The loss of brake fluid is the cause of soft or spongy brakes in vehicles. It could be brought on by wear and tear, air getting into the brake lines, various sorts of damage to other brake system parts, or other factors as well.
You might at some point discover that your car’s brakes “are soft” while using it. To put it another way, you may feel as though your foot is spongy when you step on the brake pedal compared to how much pressure you typically need to use and how hard you’re braking.
These are feelings that are simple to recognize while operating a vehicle and may be warning us of a breakdown. It may, in a sense, be a symptom.
If you find that the brakes on your car are soft, the first thing you should do is figure out what’s causing it and whether there’s a problem.
Then, if there is, you should look into what the problem is and possible solutions. We’ll actually tell you why you might think your car’s brakes are soft in this sentence.
Why do I think my car’s brakes are spongy or soft?
When you first detect a spongy or soft brake pedal, investigate if your situation matches any of the following, which are the most typical.
In the braking lines, air
If the car’s brakes seem soft when you press the pedal, air in the brake lines could be the cause of the issue.
One of the common issues is that when air “sneaks” into this circuit, it could prevent the brake fluid from flowing as it should. It is advised to change or bleed the brake fluid in certain circumstances.
These flaws are apparent because the brake pedal feels soft or spongy when we apply the brakes.
Worn brake lines
Brake lines that are leaking or otherwise damaged may possibly be the source of this issue. Small holes that allow brake fluid to leak can develop if the steel pipes that make up the brake lines corrode.
The hydraulic pressure is thus decreased, and when the brake pedal is depressed with the foot, the brake feels soft or spongy to the touch.
Brake cylinders with damage
It’s likely that wheel cylinder corrosion in vehicles with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes will also result in brake fluid leakage.
As a result, hydraulic pressure is also lost, and the brake pedal feels spongy to the touch in addition to the braking efficacy not being as good as when they are in good condition.
Misaligned brake shoes
On models with rear drums, we might see that hammering the pedal enhances the pedal’s sensation. If this occurs, it’s conceivable that improper brake shoe adjustment is what caused the issue.
As we utilize the brake system, this is normal. However, these brake pads should be checked and changed; on the other hand, using the handbrake can help to correct them without the need for workshop assistance.
The cause of brake fluid leaks can originate in a number of system parts.
Other flaws that could make the brake seem spongy or soft
In addition to the situations mentioned above, these sensations can also happen when applying the brakes because of wear on the master cylinder or calipers of disc braking systems, which results in the loss of brake fluid.
These are some more severe issues than those mentioned above, although our car may experience them as well.
In any case, it is advised to visit a shop to have the braking system thoroughly examined if we discover issues with it.
Failure to do so would not only endanger our safety, but it might also make the issue worse over longer distances.
