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 Brake 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 (i.e. rotor thickness variation, lateral runout, etc.)

Refinish or replace rotor or drum.

Improper vacuum booster to master cylinder pushrod length

Replace booster and pushrod.

Pedal Creeps Down

Internal master cylinder seal leak or damaged master cylinder bore

Repair or 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 (i.e. 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 engine vacuum to booster

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

Leaking or damaged vacuum booster (i.e. 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 contacting backing plate

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 (i.e. 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 bracket

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 (i.e. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc.)

Replace or refinish rotor or drum.

Damaged vacuum booster

Replace booster.

Brakes Drag

Incorrect stop lamp switch adjustment

Adjust stop lamp switch.

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

Clean master cylinder and rebuild.

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

Replace booster and push rod.

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. (Base brake only)

Replace master cylinder.

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.

Linings contaminated

Replace linings.

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

Overhaul 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. (Base brake only)

Replace master cylinder.

Odor

Linings over heated

Refer to Brakes Drag.

Lining contaminated with foreign substances

Replace lining.

Poor Fuel Economy

Linings over heated

Refer to Brake Drag..

TELLTALE

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.

Antilock Brake System (ABS) problem

Refer to ABS diagnosis.

Amber (ABS) Telltale On

(Solid/Flashing)

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.