What are the symptoms of brake dragging in a hydraulic brake system?
3 Answers
Hydraulic brake system brake dragging symptoms: After releasing the brake pedal, the braking effect on all or individual wheels cannot be immediately and completely released, thereby affecting the vehicle's ability to restart, accelerate, or coast. Below are the solutions for hydraulic brake system brake dragging: 1. Lift the car and manually rotate the wheels without pressing the brake pedal. If a wheel does not rotate, it indicates brake dragging on that wheel; if all wheels do not rotate, it indicates brake dragging on all wheels. 2. If brake dragging occurs on an individual wheel, first loosen the bleeder screw of that wheel's brake cylinder. If brake fluid spurts out rapidly and the wheel can then rotate freely, it indicates a blockage in the brake line of that wheel, and the brake cylinder fails to return oil—replace it. If the wheel still does not rotate, remove the wheel and disassemble it to inspect the brake. 3. If brake dragging occurs on all wheels, first check if the brake pedal free travel meets the requirements. If the free travel is too small, adjust it. Check the return condition of the brake pedal by pressing it all the way down and quickly releasing it. If the pedal returns slowly, it indicates a failure of the brake pedal return spring or a stuck pedal shaft—replace or repair it.
I remember my car had a brake drag issue last year, and it felt really uncomfortable. While driving, it seemed like the car was being dragged by something. After releasing the brake, the acceleration was particularly slow, and even when I stepped hard on the gas pedal, the speed was significantly lower than usual. The fuel consumption also inexplicably surged. Normally, a full tank could last for 500 kilometers, but now it was gone before reaching 400. After parking, I checked and found that the wheel area was hot to the touch, and there was always a burning smell, like plastic was melting. Additionally, the car didn't start smoothly, as if the brakes weren't fully released. This was no small matter—if left unaddressed, it could cause the brakes to overheat and fail, or even lead to a tire blowout or more serious accidents, delaying travel and posing dangers. Later, after getting it checked, I found out that the caliper or piston in the hydraulic system was stuck, but these symptoms were clear signs from the start that something was wrong.
As a new driver who just got my license, I once experienced brake drag, which really scared me. When driving, the car started extremely slowly, and after releasing the brake, it felt like someone was pulling the car from behind. Steering wasn't as smooth as usual, and there was occasional squeaking friction noise. Fuel consumption kept rising noticeably, much higher compared to my friend's car. The most troublesome part was after a short drive—when I got out and touched the wheel area, it was scorching hot, even emitting some smoke with a terrible smell. Driving like this for long would definitely damage the car, and I'm worried it might affect braking performance, leading to accidents. I've checked some information, and this usually happens when brake components don't fully release, but the symptoms reminded me to get it repaired immediately—no delays.
