When I press my brake pedal I need to go to the floor with it almost to make the car slow. I don't know if I need new pads or shoes or rotors anyone out there know much about car brakes? There isn't any sound of metal on metal or any shaking when I hit the brakes. Thanks
2006-11-09 10:54:49 · 7 answers · asked by twinsfan_02 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Rather than guess on such a safety issue where people are going to say to bleed the brakes, take it to a garage that will do a free inspection. There are plenty of places that do this.
A brake system is not going to get air into it unless you have a leak or you run the master cylinder out of fluid.
If you can pump the brakes a few times and the pedal gets better, chances are you have a problem with the rear brakes.
This condition can also occur if the caliper slides and hardware stick. I have seen this several times.
To me, it sounds more like you have a master cylinder going bad. A good mechanic can check to see for certain in as little as 10 minutes.
Brakes are a major safety component of the car, use common sense.
2006-11-09 13:34:09 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the brakes don't make noise then the rotors/pads are probably fine. There is a small chance that rotors are too thin if the car is very old, but this is not likely on a car that is less than 10 years old. Check the brake fluid level, usually under the hood on the driver's side. If it looks good then there is probably air in the lines. If it is low, add the appropriate brake fluid. Check the owner's manual for the required "DOT" number, usually 3 or higher. After adding the brake fluid, pump your brakes rapidly several times until the pedal firms up and no longer travels so far. If there is air in the lines then you have to bleed it out, and you should take it to a shop because that is tedious and smelly work that requires some knowledge and skill. And brake fluid will ruin your rims and paint if you spill it anywhere, which is almost guaranteed to happen.
If you do have to take it to a shop, do not say "I think I need new brakes." They will be happy to charge you for new brakes whether you need them or not. Say "I need you to bleed the air out of my brake lines." Even if that is not the problem you are less likely to get ripped off.
2006-11-09 11:43:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
sounds like you have air in your lines or your have a leak that has resulted in low brake fluid.
Pop the hood and look on the drivers side firewall. There will be a brake fluid reservior protruding out from the master cylinder. Check the levels if levels are fine then all you need to do is bleed the brake lines.
You can do this by getting a friend to pump the brake 3 time and hold after you open the bleeder screw on the calipers. Start at the wheel farthest from the master cylinder.
2006-11-09 10:59:06 · answer #3 · answered by Slappin 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Have you checked the brake fluid level? Does it get better when you "pump" the brake pedal? Maybe the system needs bleeding (taking the air out). There could be lots of reasons, and last of them would be the pads, if at all, because the pistons are self adjusting to a great extent.
2006-11-09 11:36:23 · answer #4 · answered by I Drum 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is strange, I must admit. If the brake pedal feels spongy in addition to going down all the way to the floor, you may have air in the brakes. You need to have a mechanic (it takes TWO mechanics) to BLEED the braking system and, yes, you may need pads too. -- You must not forget, though, that brake FLUID is very "thirsty"... meaning... it absorbs water, moist as years pass and in doing so the fluid's boiling point is dramatically lowered to the point of becoming useless particularly in heavy braking and therefore VERY DANGEROUS. So when you have the garage BLEED your braking system have them change the brake fluid completely too. With any car or motorbike, the brake fluid should be completely renewed every TWO years MAX
2006-11-09 11:04:27 · answer #5 · answered by RED-CHROME 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the first thing you need to check is your brake fluid. if the brake fluid is low it will make the brake pedal go to the floor. after you fill it up with brake fluid the brakes will need to be bleed because you now have air in your brake lines. if your brake fluid is o.k. then check your brakes because you have a problem with them.
2006-11-09 11:02:46 · answer #6 · answered by ronnie b 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its a problem with ur brake lines leaking i would think. some were in ur brake system u have a leak, and therefore no pressure is being built up to activate the brakes.
2006-11-09 11:00:33 · answer #7 · answered by HILL BILLY CUSTOMS 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