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Brake pedal is spongy Inspection Service

When you press your brake pedal, it should feel firm and solid. There should be only minimal travel in the pedal before the brakes are engaged, and it should not require significant effort to slow or stop your vehicle. If you’ve noticed your brake pedal feels spongy or soft, there’s a problem with the system that must be identified and repaired immediately.

How this system works:

The “feel” of your brake pedal is created by fluid pressure in the master cylinder and the brake lines. When you press the pedal to slow or stop your car, the master cylinder responds by pushing fluid into the lines that feed the calipers and drums (depending on your vehicle, you may have disc brakes in the front and drums in the rear, or you may have disc brakes on all four wheels).

Once the fluid reaches the calipers, they activate a piston that closes the caliper on the rotor, squeezing it between two brake pads. In the case of drum brakes, an actuator is activated, which pushes the shoes outward against the inner surface of the drum.

In a normally operating system, you should feel little to no difference in the firmness of the brake pedal during any part of operation. However, there are several potential problems that could lead to a spongy or soft pedal feel.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Air in the Lines: If air gets into the brake lines, either due to low brake fluid in the master cylinder or from other source, it will create a spongy feel and reduce your stopping ability. This is sometimes a common occurrence after an inexpert brake pad replacement or repair. Air should be bled from the system after every repair to ensure proper operation and safety.

  • Damaged Caliper: Another potential problem that could cause a spongy brake pedal is a damaged brake caliper. If the caliper’s piston seal has started to leak, this will create a soft pedal. Brake fluid may also contaminate the surface of the rotor and/or brake pads, leading to further problems.

  • Master Cylinder Wear: If your master cylinder is older, it can sustain enough wear and tear that it loses fluid pressure. This is generally caused by a fluid leak at the master cylinder. Again, any loss of fluid pressure will lead to a brake pedal that feels spongy or soft.

  • Brake Line Damage: Your vehicle has both rubber and metal brake lines, and either type can be damaged. When this happens, the line may become crimped, which reduces the flow of fluid through it, or it may begin leaking, which will reduce overall pressure. Both conditions lead to a spongy or soft brake pedal.

  • Moisture in Brake Fluid: If your brake fluid hasn’t been changed in a while, there’s a good chance that it has absorbed moisture. Moisture can be absorbed through the pores on rubber brake lines, leading to a spongy or soft brake pedal.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect the entire brake system, including the master cylinder, the brake lines, the calipers, rotors and pads. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will need to inspect the entire system, with a particular focus on problems that cause air to be trapped in the lines, or that lead to low fluid levels in the brake system. The mechanic will need to inspect the calipers, the brake lines, the master cylinder and other components in order to determine the actual underlying cause of the problem.

How important is this service?

If you’re experiencing a spongy brake pedal, it’s a critical situation. Air in the lines or low brake fluid can compromise your safety on the road. Your brakes are the single most important safety system on your vehicle, and they must be professionally maintained at all times. One of our mechanics can inspect, diagnose and repair your car to ensure that you’re safe while driving.


Recent Brake pedal is spongy Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(31)

Rating Summary
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Behrak

10 years of experience
403 reviews
Behrak
10 years of experience
Ford Fusion L4-2.0L Turbo - Brake pedal is spongy - Atlanta, Georgia
He explained everything to me correctly. Though the car issue was not fixed, he scheduled a new one to go back and fix the issues

Arturo

28 years of experience
303 reviews
Arturo
28 years of experience
Mazda 3 L4-2.0L - Brake pedal is spongy - San Diego, California
Very professional, patient, and friendly. He let me know exactly what was going on with my car and worked with me to pick out options. He also works quickly.

Brian

24 years of experience
818 reviews
Brian
24 years of experience
Chevrolet Impala V6-3.6L - Brake pedal is spongy - Jacksonville, Florida
I appreciate I was reached out when availability opened up. He broke down everything very easily for me and I very much appreciate he actually took my concerns into consideration vs just what I booked for. Got me to the actual core issue of the car. I look forward to doing business with him again!

Raymond

28 years of experience
280 reviews
Raymond
28 years of experience
Ford Fiesta L4-1.6L - Brake pedal is spongy - Victorville, California
Raymond was on time and very friendly. He figured out that the scheduled work was not the cause of the problem and found a resolution. We still need to take the car to the dealership to fix the issue but we know what the issue is ahead of time.

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