BRAKES

BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING

NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended

to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION

Brakes Pull Left

or Right Incorrect tire pressure Inflate tires to proper

pressure

Front end out of alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Mismatched tires Check tires sizes

Restricted brake lines

or hoses Check hose routing

Loose or malfunctioning

caliper See DISC BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Bent shoe or oily linings See DRUM BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Malfunctioning rear brakes See DRUM, DISC BRAKES

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Loose suspension parts See SUSPENSION

Noises Without

Brakes Applied Front linings worn out Replace linings

Dust or oil on drums See DRUM, DISC BRAKES
or rotors or BRAKE SYSTEM

Noises With

Brakes Applied Insulator on outboard See DISC BRAKES or

shoe damaged BRAKE SYSTEM

Incorrect pads or linings Replace pads or linings

Brake Rough, Chatters

or Pulsates Excessive lateral runout Check rotor runout

Parallelism not to

specifications Reface or replace rotor

Wheel bearings not adjusted See SUSPENSION

Rear drums out-of-round Reface or replace drums

Disc pad reversed, steel

against rotor Remove and reinstall

pad

Excessive Pedal

Effort Malfunctioning power unit See POWER BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Partial system failure Check fluid and pipes Worn disc pad or lining Replace pad or lining Caliper piston stuck or

sluggish See DISC BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Master cylinder piston

stuck See MASTER CYLINDERS

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Brake fade due to incorrect

pads for linings Replace pads or linings

Linings or pads glazed Replace pads or linings
Worn drums Reface or replace drums

Excessive Pedal

Travel Partial brake system failure Check fluid and pipes

Insufficient fluid in

master cylinder See MASTER CYLINDERS or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Air trapped in system See BRAKE BLEEDING or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Rear brakes not adjusted See Adjustments in DRUM

BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM

Bent shoe or lining See DRUM BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Plugged master cylinder cap See MASTER CYLINDERS

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Improper brake fluid Replace brake fluid

Pedal Travel

Decreasing Compensating port plugged See MASTER CYLINDERS

or BRAKE SYSTEM
Swollen cup in master
cylinder See MASTER CYLINDERS

or BRAKE SYSTEM Master cylinder piston

not returning See MASTER CYLINDERS

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Weak shoe retracting springs See DRUM BRAKES

BRAKE SYSTEM

Wheel cylinder piston

sticking See DRUM BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Dragging

Brakes Master cylinder pistons

not returning See MASTER CYLINDERS

BRAKE SYSTEM

Restricted brake lines

or hoses Check line routing

Incorrect parking brake

adjustment See DRUM BRAKES

BRAKE SYSTEM

Parking Brake cables frozen See DRUM BRAKES

BRAKE SYSTEM

Incorrect installation of

inboard disc pad Remove and replace

correctly

Power booster output
rod too long See POWER BRAKE UNITS

BRAKE SYSTEM

Brake pedal not returning See DISC, DRUM BRAKES
freely BRAKE SYSTEM

Brakes Grab or Uneven Braking

Action Malfunction of combination See CONTROL VALVE or

valve BRAKE SYSTEM

Malfunction of power brake See POWER BRAKE UNITS
unit or BRAKE SYSTEM

Binding brake pedal See DISC, DRUM BRAKES

or BRAKE SYSTEM

Pulsation or

Roughness Uneven pad wear caused by See DISC BRAKES or
caliper BRAKE SYSTEM

Uneven rotor wear See DISC BRAKES or

BRAKE SYSTEM

Drums out-of-round Reface or replace drums