Brake pads replaced but still feel soft
I’ve driven my mini van for years and I’ve never liked how the brakes make me feel. Last month I had the brake pad replaced (AP). After that, the brake felt softer… but then it became very hard to stop when having to suddenly stop. It doesn’t even feel like it’s stopping. I returned to the auto repair shop and was told there was nothing wrong. I no longer feel safe about driving my mini van. I can’t follow other cars too close. So I had another front pad replaced and it does seem a little better, but it’s still brakes soft. Do you think my mini van has a bad brake system?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It sounds like your 2006 Freestar does have a legitimate brake issue and the mechanics you are currently going to have not identified it. You need to have confidence that your brakes are "working as designed" and will stop your vehicle! You may want to speak with management and give them one more try at making it right. Diagnosing and repairing brakes should be a fairly easy job for a trained mechanic. Make sure that you are using top quality parts and are following correct procedures. If you do not feel comfortable going back to the same shop, have a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your brake issue.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Air in the brake line(s) is the most common cause of a soft/spongy brake pedal. If air gets into the brake lines, it can prevent brake fluid from flowing properly, causing the brake pedal to feel spongy or soft.
This can be due to a number of problems: a leak in a brake line, a loss of pressure within the master cylinder itself due to a failed seal, or air being introduced into the braking system. Your first reaction to encountering spongy brakes should be to rapidly pump the brake pedal with your foot.
Causes of a Soft Brake Pedal
Brake fluid is the only component that should be in the brake lines. If air gets into the lines, it can prevent the fluid from flowing properly, causing the brake pedal to feel soft.
Brake pedals should always feel firm when you press down. If your pedals ever feel soft and spongy, you should immediately get your vehicle inspected, as a spongy brake pedal is a symptom of failed braking components in the car.
The most common reason for a soft brake pedal is simply air still in the system. The easiest way to diagnose this problem is to pump the brake pedal gently a few times. In doing so, the pedal should become firmer with each gentle press of the pedal.
It could be that the brakes weren`t lubricated correctly in the service. Or, that new brakes weren`t broken in correctly. The driver may have unintentionally overheated the new brake pads to the point where the brake pads developed a glaze from overheating, which does cause squeaks.
If you have a stiff brake pedal and the vehicle has a vacuum pump or hydraulic brake booster, some common issues could be a missing serpentine belt, a failing electric pump, or low power steering fluid.
No. If your brake pedal feels spongy, your vehicle is not safe to drive. Identify and repair the underlying issue as quickly as possible. Spongy brakes are common and dangerous problems for any vehicle and indicative of a deeper problem.
A normal-functioning brake pedal feels firm when you attempt to slow down your vehicle. The harder you press down on it, the tighter it feels without applying extra pedal effort.
Though gentle braking is better than heavy braking, more braking is better than less. For up to the first 300 km, every time the brake pads make contact with the discs, it increases the contact surface area between the two, which leads to better braking in the long-term.
On many cars, the brake pad can be seen through the wheel. Look at it to determine its thickness. If it seems very thin, less than ¼ inch, it is likely in need of replacement, according to J.D. Power. Some brake pads have a slot in the center that serves as a wear indicator.
Making sure the vehicle is in neutral or park, pump the brakes 15 to 20 times to make sure the pad is seated properly. Top off brake fluid levels or follow bleeding of brakes section to flush out old fluid and replace with new fluid. Test your new brake pads.
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Brake pads replaced but still feel soft
ANSWER : It sounds like your 2006 Freestar does have a legitimate brake issue and the mechanics you are currently going to have not identified it. You need to have confidence that your brakes are "working as designed" and will stop your vehicle! You may want to speak with management and give them one more try at making it right. Diagnosing and repairing brakes should be a fairly easy job for a trained mechanic. Make sure that you are using top quality parts and are following correct procedures. If you do not feel comfortable going back to the same shop, have a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your brake issue.
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I just replaced my brake master cylinder and the brakes still feel soft. What do I need to do after I replace the master cylinder
ANSWER : From what you’ve described you will have to bleed your brakes. Also, I believe you may have a leak in one of the lines. You may want to use a wrench and tighten the lines a little more. If you’re unable to fix this yourself, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home to bleed your brakes, diagnose the Check Engine Light, and help you make the appropriate repairs to your car.
Read Full Q/A … : Brake pads replaced but still feel soft
I replaced the brake light switch. Gear lever unlocked because it had locked. Now the brakes feel hard.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. You need to check the brake switch install adjustment. You may have the switch adjusted too tight and it is holding the the brake pedal partly down. This will cause the brake master cylinder to not release the brakes when you let off the pedal. Readjust the switch away from the pedal until you feel some free play again in the pedal. This should fix the problem. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
Read Full Q/A … : Brake pads replaced but still feel soft
Low brake pedal and anti-lock brakes are not kicking in.
ANSWER : The brake pedal is working to stop the vehicle, but there may be air in the controller unit causing the ABS brakes to not function. I recommend bleeding the brake system from the farthest location from the master cylinder to the master cylinder including the ABS unit. If the brakes are still spongy after a full bleed, then the controller will need to be replaced. If you need further assistance with your brake pedal being spongy, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Brake pads replaced but still feel soft
abs light on brake line broke have been replace I bleed brake line but brake pad still go to the floor now wheels lock up
ANSWER : Hello. If the brake pedal is going to the floor then that means that it is not building pressure. If the brake system has been fully bled and there is no air in it then most of the time it is a bad master cylinder or it can be caused by a bad ABS module. If the brake fluid was low and if air got into the system then the only way to properly bleed it is with a scan tool that would allow you to open and close the valves in the ABS unit. Air gets trapped in these easily if the brake fluid gets low. This can also explain why the brakes are locking up. I would usually use my scan tool to bleed the system out first before going any further. I would also scan the brake control module to see what it is reading as a fault. If there is no air in the system and if there is no prominent code then I would replace the master cylinder first. If you want to check out why your brakes are locking up, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair this.
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Have replace rear brake pads 6 times in three months.
ANSWER : Hi there:
It’s very possible that you have either a warped rotor that is causing your brake pads to constantly rub or the caliper is damaged; causing the same problem. You should have a professional mechanic complete a rear brakes inspection before the issue gets worse and creates a potential safety issue.
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Brake calipers needing replacement after brake pads and rotors were replaced?
ANSWER : I think you have it backwards. The pads and rotors do not cause bad calipers, but a sticking or binding caliper can cause the pads to wear excessively and cause the pads to dig into the rotors. The calipers may not of been binding until the caliper pistons had to be pushed back to install the new pads. It would be recommended to have the brake system flushed after replacing the calipers, pads, and rotors so the system has all new fluid. A certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to perform any needed repairs with your brake system.
Read Full Q/A … : Brake pads replaced but still feel soft
