Pedal Feel

Excessive Pedal Travel

Air in brake system.

Bleed brake system.

Front or rear brakes not adjusting to lining wear.

Check adjuster mechanism and replace or repair as needed.

Excessive brake system heat.

Refer to "Brakes Drag."

Excessive wheel bearing end play.

Replace wheel bearing.

Excessive wheel hub runout.

Replace wheel hub.

Caliper not sliding freely.

Repair or replace caliper/mounting pins.

Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper piston seal.

Replace wheel cylinder or overhaul caliper.

Leak at brake pipe or hose connections.

Tighten connection. Replace pipe or hose.

Internal master cylinder seal leak.

Overhaul or replace master cylinder.

Uneven lining wear or damaged lining.

Replace linings.

Rotor or drum out of specifications (e.g. rotor thickness variation, lateral runout, etc.).

Refinish or replace rotor or drum.

Improper vacuum booster to master cylinder pushrod length.

Adjust pushrod length.

Pedal Creeps Down

Internal master cylinder seal leak or damaged master cylinder bore.

Replace master cylinder.

Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper piston seal.

Replace wheel cylinder or overhaul caliper.

Leak at brake pipe or hose connections.

Tighten connection. Replace pipe or hose.

Pedal Pulses

Excessive brake system heat.

Refer to "Brakes Drag."

Rotor or drum out of specifications (e.g. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc.).

Replace or refinish rotor or drum.

Excessive front hub lateral runout.

Replace front hub.

Worn out linings or linings wearing unevenly.

Replace linings.

Wheel bearings worn.

Replace wheel bearing.

Damaged suspension, knuckle or axle.

Replace damaged parts.

Excessive Pedal Effort

Low vacuum to booster.

Check and repair engine vacuum, booster check valve or hose.

Leaking or damaged vacuum booster (e.g. cut diaphragm, cracked power piston, restricted air passages).

Replace booster.

Worn out brake linings (glazed).

Replace linings.

Damage to braking surface of rotor or drum.

Replace rotor or drum.

Crimped brake pipe or collapsed brake hose.

Replace pipe or hose.

Noise

Squeal/Scrape While Not Braking

Worn linings, sensor scraping on rotor (normal).

Replace linings.

Loose drum brake component (spring, lever, adjuster, etc.).

Check drum brake and repair.

Loose front suspension attachments.

Tighten attachments or replace.

Caliper interference with rotor.

Check clearance and repair.

Bent or cracked suspension parts.

Replace components.

Drum or rotor contacting backing plate or dust shield.

Check clearance and repair.

Squeal/Scrape While Braking

Worn linings, sensor scraping on rotor (normal).

Replace linings.

Linings worn out, shoe contacting drum or rotor.

Replace linings.

Lack of lubrication on backing plate or on adjuster screw.

Lubricate backing plate or adjuster screw.

Lack of lubrication on caliper sliding surfaces.

Lubricate.

Lack of lubrication on brake pedal attachments.

Lubricate.

Damage to insulator between disc brake shoe and caliper piston.

Replace shoe and linings as needed.

Hot spots or worn surface on drum or rotor.

Replace rotor or drum.

Weak hold down springs or worn drum brake components.

Replace drum brake springs.

Chatters/Rattles

Hot spots or worn surface on drum or rotor.

Replace drum or rotor.

Rotor or drum out of specifications (e.g. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc.).

Replace or refinish rotor or drum.

Lining contaminated with foreign substances.

Replace linings.

Linings wearing unevenly.

Replace linings.

Bent or loose brake shoes.

Replace shoes and linings.

Weak or broken retractor springs.

Replace drum brake springs.

Loose brake cable, brake pipe, or ABS wiring.

Check cable or pipe connection and tighten or replace as needed.

Groans (at Near Stop)

Linings worn out.

Replace linings.

Incorrect or damaged lining material.

Replace linings.

Hot spots or worn surface on drum or rotor.

Replace drum or rotor.

Cracked or bent knuckle or suspension parts.

Replace suspension component.

Loose suspension.

Tighten suspension or replace.

Performance

Brake Pull Left/Right

Caliper pistons sticking.

Overhaul caliper and replace piston.

