Troubleshooting

Problem Symptoms Table

Symptom	Suspect Area	Reference
Lower pedal or spongy pedal	1. Brake system (Fluid leaks) 2. Brake system (Air in) 3. Piston seals (Worn or damaged) 4. Rear brake shoe clearance(Out of adjustment) 5. Master cylinder (Inoperative)	repair Air bleeding replace adjust replace
Brake drag	1. Brake pedal free play (Minimum) 2. Parking brake lever travel (Out of adjustment) 3. Parking brake wire (Sticking) 4. Pad (Cracked or distorted) 5. Piston (Stuck) 6. Piston (Frozen) 7. Booster system (Vacuum leaks) 8. Master cylinder (Inoperative)	adjust adjust repair replace replace replace repair replace
Brake pull	1. Piston (Sticking) 2. Pad (Oily) 3. Piston (Frozen) 4. Disc (Scored) 5. Pad (Cracked or distorted)	replace replace replace replace replace
Hard pedal but brake inefficient	1. Brake system (Fluid leaks) 2. Brake system (Air in) 3. Pad (Worn) 4. Pad (Cracked or distorted) 5. Rear brake shoe clearance(Out of adjustment) 6. Pad (Oily) 7. Pad (Glazed) 8. Disc (Scored) 9. Booster system (Vacuum leaks)	repair Air bleeding replace replace adjust replace replace replace repair
Noise from brake	1. Pad (Cracked or distorted) 2. Installation bolt (Loosen) 3. Disc (Scored) 4. Sliding pin (Worn) 5. Pad (Dirty) 6. Pad (Glazed) 7. Brake pad shim (Damage)	replace adjust replace replace clean replace replace
Brake fades	1. master cylinder	replace
Brake vibration, pulsation	1. brake booster 2. pedal free play 3. master cylinder 4. caliper 5. master cylinder cap seal 6. damaged brake lines	replace adjust replace replace replace replace
Brake chatter	Brake chatter is usually caused by loose or worn components, or glazed or burnt linings. Rotors with hard spots can also contribute to brake chatter. Additional causes of chatter are out-of-tolerance rotors, brake lining not securely attached to the shoes, loose wheel bearings and contaminated brake lining.