Brake Troubleshooting

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Here in this article, we have mentioned various types of defects that are caused in the braking system of automobiles and brake troubleshooting or remedies for these defects are also given.

     1.  Loss of braking efficiency | Brake Troubleshooting

  • The brake fluid may have leaked and entered the brake drum and soaked the brake lining. The lining has to be replaced in such a case and the source of the leak repaired.
  • The pressure of air in the system has to be bled. Also, the source of air entry should be detected and repaired.
  • The brake lining may have worn smooth. This has to be replaced.
  • The operating linkage of the brake system may be out of adjustment or disconnected which may be adjusted or reconnected.
  • Automatic brake adjuster may have stopped functioning which may be inspected and repaired or replaced as required, after which brake shoes may be adjusted.
  • Brake shoes may be distorted, which may be replaced.
  • The brake drum may be too thin or cracked. In either case, it has to be replaced.
  • The master cylinder may be defective, which may be overhauled.
  • In the case of disc brakes, apart from the relevant causes out of the above, the rubber seal ring may be defective, which has to be replaced.

In the case of air brakes, observe the air pressure in the compressed airline. If it is below normal this may be due to

  • broken lines, which may be detected and replaced or rectified.
  • defective brake valve, which should be inspected and suitably readjusted or if necessary, replaced.

brake-troubleshooting

However, in case the pressure in the airline is normal, then the fall in braking efficiency may be due to the oil-soaked brake linings which have to be replaced.

  1. Brake fade | Brake Troubleshooting

This may be on account of any or more of the following reasons:

  • Brake fluid may have deteriorated with use. The same may be flushed out, fresh fluid of correct specifications filled in and the system bled.
  • Poor contact between the brake lining and the drum. The shoes may be ground to correct radius and/or adjusted.
  • The brakes may be dragging. In such a case, the appropriate cause of the defect has to be investigated and a remedy provided. For details see the relevant portion of this very article.
  • The brakes may have been excessively used. If so, reduce speed/load and use lower gears. This may help to cool down the brakes.
  • The driver may be in the habit of riding the brake pedal, which causes the brakes to drag and thus became excessively hot leading to brake fade. The driver should not keep his foot on the brake pedal unless specifically required.

     3. Brakes binding | Brake Troubleshooting

In the case of mechanical brakes, the binding or dragging may be caused by the following reasons:

  • The brake shoe retracting springs or the pedal return spring may be weak or broken, which should be replaced.
  • The brake shoes may be jammed over the anchor pins, which should be lubricated.
  • The parking brake may be too tight which may be adjusted.
  • The parking brake may not get released. The brake linkage may be cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted.

In the case of hydraulic brakes, apart from the above reasons, the defect may be due to the following more causes:

  • Incorrect free pedal plays to allow piston in the master cylinder to uncover by-passport. To remove the defect the pedal free play should be adjusted as given in the shop manual of the particular vehicle.
  • The by-pass port in the master cylinder might have been blocked, which may be cleaned with alcohol and compressed air, filled with fresh brake fluid, and bled. Wire or drill should never be used for this purpose.
  • The piston cup in the master cylinder or wheel cylinder might have swollen up possibly due to the addition of mineral oil in the braking system. The only remedy, in this case, is the replacement of the rubber cup.
  • The fluid level in the master cylinder may be excessive which may be rectified or the vent hole in the cover of the master cylinder may be clogged which may be cleaned.

If however, only one brake is binding or dragging, it may be due to:

  • Brake shoes on that particular wheel may be out of adjustment, which may be readjusted.
  • The retractor spring on the wheel may have grown weak or may be broken. In either case, only remedy is the replacement.
  • The wheel cylinder may be defective, which may be repaired or replaced as required.

     4. Brakes overheating | Brake Troubleshooting

The overheating of the brakes is most likely due to the same reasons as for brakes binding/fade. Apart from these, they may occur also after prolonged use of brakes while descending a hill. In the case of disc brakes apart from the above, the piston in the caliper may be seized. To remedy this, the caliper has to be rebored and the piston replaced.

