Brake Maintenance and Repair Mentor Ohio

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Now that you know the basics of how brakes work, it’s time to take a look at some of the problems which can crop up in the braking system, so you can spot the signs and take action before the problem gets any worse.

• Brake Light Illuminated On The Dashboard – The brake system has two warning lights, including the parking brake light (red) and ABS light (orange), and either one of these (or both at the same time) could be a sign that there’s a brake issue).
• Fluid Leaks - The hydraulic system is complex, with lots of lines running to the various components, especially in vehicles with ABS. A leak in any one of these many connections will lead to a loss of fluid and air entering the system. Eventually, the braking system will fail to operate altogether.
• Vibration/Pulsation/Wobbling During Braking – Pedal pulsation is almost always the result of disc thickness variations in the rotor surface. In this scenario, I never used the word “warped.” The words “warped” and “warping” should never be applied to brake systems. Warping is defined in the dictionary as: “to turn or twist out of or as if out of shape; especially to twist or bend out of a plane.” In the scenario, there is no twisting or bending. There is only wear and changes in the dimensions of the rotor. Heat was not a force distorting the rotor by softening the metal. The heat used to cast the rotor is three to five times greater than the heat produced in the most aggressive braking down a mountain road. Most engineers will tell you, rotors will crack long before they are distorted by heat. Sure, a customer can experience a pulsation or judder after higher-than-normal brake temperatures are experienced. But 99% of the time, it is not the fault of the rotor, it is the pads. What has happened is the pad’s friction material has been unevenly deposited around the face of the rotor. This creates uneven braking forces as the dissimilar sections pass by the pads during brake application.
• Odd Smell or Smoke From Wheel area – A sharp, chemical odor could be a sign of overheated brakes. To avoid brake failure, pull over to a safe place and allow the brakes to cool. Double-check that the parking brake is off. If there’s any smoke coming from a wheel, it may be that the brake caliper is malfunctioning and locked in place. In this case, it may be unsafe to continue driving without immediate repairs.
• Squealing or Squeaking Noise – New noises coming from your brakes aren’t always a sign of problems. It could just be a foreign object lodged in your brakes (a pebble or debris). It could also be your brake pad wear indicators. These bits of metal in your brake pad come in contact with the rotor to emit a high-pitched noise when you apply the brakes. This lets you know it’s time to get your brake pads replaced. Brake pads can last anywhere between 20,000 and 75,000 miles.
• Grinding Noises – Grinding noises, whether you have disc or drum brakes, could mean your brakes need servicing right away due to the brake pad or shoe backing plate scraping on the rotor or drum friction surfaces.
• Pulling to One Side During Braking – The vehicle pulls to one side under braking it’s usually a sign that one of your brakes is not performing correctly and that the brake system is no longer evenly balanced. This is often caused by a caliper issue.
• Dragging – If your vehicle feels like it’s acting sluggishly or dragging while pulling away from a stop this could be due to your brakes sticking causing your vehicle to drive as though the brakes are partially applied.
• Low Brake Pedal – A low brake pedal is always caused by either a hydraulic or a mechanical malfunction. When a mechanical malfunction is the cause, it’s due to a component moving past the range of motion for which it was designed. Hydraulic concerns present the biggest challenge in low brake pedal diagnosis. The smallest amount of air trapped anywhere in the system will have a big effect on brake pedal feel.