Brake System Trouble Shooting
NOTE:
This is GENERAL
information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.
BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
| CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE | CORRECTION | |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes Pull Left or Right | ||
| Incorrect tire pressure | Inflate tires to proper pressure | |
| Front end out of alignment | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Mismatched tires | Check tires sizes | |
| Restricted brake lines or hoses | Check hose routing | |
| Loose or malfunctioning caliper | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Bent shoe or oily linings | See DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Malfunctioning rear brakes | See DRUM, DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Loose suspension parts | See SUSPENSION | |
| Noises Without Brakes Applied | ||
| Front linings worn out | Replace linings | |
| Dust or oil on drums or rotors | See DRUM, DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Noises With Brakes Applied | ||
| Insulator on outboard shoe damaged | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Incorrect pads or linings | Replace pads or linings | |
| Brake Rough, Chatters or Pulsates | ||
| Excessive lateral runout | Check rotor runout | |
| Parallelism not to specifications | Reface or replace rotor | |
| Wheel bearings not adjusted | See SUSPENSION | |
| Rear drums out-of-round | Reface or replace drums | |
| Disc pad reversed, steel against rotor | Remove and reinstall pad | |
| Excessive Pedal Effort | ||
| Malfunctioning power unit | See POWER BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Partial system failure | Check fluid and pipes | |
| Worn disc pad or lining | Replace pad or lining | |
| Caliper piston stuck or sluggish | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Master cylinder piston stuck | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Brake fade due to incorrect pads for linings | Replace pads or linings | |
| Linings or pads glazed | Replace pads or linings | |
| Worn drums | Reface or replace drums | |
| Excessive Pedal Travel | ||
| Partial brake system failure | Check fluid and pipes | |
| Insufficient fluid in master cylinder | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Air trapped in system | See BRAKE BLEEDING or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Rear brakes not adjusted | See Adjustments in DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Bent shoe or lining | See DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Plugged master cylinder cap | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Improper brake fluid | Replace brake fluid | |
| Pedal Travel Decreasing | ||
| Compensating port plugged | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Swollen cup in master cylinder | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Master cylinder piston not returning | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Weak shoe retracting springs | See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Wheel cylinder piston sticking | See DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Dragging Brakes | ||
| Master cylinder pistons not returning | See MASTER CYLINDERS BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Restricted brake lines or hoses | Check line routing | |
| Incorrect parking brake adjustment | See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Parking Brake cables frozen | See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Incorrect installation of inboard disc pad | Remove and replace correctly | |
| Power booster output rod too long | See POWER BRAKE UNITS BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Brake pedal not returning freely | See DISC, DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Brakes Grab or Uneven Braking Action | ||
| Malfunction of combination valve | See CONTROL VALVE or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Malfunction of power brake unit | See POWER BRAKE UNITS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Binding brake pedal | See DISC, DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Pulsation or Roughness | ||
| Uneven pad wear caused by caliper | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Uneven rotor wear | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Drums out-of-round | Reface or replace drums | |