Worn Out Brakes? Spot The Warning Signs Before Its Too Late!

Symptoms of impending brake failure

Brakes operate on a hydraulic system; for the system to work effectively there must be fluid in the hydraulic pipes. If the fluid starts to leak from the system the brake pedal will feel ‘softer’ and will often travel further when pressed. If your brake pedal feels soft or ‘spongy’ stop immediately and get a breakdown mechanic to check the car.

When the brake pedal feels soft, you might be able to build up brake pressure by repeatedly pumping it, however, this is only an ‘emergency’ measure to stop the car once – it is not a ‘get you home’ solution. Driving with a ‘soft’ brake pedal is extremely dangerous because your brakes could fail at any moment, even if they don’t fail they will be inefficient, possibly leading to an accident.

If your brake pedal feels hard and the brakes are not working or are inefficient, something might have broken in the braking system – BUT… It could just be that something is jammed under the brake pedal. This is why you should keep the floor area of your vehicle free of litter and other stuff that could slide under the pedals.