What are the symptoms of a faulty car brake pump?
3 Answers
When a car's brake pump fails, it can lead to symptoms such as brake pulling, brake not returning, and brake failure. Below are the specific symptoms of a faulty car brake pump: 1. Brake Pulling: When braking, the vehicle may pull to one side, especially in cars without ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), making it difficult to control the direction. 2. Brake Not Returning: The brake pedal may feel unusually high and hard or have no free travel, making it difficult to start the car or requiring extra effort to drive. 3. Brake Failure: While driving, pressing the brake pedal once or several times may result in the pedal going all the way down with no braking effect, indicating sudden brake failure. In such cases, the piston seals of the master and slave cylinders can be replaced, or the entire brake pump can be directly replaced.
It scared me to death when the brakes suddenly didn't respond while driving! I wasn't speeding at the time, but the pedal felt spongy when pressed, and the car kept moving forward even with the pedal fully depressed. I barely managed to stop by pulling the handbrake. At the repair shop, the mechanic pointed to oil leakage traces in the engine bay and said the brake pump piston seal was broken, causing hydraulic fluid to leak out and insufficient pressure. He also explained that a failed master cylinder would render all slave cylinders ineffective, just like water can't spray out from a broken pipe. I usually check the brake fluid reservoir level before driving every week, but now I take it even more seriously. After all, when the brakes fail, even the steering wheel can't save you, especially on slippery roads during rainy days—extra caution is needed.
My SUV developed a strange issue last week: The first two brake applications after cold starts worked normally, but after ten minutes of driving, the pedal became soft. When stopped at a red light, the pedal would slowly sink on its own, requiring repeated pumps to barely maintain braking. The mechanic found small pits from corrosion on the inner walls of the brake master cylinder, and metal debris had clogged the ABS module. He explained that winter road salt in northern regions accelerates brake fluid degradation, and water contamination in the fluid corrodes the cylinder. That's when I realized I hadn't changed the brake fluid in three years. Now I check the reservoir monthly - if the fluid appears cloudy, I replace it immediately. Remember, increased brake pedal travel is a danger sign; never risk driving on highways with compromised brakes.
