Brakes not performing well.
My brakes felt a little "grindy " so my husband fixed them, now I have to press down twice as hard to stop and it makes me nervous they feel so loose. He said it will take time for them to tighten back up. Is that a thing?
My car has 185000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. After the new brakes were installed the stopping power of the braking system should be about fully restored. If you are noticing that you have to press down harder to stop the vehicle there could be several things causing it. Such as, air in the brake line,contamination like oil on the pads or rotor, a twisted brake line, or maybe something is not fixated properly. I suggest that you have your brake system evaluated as soon as possible because driving around with a faulty brake system can be hazardous. Please keep in mind that you can schedule an appointment to have one of our technicians diagnose and repair your vehicle at your residence or workplace.
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How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
There are only two plausible reasons for a low pedal: air in the system; and excessive movement between linings and rotors or drums (due to lack of adjustment, an out-of-round drum, or a wobbly disc that`s knocking the pistons back so that there`s extra space to take up before braking action begins).
The most common cause of brake failure is loss of brake fluid. The fluid transfers the force you exert by pushing down on the brake pedal to the brake disks that slow and stop your car`s wheels. You can usually detect a leak before getting on the road because you`ll see it underneath your vehicle.
The lawsuit claims the Jeep Cherokees at issue are plagued by a defect that allows water to leak into the car and corrode the electronic parking brake module. The damage can cause the parking brake to engage while the car is being driven and make it unexpectedly stall or stop, the case says.
Jeep Grand Cherokee brake pads usually last between 30,000 and 70,000 miles depending on your driving habits.
Try to Pump the Pedal
Your first reaction to encountering spongy brakes should be to rapidly pump the brake pedal with your foot. Even if there is a defect in your braking system, this can usually generate enough pressure to stop safely on the side of the road.
Air in the System
The most common reason for a soft brake pedal is simply air still in the system. The easiest way to diagnose this problem is to pump the brake pedal gently a few times. In doing so, the pedal should become firmer with each gentle press of the pedal.
The ABS modulator is the hydraulic assembly in vehicles that use the anti-lock braking system (ABS) to optimize the brake pressure. A damaged modulator may lead to malfunctioning of the brake valve resulting in spongy brakes.
The classic symptom of a failing master cylinder is a brake pedal that “dives” or sinks slowly to the floor while pedal pressure is being applied. Another sign to look out for is any leaks around the master cylinder. If a seal is worn out, it may leak past the seal and onto the pushrod that attaches to the brake pedal.
If the parking brakes won`t hold the car, then you need to check the following: Parking brake lever/pedal out of adjustment or stuck. Parking brake cable stretched. Rear brake shoes/pads worn out.
How Long Do My Jeep`s Brakes Last? Your Jeep Wrangler`s brakes will last on average about 65,000 kilometers. This number will vary depending on three factors: How You Drive: Quickly accelerating and braking, especially in traffic will cause you to wear them down.
Experts recommend changing your brake fluid every 30,000 miles or every 2 years.
Jeep Cherokee Brake Pad Replacement
It largely depends on where and how you drive. Brake pads often last 30,000 to 40,000 miles. If you drive mostly on the highway and tend to brake smoothly (as opposed to slamming on the brakes), your brake pads may last longer.
When brakes are not as responsive as what they should be, or if the brake pedal “sinks” down to the floor, this is a possible indication of a braking system leak. It could be a brake fluid leak, or a brake hose air leak.
If you notice soft or spongy brakes, consider changing or flushing the brake fluid. Commonly called bleeding the brakes, flushing brake fluid removes air from the brake system. If it is not properly bled after replacing a component, air can become trapped in a system.
A malfunctioning Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) can also cause a hard brake pedal. The ABS system is responsible for preventing the wheels from locking up during emergency braking. If the ABS system malfunctions, it may cause a loss of hydraulic pressure, resulting in a hard brake pedal.
To adjust disc brakes all you need to do is pump the brakes a few times with the engine off, start the engine, pump the brakes a few more times, and then make a few stops with the car. The disc brakes are now adjusted and will remain that way through normal use.
Pressure Differential Switch
This valve works in the case of a loss of pressure to either the front or rear brakes. The valve/switch kicks in and blocks off pressure to that line, reserving pressure to either the front or rear brakes, allowing you to maintain one or the other so that you can safely come to a stop.
