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Brakes
FAQ's
ANSWER:
A low brake pedal that needs to be pumped repeatedly to stop the
vehicle may be due to low brake fluid level in the reservoir, air in the
lines, an internal leak in the master cylinder or rear brakes that need
adjustment.
A brake pedal that feels soft or spongy probably has air in the brake
system. Bleeding the brakes will remove the air from the lines, calipers,
and wheel cylinders. The brake system hydraulic system should be inspected
for leaks to determine the cause of the air in the
system.
The first thing to check is the fluid level in the master cylinder
reservoir. If it is low the system should be inspected for leaks. Adding
fluid will only temporarily cure the problem and the leak could get worse,
causing a brake failure.
If the fluid level is okay then check the rear brake adjustment. The shoes
should be adjusted so that there is a slight drag on the drums when the
wheels are rotated by hand. If the adjusters are worn out, fully extended
or not working the brake shoes are to far from the surface of the drums.
This makes you pump the brake pedal to extend to shoes far enough to hit
the drum.
If the vehicle has rear disk brakes the adjusting mechanism is in the rear
caliper pistons. They may be frozen, corroded or worn out. Most of the
time the piston assemblies can not be freed up and the calipers must be
replaced.
If no other cause can be found and everything is fine but the pedal still
has to be pumped, the master cylinder has to be replaced. Fluid leaks
internally between the pistons and causes a loss of pressure to the
calipers and wheel cylinders, causing you to pump the brake pedal.
