Brake Symptoms

BRAKE SYMPTOMS

If you have any problems with your brakes, you should bring your car in for an inspection and have them checked immediately to ensure the safety of you and your passengers. The symptoms listed in this article are common symptoms that will tell you a lot about what is actually wrong with your brakes.

LOW BRAKE FLUID

• Possible cause is a leak in the brake system.
• Inspect for leaks and repair or replace all defective components.

SPONGY OR SOFT PEDAL

• Possible causes are air in the hydraulic system, low fluid or soft ballooning hose.
• Inspect for leaks and bleed the hydraulic system per vehicle recommendations.

PEDAL SINKS TO FLOOR

• Possible causes are worn master cylinder or a leak in the hydraulic system.
• Inspect for leaks and repair or replace all defective components.
• Note vehicle is not safe to operate

SCRAPING NOISE

• Possible cause brake lining very thin or metal-to-metal contact.
• Inspect brake system and repair as necessary.
• Note vehicle is not safe to operate.

CHATTER

• Possible cause are warped rotors or rotors that have been improperly finished.
• Inspect brake system & machine or replace rotors.

DRAGGING BRAKES

• Possible causes are stuck emergency brake, damaged retracting springs.
• jammed calipers piston, damaged caliper mounting pins or bushings.
• Inspect brake system & repair or replace all damaged components

HARD PEDAL

• Possible causes are low engine vacuum, vacuum leak, and defective boost unit; check valve, loose power steering pump belt, low fluid level or leaks in the hydro boost unit.
• Inspect vacuum line, connections & brake system to identify source of problem and repair as necessary.

LOW BRAKE PEDAL

• Possible causes are a sticky shoe adjuster that fails to compensate for wear, worn lining or fluid leak.
• Inspect for wear and leaks, clean and adjust brakes.

EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL

• Possible causes are worn brake linings, air in the hydraulic system or out of adjustment.
• Inspect brake system for leaks, worn components & adjust as necessary

PEDAL PULSATION

• Possible cause are warped rotors.
• Inspect and machine rotors or replace if necessary

SQUEALS

• Possible cause is vibration between the lining & rotors or drums.
• Inspect brakes & machine the rotors & applying brake grease or noise compound to the backs of the pads.

GRABBY BRAKES

• Possible cause oil, grease, brake fluid on the linings or badly scored rotors.
• Inspect brake system for source of contamination; repair leak, replace linings & machine rotors if necessary

BRAKES PULL TO ONE SIDE

• Possible causes are contaminated linings, out of adjustment, leaking wheel cylinder or caliper, loose wheel bearings.
• Inspect brake system replace any contaminated linings & repair or replace all defective components, clean & adjust.

BEDDING BRAKES*

To function properly the organic brake pads must develop a friction coal on the surface that develops around 537°F temperature. Using a gradual process to generate the penetrating temperature it will distribute evenly through the entire disc and pad material. Careful heating and cooling process ensures a good release of both materials. The bedding in should be done as follows:

• Drive at approximately 35 mph for about 500 yards dragging the brakes to allow the temperature to slowly and evenly build up to 572°F.
• Next, drive about 2200 yards maintaining the same speed without braking allowing the pads and discs to cool down.  After cool-down, perform a normal stop from 35 to 0 mph.  No panic stops!
• Now, the friction surface has evenly developed friction coal, the pads have bonded with the disc surface,       and tensions in the disc materials will have disappeared.

*This bedding process is applicable to the front brakes only*

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