What Are the Common Faults in Vehicle Braking Systems?
2 Answers
Common faults in vehicle braking systems include: 1. The brake pedal does not rise and lacks resistance when pressed; 2. The pedal returns and rises with continuous pressing, improving braking effectiveness; 3. The pedal position is very low; pressing again does not raise the position, and it feels hard; 4. Braking deviation; 5. The brake pedal has too little free travel; 6. Poor braking effectiveness when the brake pedal is fully pressed; 7. The pedal position rises with continuous pressing, accompanied by a sinking sensation; 8. The pedal height is normal, neither soft nor sinking, but braking effectiveness is poor; 9. The brake drum heats up after the vehicle travels a certain distance; 10. Slow recovery of the brake fluid level.
I find that vehicle brake system failures are quite common. Mainly, it's the brake pads wearing too thin, making the pedal feel soft and slowing down scarily slow, which is usually caused by frequent driving. If the brake discs overheat and warp, the steering wheel will shake violently when braking, like driving over a washboard. Old or leaking brake fluid makes the pedal as heavy as a rock, almost impossible to press. When the ABS fails, sudden braking may cause the wheels to lock up, making the car skid as if out of control. There's also the issue of aging and ruptured hoses, where fluid leaks out completely, leading to total brake failure. All these require regular checks. For example, I check the brake pad thickness every three months and top up the brake fluid during oil changes to avoid accidents on the road.