These include the speed and weight of your vehicle, brake adjustment and anti-lock braking systems. Several factors affect how your vehicle`s brakes work. These include the speed and weight of your vehicle, brake adjustment and anti-lock braking systems.
Usually, your brake pedal will sink if the ABS or master cylinder cannot maintain the proper hydraulic pressure. This inability to maintain hydraulic pressure will not only make your brake pedal sink to the floor, but it will also make it much more difficult to stop your automobile.
Yes master cylinders can fail without leakage, the clutch master cylinder has a piston inside and there are separate channels for hi-pressure line and return(low pressure) line and their location in the cylinder differs for manufacturers.
THE HANDBRAKE FEELS DIFFERENT
It should lock firmly into position when you engage or disengage it. Sometimes, a stretched, loose, misaligned or snagged cable affects the feel of your handbrake. For example, it might feel stiffer than usual when you move the handle up or down. Or, the handle might feel loose and wobbly.
The correct way is to stop your car with your primary brakes, set the emergency brake and then place your car in park before turning off your engine. If you put the car in park and then release the brake pedal, the transmission holds the car in place. That increases the wear and tear on it.
Place the sensor on just one of the two wires and hold the brake pedal down as you do so. Then test the other wire. If power is connected and the switch is working properly, the test bulbs will illuminate. If it doesn`t light up, the brake light switch is faulty and will need to be replaced.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
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Low brake pedal and anti-lock brakes are not kicking in.
ANSWER : The brake pedal is working to stop the vehicle, but there may be air in the controller unit causing the ABS brakes to not function. I recommend bleeding the brake system from the farthest location from the master cylinder to the master cylinder including the ABS unit. If the brakes are still spongy after a full bleed, then the controller will need to be replaced. If you need further assistance with your brake pedal being spongy, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
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I replaced the brake light switch. Gear lever unlocked because it had locked. Now the brakes feel hard.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. You need to check the brake switch install adjustment. You may have the switch adjusted too tight and it is holding the the brake pedal partly down. This will cause the brake master cylinder to not release the brakes when you let off the pedal. Readjust the switch away from the pedal until you feel some free play again in the pedal. This should fix the problem. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
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Supportive bar attached to brake pedal interrupts proper braking process
ANSWER : It’s possible to have someone alter the brake pedal or adapt a brake pedal from a different vehicle. You may call around to some customization shops to see if anyone is interested in taking on the project. But first, I would try reaching out to the selling dealer with your concern – especially since it is a new model. Good luck.
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Brake sensor is to sensitive causing brakes to flicker while driving. 2005 Mercury Montego
ANSWER : Hi there – your brake light switch needs a minor adjustment. It is adjusted too "tight" or close to the brake pedal lever, or possibly has failed. Adjusting/replacing it will eliminate this flickering problem. I recommend a brake light isn’t working inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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Changed brake master cylinder, bled 10 times, and the pedal is soft The rear brakes are not locked but close. Truck now running rough.
ANSWER : You will have to bleed the brakes from the farthest location all the way to the master cylinder. There is still air in the lines causing the issue. Check the vibrations on the vehicle to see if the engine mounts are damaged or if the brakes are not releasing causing the engine to run harder than normal to overcome the braking force. If you need further assistance with your vehicle’s brake system, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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Hard brake pedal and rear brakes locking up.
ANSWER : Hi. I will help you with this issue you are having with your 2001 Durango. Unless you bled the master cylinder, it is possible there is still air in the system. If you car is equipped with ABS, air could have also gotten trapped in the ABS modulator. If ABS equipped, a bi-directional scan tool would be essential to manually activate the ABS system to clear air from that segment of the lines while you are bleeding the system. It is also possible that in all of this work somehow the proportioning valve has been affected causing the desired pressure differential, front versus back, to get out of spec. Using a 2,500 PSI gauge, you can check the pressures at each wheel and that will definitely give you a clue as to which brake circuit is the issue (or both), whether the proportioning valve is working properly and whether the line pressures at each wheel are within spec. Should you need a second opinion, by all means feel free to contact YourMechanic for assistance and we will diagnose and repair the issue for you.
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