Loose wheel bearings or suspension attachments.

Replace wheel bearings or tighten suspension attachments.

Worn suspension components.

Replace suspension components.

Loose steering or steering gear.

Repair or replace steering components.

Uneven wear on tires, tires not properly inflated or incorrect tires for vehicle.

Check tires and replace if necessary.

Uneven worn linings.

Replace linings.

Front suspension out of alignment.

Align suspension.

Restricted brake pipe or hose.

Replace pipe or hose.

Brakes Grab

Contaminated brake linings.

Replace linings.

Damage to braking surface of rotors or drums.

Replace rotors or drums.

Rotor or drum out of specifications (e.g. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc.).

Replace or refinish rotor or drum.

Damaged vacuum booster.

Replace booster.

Brakes Drag

Caliper pistons stuck.

Overhaul caliper and replace piston.

Corroded caliper bolts. Caliper will not retract.

Replace bolts and bolt boots.

Compensating port or bypass hole in master cylinder clogged.

Replace master cylinder.

Worn or damaged drum brake return springs.

Replace drum brake springs.

Contaminated or improper brake fluid, rubber seals are swollen.

Flush brake system and replace all rubber parts including hoses.

Parking brake not releasing.

Check parking brake adjustment and cables.

Self-adjusters over adjusting for lining wear.

Overhaul or replace adjusters.

Improper vacuum booster push rod length.

Adjust push rod length.

Brake Action Uneven

(Front - Rear)

Uneven wear on tires, tires improperly inflated or incorrect tires installed.

Check tires and replace if needed.

Proportioning valve not functioning properly.

Replace proportioning valve.

Linings wearing unevenly front to rear.

Replace linings.

Fluid leak in system.

Check system for leaks and repair or replace components.

Hot spots or worn surface on drum or rotor.

Replace drum or rotor.

Brakes Slow to Release

Caliper piston sticking.

Overhaul caliper and replace piston.

Corroded caliper bolts. Caliper will not retract.

Replace bolts and bolt boots.

Contaminated or improper brake fluid, rubber seals are swollen.

Flush brake system and replace all rubber parts including hoses.

Worn caliper piston seals.

Overhaul calipers.

Worn or damaged drum brake return springs.

Replace drum brake springs.

Worn or damaged master cylinder seals.

Replace master cylinder.

Damage to mechanical action of brake pedal.

Check pedal and repair or replace.

Slow Response/Excessive Stopping Distance

Improper rotor surface finish.

Refinish or replace rotor.

Linings not adjusting properly, damaged self-adjusters or worn piston seal.

Overhaul drum brake or caliper.

Caliper pistons sticking.

Overhaul caliper and replace piston.

Worn or glazed linings.

Replace linings.

Proportioning valve not functioning properly.

Replace proportioning valve.

Odor

Linings over heated.

Refer to "Brakes Drag."

Lining contaminated with foreign substances.

Replace lining.

Poor Fuel Economy

Linings over-heated.

Refer to "Brakes Drag."

Telltale Lamps

Red Brake Warning Lamp On

Park brake on.

Release park brake.

Low brake fluid level in master cylinder (check for leaks).

Fill reservoir. Check for leaks.

Improperly adjusted park brake switch.

Check park brake switch connection and adjustment.

Damaged park brake switch or switch circuit.

Replace switch or repair circuit.

Damaged low brake fluid switch or switch circuit.

Replace switch or repair circuit.

ABS System.

Refer to ABS diagnosis.

Amber (ABS) Telltale Lamp On

ABS System.

Refer to ABS diagnosis.

Parking Brake

Does Not Hold

Park brake not adjusted properly.

Adjust park brake.

Brakes not adjusting properly.

Check brake adjusters and repair or replace as needed.

Linings worn out.

Replace linings.

Linings contaminated with foreign material.

Replace linings.

Cable disconnected from lever.

Connect cable.

Lever bent or loose.

Replace lever.

Does Not Release

Park brake cables binding.

Check cable and cable attachments.

Release lever broken or binding.

Replace park brake lever.

Parking Brake Lever Hard to Apply

Lack of lubrication on apply mechanism.

Lubricate apply mechanism.

Park brake cables binding.

Check cables and cable attachments.