Brake system malfunctions. What does cause them?

Owners are obliged to monitor the condition of the braking system of their car and keep it in good working order. Brake system diagnostics – a mandatory activity that is carried out regularly. Even a minor fault in the braking system can cause an accident.
Brake system faults and what can cause them

Brake failure – a serious breakdown. It is strictly forbidden to operate the vehicle if a brake system failure is suspected.

How can I tell if there is a problem with the brake system? Signs of brake system problems:

• When braking, the vehicle may drift sideways. This fault is most often caused by a jammed piston in the brake caliper of one of the circuits.
• A characteristic grinding, noise is heard during braking. Possible causes of malfunction – extreme wear of brake pads, severe corrosion of the brake disc, very rarely may be detached from the base of the brake pad lining.
• When pressing the brake pedal, the driver has to apply additional force. The reason why the pedal has become difficult to depress is most likely due to a faulty vacuum booster.
• When the brake pedal is depressed, a vibration is felt. Vibration may indicate wear and deformation of the brake disc or loose (loose) caliper mount.
• Lack of free movement of the brake pedal may be due to improperly adjusted vacuum booster when replacing it or possibly swollen cuffs in the cylinders due to the use of poor quality (fake) brake fluid.
• The brake system failure indicator light has come on, signalling a low level of brake fluid in the reservoir under the bonnet. With such a brake failure, you should check for technical fluid leaks under the car after parking. It can also be caused by excessive wear of the brake pads, equipped with the appropriate sensors..

Diagnosis: how to check the brake?

In order to keep your brakes in top technical condition, it is essential to have regular maintenance checks. A specialised service will be required for a good brake diagnosis and subsequent repair.

The vehicle's brake system is diagnosed in several stages:

• Checking the brakes, pedal travel from the cabin. It is necessary to check whether the handbrake is properly adjusted.
• Check the level of brake fluid. Careful inspection of cylinders and tubes
• Inspection of the wheels, identifying oil leaks.
• Inspection of calipers, hoses, tubes for corrosion. There may be damage, deformation, misting on the surface of the parts.
• Check brake discs, drums, pads. When the thickness of the elements is already insufficient, it will be necessary to replace the worn parts.
• It is necessary to make sure that the brake works in real working conditions. This will require measurements of the braking distance and the degree of deceleration.
• Visual inspection of the vehicle is also necessary to ensure that the car does not have deviations in any direction.

Brake System Inspection Equipment

The MS300 brake caliper test bench is perfect for diagnosing and repairing brake calipers:

• This equipment can be used to check the performance and tightness of the units and identify brake caliper faults. Using the stand, it is also possible to check how the electromechanical drive of the parking brake works.
• The design of the equipment provides a perforated wall, where you can conveniently place the working tool, which is needed constantly at hand in the process of disassembly and further assembly of the unit.
• Equipment is suitable for long and intensive use, and therefore can be used in car service stations with high traffic.

Find out more about the possibilities of the equipment for brake system diagnostics and repair on website or from the company's managers.