What Causes Sudden Softening and Ineffectiveness of Car Brakes?
1 Answers
If the brake fluid does not perform well, it will result in insufficient friction between the brake pads and brake discs. Over time, moisture can seep in, and after the moisture evaporates, a certain amount of air gap may form between the brake pads and discs, leading to a soft and ineffective braking sensation. Below are the key areas to inspect for brake softening: 1. Check Brake Pad Wear: Inspect whether the brake pads are excessively worn. Generally, mid-to-high-end vehicles are equipped with a brake pad wear warning system. Once the brake pads wear close to the critical value, a corresponding warning light will illuminate on the dashboard. Even for vehicles without this feature, when the brake pads wear to the critical point, the brake disc will come into contact with the metal part reserved on the brake pads, producing unusual noises to alert the driver to inspect and replace the brake pads. 2. Check the Brake Master Cylinder: Inspect whether there is internal leakage in the brake master cylinder and wheel cylinders. Inside the master cylinder, several rubber cups are pressed by the brake pedal to squeeze the brake fluid, which transmits the force to the wheel cylinders, pushing the brake pads to friction against the discs and generate braking force. If the rubber cups inside the master or wheel cylinders are worn, causing internal pressure leakage, it can result in a soft brake feel.
