The braking system is among the most crucial safety features in your vehicle. It demands regular maintenance and prompt attention to any issues to ensure it performs optimally. Unfortunately, there are many issues that your brakes could experience that could impair their performance when you need them the most.   

What Are The Contributing Factors For A Brake Pedal Feeling Spongy Or Soft When You Press On It?

A spongy or soft brake pedal feel is often an indication of air trapped within your brake lines. Air in the system can compromise hydraulic pressure, reducing your brakes' effectiveness. This situation arises from improper bleeding during a previous service or a leak in the brake line.

To address this issue, check all connections for potential leaks first. If no leaks are visible, consider bleeding your brakes. This process involves forcing air out of the brake lines using brake fluid to restore the proper pedal feel and braking performance.

If air is not to blame for your spongy pedal, consider investigating your master cylinder. The master cylinder converts pressure from pressing the pedal into hydraulic power to activate your brakes. A failing master cylinder could cause a soft pedal feel and requires immediate replacement.

Why Is Your Car Pulling To The Side When You Brake?

Uneven braking often leads to cars pulling towards one side when applying brakes. Imbalanced wear on one set of pads, differences in tire pressures, or varying levels of friction between tires and road surfaces can cause uneven braking.

Alignment issues may also contribute to this problem because the vehicle's tendency to pull to one side during normal driving can amplify when the brakes are applied.

In some cases, calipers may stick or seize due to rusting or lack of lubrication causing uneven braking too. Regularly cleaning and lubricating calipers will help prevent this issue. Fortunately, this is a task mechanics can provide when performing routine brake servicing and inspections.

Why Do You Hear Grinding Noises When You Apply The Brakes?

The dreaded grinding noise when applying brakes usually signals metal-on-metal contact within your system. This should be treated as an immediate red flag demanding attention. Otherwise, you could experience a sudden brake failure.

This grinding noise often stems from worn-out brake pads and damaged rotors. Continuous driving with worn-out pads may lead to damaged rotors, which is a more serious concern because grooves etched by backing plates might require rotor resurfacing or even total replacement. Prompt repairs can limit this risk and help to keep your repairs limited.