Brake system is one of the keys in the car. Its failure or incorrect operation leads to the impossibility of operating the machine. Vehicles with broken brakes are legally forbidden to go on the road, it’s hazardous. Regardless of how exactly the malfunction manifests itself on your particular car, whether the steering wheel vibrates, whether the car leads to the side during braking or whether brake fluid oozes out of the hose. We have collected ten true signs of problems with the brakes, which require urgent repairs.

How Do The Brakes Work?

To understand what can happen to the brake system, let's start with how it works. In all modern cars, this unit includes brake discs or drums and pads that mechanically slow down the vehicle. When you press the brake pedal, the driver mechanically moves the piston in the main brake cylinder, then the brake fluid, running along the lines, drives the wheel brake cylinders. Those, in turn, presses the pads with a unique friction compound to the discs or drums. The car starts to slow down. The system also includes a vacuum brake booster to minimize pressure on the pedal and a brake fluid expansion tank. Many vehicles are equipped with an electronic system that prevents the wheels from locking during braking, known as ABS. Modern brake systems are incredibly reliable, but not at all eternal. Many of their elements belong to the so-called consumables and require frequent replacement. Others need periodic auditing and maintenance.

Ten Most Common Problems

1. Brake Pad Wear

Brake pads - the most unreliable element of the brake system, requiring regular replacement. In the disc brake system, the pads work seamlessly, on average, up to 40 thousand km, after which the set changes to new ones. This is due to the design of the part. The block represents a metal plate with an abrasive slip. The latter is eventually erased from contact with the cast-iron disc, turning into dust. Often, it also collapses from overheating or peels off from the base. A symptom of a malfunction is a decrease in the level of brake fluid in the expansion tank or creaking and grinding sound. This hints that the pads require replacement.

2. Worn Brake Discs And Drums

Precisely the same applies to brake discs and drums. These parts live on average twice as long pads. That is the brake disc or drum can withstand two sets of pads, after which it must be replaced with a new one. The wear limit of these parts is specified by the manufacturer in the documentation and should not be exceeded by the consumer. For this reason, the popular service of brake discs can be classified as relatively honest money taking from motorists, it is a disservice. Other signs of the need to replace the discs are vibrations on the steering wheel during braking and run down the color of the part, indicating an intense overheating. The latter leads to warping and deterioration of deceleration, if not to the impossibility of the correct operation of the ABS.

3. Leaks In The Hydraulic Line

One of the most dangerous brake failures is the depressurization of the brake line. It manifests itself entirely only, when you press the pedal, the latter goes to the floor with almost no resistance, and there is no noticeable deceleration of the car. If this happens on your car, stop immediately using engine braking or mechanical parking brake and maintaining extreme caution. Find the leak and replace the damaged tube or hose, and then bleed the system. Riding a car with such a malfunction is deadly!

4. Worn And Jammed Caliper Guides, Brake Cylinder Skew

Pistons working brake cylinders and caliper guides oxidize over time and can begin wedged. This leads to deterioration of braking and its unevenness. This is manifested by moving the car to the side when you press the brake pedal. Often, wedging leads to overheating of discs and drums, as well as increased wear of the brake pads. This problem dramatically affects security and needs to be fixed as soon as possible. It is especially dangerous to drive away in winter and in rainy weather. It can cause a sudden turn of your car.

5. Deformation Of Brake Discs

Brake discs are usually cast from cast iron. And this material, does not like sudden temperature changes. Be careful not to overheat, especially when driving on mountain serpentines or towing a heavy trailer. It is not recommended to force fords with strongly heated discs. This can lead to their curvature and the need for premature replacement. We have already mentioned the symptoms of the problem - these are vibrations on the steering wheel during deceleration, an increase in stopping distance and premature actuation of the ABS.

6. Weak Slowdown

A weak deceleration usually occurs due to the heavy wear of the brake pads, discs and drums; however, there are other reasons. This may be due to overheating and boiling brake fluid. In this case, the performance is restored as soon as the mechanisms acquire a reasonable temperature. The deterioration of braking may also occur due to depressurization of the vacuum brake booster or wedging of the main brake cylinder. These parts must be replaced with new ones.

7. Smoke And Smell Of Burning Brakes

Smoke or strong odour emanating from the brakes is a sure sign of overheating and early failure of the brake system. Overheating leads to scale formation on surfaces, which interferes with the regular operation of mechanisms. Also, an unpleasant odour and smoke can occur due to contact with the brakes of technical fluids and lubricants. All this requires an immediate audit and elimination of the cause of the malfunction.

8. Fault Lamp On The Dashboard

The brake system fault icon lights up on the dashboard if the brake fluid level in the expansion tank drops to a critically low level. Usually, the problem is eliminated by topping up the fluid to a standard value. However, this may also indicate the need to replace brake pads and discs, or even indicate leaks on the lines and hoses. A special icon also lights up on the tidy in case of activation of the parking brake.

9. Broken Or Kinked Brake Hose

The most severe malfunction is requiring immediate removal. Brake hoses are made of rubber and eventually grow old, lose elasticity, crack, stretch, break, or stretch. This leads to leaks, depressurization and airing of the hydraulic system, and, consequently, deterioration of the deceleration or complete failure of the brakes. Conduct a periodic audit of these parts and change them promptly with any of the signs described above.

10. Undescended Parking Brake Lever

Most drivers periodically forget to return the parking brake knob to its original position before the vehicle starts to move. This leads to increased wear of clutches and discs, as well as overheating of the brakes. And even to the detachment of linings from the brake pads. In the presence of rear drum brakes, the faulty parking brake indicates the need for adjustment - this means that the mechanism for the automatic supply of shoes has soured or broken. Slowing down on such a car will be mediocre - in fact, all the work will be taken on by the front brakes.

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