  1. Brake judder | Brake Troubleshooting

This may be either due to wrong brake adjustment, which may be corrected or due to the brake lining rivets being loose, in which case the lining has to be attached again with new rivets. In most cases, the lining also has to be replaced.

  1. Vehicle pulling to one side when brakes applied

This defect may arise on account of the following reasons:

  • One or more brakes may be incorrectly adjusted, which may be rectified by correct adjustment.
  • If a compensator is used in the braking system, the same might have become defective, which should be inspected and the defect removed.
  • The oil or grease might have entered one or more drums, which puts more load on clean linings. The wet linings have to be replaced to remedy the defect. The cause of the entry of oil into the drum should also be investigated and remedied. The possible causes are defective oil seal, defective wheel cylinders, excessively lubricated or defective wheel bearings, too high a level of lubricant in the rear axle, etc.
  • This defect may also be due to the fitting of different linings on different individual shoes. The only remedy is to remove such different linings and replace these with linings similar to those used on other shoes.
  • The dust est. might have entered the brakes plugging some brake line, in which case they are cleaned
  • Uneven tyre pressure may be the cause which may be corrected by inflating all tyres to the specified pressure.
  • Front-end alignment may not be correct, which may be done properly.
  • Some suspension springs may be weak, sagging, or broken which has to be replaced.
  • Some shock absorbers may be weak, which may be replaced.

In the case of disc brakes, this defect may arise on account of the following reasons:

  • The brake pads may not be similar on all the wheels; the defective ones will have to be replaced.
  • Oil or grease might have entered on one of the brake pads. The Wet pads have to be replaced and the cause of leakage of oil or grease should also be investigated and remedied.
  • The piston in any one brake may have seized, which should be remedied by turning the caliper and installing a new piston.

     7. Grabbing brakes | Brake Troubleshooting

If the brakes are too sensitive or grab, the following may be the reasons:

  • Brake linings may be greasy or the brake fluid may have leaked on them. The same should
  • Brake shoes may not be properly adjusted which may be done.
  • The backplate may be loose, which may be tightened.
  • The brake drum may be scoured which will have to be turned or ground. If already ground to maximum limits, the drum has to be replaced.
  • The brake lining may be charred. If so, the shoes have to be relined.
  • Brake lining may be loose on shoes, in which case the same has to be replaced.
  • Wheel bearings may be loose, which may be adjusted.
  • Wheel bearings may be defective. If so, the same may be replaced.
  • Dirt or dust may have entered the brake shoe assembly. The same may be disassembled and cleaned.
  • Primary and secondary shoes may have been reversed. The same may be reinstalled correctly.

     8. Hand brakes ineffective | Brake Troubleshooting

The usual reason for this defect is the stretching of the operating cable, which can be adjusted with the help of the means provided for this purpose. Generally, a nut is provided, at the end of the lever. In case the cable is still slack even after full adjustment is provided, it means the cable is excessively slack and should be replaced.

     9. Excessive loss of brake fluid | Brake Troubleshooting

This may be due to:

  • Leaking of the master cylinder or wheel cylinder, which can be inspected and repaired or replaced as necessary.
  • Any connection may be loose, which can be tightened properly.
  • Connecting pipe or hose may be damaged, which has to be replaced.

     10. Presence of air in the braking system

This may be on account of the following:

  • The Master cylinder may have some defects causing the leak of air inside. The same may be repaired or replaced if required.
  • Any connection may be loose, which can be tightened properly.

Check out other automobile troubleshooting tutorials posted on bestengineeringprojects.com

  1. Gearbox Troubleshooting
  2. Automobile Clutch Troubleshooting
  3. Automobile Suspension System Troubleshooting
  4. Wheel and Tyre Trouble Shooting
  5. Precaution Regarding Automobile Tyres
  6. Automobile Lighting System Troubleshooting
  7. Automobile Steering Troubleshooting

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