If your brakes are spongy or your brake pedal feels low, take your vehicle to your trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection right away. Your mechanic may identify one or more of the following issues. Below are a few reasons why your brakes feel stogy.
Your Brakes are Full of Air
Most people who complain about spongy brakes have air in the brakes. However, finding out how the air got there is as important as removing it. If your brake system has recently had repair work done, that's likely to be the cause. If the problem persists, there is probably some leak you need to investigate. Bleed the brakes first, and see if that fixes the problem.
The Brake Fluid is Likely Old
There is a limit to how long brake fluid can last. Service intervals can range from 20,000 to 30,000 miles, but it is more complex. The reason is that brake fluid can last over 100,000 miles as long as there are no leaks in the system, but the moment air enters the system, it begins to oxidize and add moisture.
When moisture gets added to your brake system, your brakes will feel spongier, which signals to you that your fluid needs to be changed.
The Master Cylinder Needs to get Replaced
If you have a broken seal in your master cylinder, you can have either one of two things happen based on where the leak is. If you have rust and leaks in your brake lines, you will find seals throughout your master cylinder to keep everything working correctly; if you have a broken seal. A leaking brake cylinder can cause spongy brakes in the first instance. The second issue is that air may enter the system if there is a leak above the brake fluid, such as at the cap.
To prevent the problem from returning, you must fix the leak and flush the brake fluid. This air can cause problems, but the moisture it brings damages the brake fluid.
Are you struggling from spongy brakes?
Fortunately, spongy brakes are usually an easy fix; if you need them fixed, we invite you to bring your vehicle into Village Transmission & Auto Clinic today!