4 Reasons Your Brake Pedal Goes Too Far Down To Stop

10 August 2015
 Categories: , Blog


The braking system of your vehicle is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Keeping them properly maintained and receiving repairs even when you notice a very slight problem is one of the best ways to prevent a potentially fatal accident. One problem you may notice at some point is that you have to push your brake pedal too far down in order to stop. Here are four reasons you may have to do this and how to fix it:

  1. Low Brake Fluid: It is best to keep your garage stocked with brake fluid so that you can top it off whenever it is low or you can take your car into see professionals who can top of the brake fluid for you. If you decide to do it yourself, then you will want to know where the brake fluid reservoir is. If you open the hood of your truck, you should easily be able to spot the brake fluid reservoir toward the back on the driver's side. Typically, the reservoir is placed up high so that it is easy to access and easy for you to spot. Simply open the cap and check the fluid level. If the level is low, be sure to top it off. 
  2. Contaminated Brake Fluid: Another reason you may have to push the brake pedal too far down to stop is that your brake fluid is contaminated. Unfortunately, checking for contaminated brake fluid can't really be done, so the best rule of thumb is to flush out the braking fluid and replace with new fluid if you know that you haven't had this done is a long time. It's best to have the professionals do this for you. 
  3. Worn Brake Pads: You will know if you have worn brake pads and you are pushing too far on the brake pedal to stop because you will hear a loud screeching noise. This is a sure sign that your brake pads are worn. It is important that you replace the brake pads as soon as possible. You shouldn't be driving with worn brake pads since it can be extremely difficult to stop in time, plus it can cause further issues with your braking system, such as warped rotors and more.
  4. Bad Brake Booster: Finally, the last thing that could possibly be causing you to have to push the brake pedal too far down is the fact that you have a bad brake booster. If you have already checked the brake's fluid level and the brake pads and the problem is still not fixed, then take the car into the professionals who can check and replace the brake booster if necessary. 

By knowing what can possibly be causing you to have to brake too hard, you can be sure that you resolve the issue before it causes other problems with your entire braking system. 

To learn more, contact an automotive repair company like Arringdale's Engine Rebuilding & Auto Repair


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