Symptom/Cause
The brake pedal is spongy when pressed
- Air in the hydraulic system
- Master cylinder faulty
- Flex hose loose (And)
Excessive pedal travel
- Incorrect pedal adjustment
- Defective, stuck or seized brake caliper (disc brakes)
- The stand of the automatic gap adjustment device is faulty (drum brakes)
- Master cylinder faulty
- Air in the hydraulic system
- Failure in the primary or secondary circuit
- Wheel bearings worn or incorrectly adjusted
- Distorted or worn brake disc or drum
The pedal goes to the floor when pressed
- Brake fluid leak - first check the caliper or wheel cylinder piston seals
- Leaking cuff and/or master cylinder piston seals
Excessive pedal pressure is required to stop the vehicle
- Leaking or disconnected vacuum hose
- Control valve faulty
- The vacuum booster is faulty
- Partially seized caliper or wheel cylinder
- Brake caliper guide pins are seized or worn
- Brake pad or shoe friction material is polished, worn, or dirty
- New brake pad or friction material is not fully adjusted
- Failure in the primary or secondary circuit
Car pulls to one side when braking
- Brake pad or shoe friction material is contaminated with oil (on the opposite side)
- Partially seized caliper or wheel cylinder (on the opposite side)
- Distorted or worn brake disc or drum
- The stand of the automatic gap adjustment device is caught (drum brakes)
- Brakes are only adjusted on one side
- Damaged tires - wrong type, incorrect pressure, or excessive wear on one side
- Fault in steering or suspension (see Section 10)
Rear wheel locking when braking
- Pedal pressure is greater than required
- Adverse road conditions
- Tires are incorrectly inflated or badly worn
- Front brakes ineffective or rear brakes seizing
- Reducing valve faulty (early models) or master cylinder (late models)
Brake grab
- Brake pad or shoe friction material is wet - brake smoothly until dry
- Brake pad or shoe friction material is worn out
- Distorted, split or worn brake disc or drum
- Loose brake parts
- Wheel bearings worn or incorrectly adjusted
Intense vibration felt through the brake pedal or steering wheel when braking
- Distorted, split or worn brake disc or drum, especially the front one
- Hubs are distorted, or hub bearings are worn or incorrectly adjusted
- Brake pad or shoe friction material is worn or dirty
- Brake caliper guide pins worn
- Loose brake parts
- Fault in steering or suspension (see Section 10)
- Wheel runout or vibration (see Section 10)
Squealing or noise when braking
- Brake pad or friction material is polished
- Lots of brake dust in the brake assembly
- Foreign object caught between brake pads and disc
Brakes tie or pull
- Partially seized caliper or wheel cylinder
- Handbrake incorrectly adjusted
- The handbrake cable or drive mechanism is caught
- The breather of the master cylinder reservoir cap is blocked
- Master cylinder faulty
- Metal tube or flexible hose is pinched or blocked
- Air in the hydraulic system
Note: This Chapter does not provide comprehensive troubleshooting information, but describes more general damage that may be encountered during the life of the vehicle. Consult your dealer for more specific advice.