluid into the lines but with a failing brake master cylinder, the fluid bypasses the piston instead.
To repair a brake pedal that sinks to the floor, it’s often necessary to replace the brake master cylinder. Since air will be introduced into all the brake lines that connect to the master cylinder, it’s imperative that the brakes are bled before attempting to drive.
Brake warning light is lit on the dash
If your brake warning light is on, there may be several issues at the root. It’s a general indicator for many different brake-related failures including a burnt-out brake light bulb, an engaged parking brake, low brake friction material, or low brake fluid level. It requires some critical thinking to decipher the true problem.
First, check the brake fluid to ensure it’s safe to drive your car. Then, inspect that your brake lights all work. Engage and release your parking brake or emergency brake lever to eliminate it as a problem. And finally, check your car’s mechanical braking system for worn components like brake pads and discs.
The car shakes or steering wheel wobbles when slowing down
As brakes are used, it may happen that you feel a shake or vibration through your seat as you slow down, or the steering wheel could wobble side to side when you press the brake pedal. This concern is common and is typically caused by warped brake rotors or drums. Excessive heat from braking causes the steel rotors or drums to become slightly out of round, or warped, resulting in uneven brake pad application. It can be very slight or extremely violent depending on how bad the warpage is.
Sometimes, the rotors or drums can be resurfaced to restore a perfectly flat surface for brake pads to engage. The simpler solution to correct the vibration is to replace the brake rotors and pads on a vehicle with disc brakes, or brake drums and shoes on a vehicle with drum brakes.
The Car Dives to One Side When Braking
If you experience your car pulling to one side when you apply the brakes, it isn’t normal. Braking application should be steady and even, going straight ahead as you decelerate. A car that dives or pulls to one side when braking indicates that the brakes on the opposite side are applying with less force.
There are three common issues that cause pulling to one side when braking. The most common is a seized caliper whose piston will not extend. The second-most common problem is a pinched brake line or collapsed hose. The least common issue is a proportioning valve blockage or failure where fluid isn’t sent to wheels evenly. Once the fault is found, the component needs to be changed.
Brakes are dragging while you’re driving
If it feels like you’re driving a car with flat tires or pulling a boat anchor, it could be a fault with a brake caliper or the emergency brake. A seized caliper could be stuck compressing brake pads against the rotor, essentially forcing you to drive with the brakes applied at that wheel. Or, an emergency brake cable or lever may be seized with the emergency brake engaged, causing excessive drag on your brakes.
First, check that your parking brake hasn’t been mistakenly left on. Otherwise, either a caliper, an emergency or parking brake cable, or the emergency brake mechanism at the wheel will need to be replaced.
The parking brake won’t hold your car from rolling
When you park on an incline, does your parking brake hold your car firmly in place? A common problem is a parking brake that no longer prevents a car from rolling, which can be a grave concern. When it’s engaged, the parking brake pulls on a cable that extends parking brake shoes against the inside of a brake rotor, mechanically holding the brakes fast. If a fully engaged parking brake lever doesn’t hold the car anymore, the parking brake shoes may be worn out or the parking brake cable is stretched or out of adjustment. Whatever the cause is determined to be, the faulty component will need to be changed.
The brake pedal is very hard to press
When the brake pedal is very hard to press down, your stopping distance is greatly increased. Automotive brakes use vacuum from the engine to assist in braking pressure. A vacuum hose from the engine to the brake booster lets you apply the brakes easily with one foot. If the vacuum isn’t present, the brakes become very hard.
A failed brake booster is possible but very rare. Most likely, the brake booster vacuum hose has a restriction, leak, or has collapsed, reducing the amount of brake boost you get. If that’s the case, it’s an extremely minor repair to replace the hose.
Have any of these common braking problems described the issue you’re having with your brakes? Find high quality replacement brake parts at an affordable price from Trodo today, and restore your car’s safe braking ability.
