For 1990-2009 cars

Complaint/Condition | Possible Cause(s) | Correction(s)
--- | --- | ---
Pedal Feel
Excessive Pedal Travel | Air in the brake system. | Bleed the brake system.
Front or rear brakes not adjusting to lining wear. | Check the adjuster mechanism and replace or repair as needed.
Excessive brake system heat. | Refer to "Brakes Drag."
Excessive wheel bearing end play. | Replace the wheel bearing.
Excessive wheel hub runout. | Replace the wheel hub.
Caliper not sliding freely. | Repair or replace the caliper/mounting pins.
Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper piston seal. | Replace the wheel cylinder or overhaul caliper.
Leak at the brake pipe or hose connections. | Tighten the connection. Replace the pipe or hose.
Internal master cylinder seal leak. | Overhaul or replace the master cylinder.
Uneven lining wear or damaged lining. | Replace the linings.
Rotor or drum out of specification, e.g. rotor thickness variation, lateral runout, etc. | Refinish or replace the rotor or drum.
Improper vacuum booster to master cylinder pushrod length. | Adjust the pushrod length.
Pedal Creeps Down | Internal master cylinder seal leak or damaged master cylinder bore. | Replace the master cylinder.
Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper piston seal. | Replace the wheel cylinder or overhaul caliper.
Leak at the brake pipe or hose connections. | Tighten the connection. Replace the pipe or hose.
Pedal Pulses | Excessive brake system heat. | Refer to "Brakes Drag."
Rotor or drum out of specifications, e.g. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc. | Replace or refinish the rotor or drum.
Excessive front hub lateral runout. | Replace the front hub.
Worn out linings or linings wearing unevenly. | Replace the linings.
Wheel bearings worn. | Replace the wheel bearing.
Damaged suspension, knuckle or axle. | Replace the damaged parts.
Excessive Pedal Effort | Low vacuum to booster. | Check and repair the engine vacuum, booster check valve or hose.
Leaking or damaged vacuum booster, e.g. cut diaphragm, cracked power piston, restricted air passages. | Replace the booster.
Worn out brake linings, glazed. | Replace the linings.
Damage to the braking surface of the rotor or drum. | Replace the rotor or drum.
Crimped brake pipe or collapsed brake hose. | Replace the pipe or hose.
Noise
Squeal/Scrape While Not Braking | Worn linings, sensor scraping on rotor, normal. | Replace the linings.
Loose drum brake component, spring, lever, adjuster, etc. | Check the drum brake and repair.
Loose front suspension attachments. | Tighten the attachments or replace.
Caliper interference with the rotor. | Check the clearance and repair.
Bent or cracked suspension parts. | Replace the components.
Drum or rotor contacting the backing plate or dust shield. | Check the clearance and repair.
Squeal/Scrape While Braking | Worn linings, sensor scraping on the rotor, normal. | Replace the linings.
Linings worn out, shoe contacting the drum or rotor. | Replace the linings.
Lack of lubrication on the backing plate or on the adjuster screw. | Lubricate the backing plate or the adjuster screw.
Lack of lubrication on caliper sliding surfaces. | Lubricate.
Lack of lubrication on brake pedal attachments. | Lubricate.
Damage to the insulator between the disc brake shoe and the caliper piston. | Replace the shoe and the linings as needed.
Hot spots or worn surface on the drum or rotor. | Replace the rotor or drum.
Weak hold down springs or worn drum brake components. | Replace the drum brake springs.
Chatters/Rattles | Hot spots or worn surface on the drum or rotor. | Replace the drum or rotor.
Rotor or drum out of specifications, e.g. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc. | Replace or refinish the rotor or drum.
Lining contaminated with foreign substances. | Replace the linings.
Linings wearing unevenly. | Replace the linings.
Bent or loose brake shoes. | Replace the shoes and linings.
Weak or broken retractor springs. | Replace the drum brake springs.
Loose brake cable, brake pipe, or ABS wiring. | Check the cable or pipe connection and tighten or replace as needed.
Groans (at Near Stop) | Linings worn out. | Replace the linings.
Incorrect or damaged lining material. | Replace the linings.
Hot spots or worn surface on the drum or rotor. | Replace the drum or rotor.
Cracked or bent knuckle or suspension parts. | Replace the suspension component.
Loose suspension. | Tighten the suspension or replace.
Performance
Brake Pull Left/Right | Caliper pistons sticking. | Overhaul the caliper and replace the piston.
Loose wheel bearings or suspension attachments. | Replace the wheel bearings or tighten the suspension attachments.
Worn suspension components. | Replace the suspension components.
Loose steering or steering gear. | Repair or replace the steering components.
Uneven wear on the tires, tires not properly inflated or incorrect tires for the vehicle. | Check the tires and replace if necessary.
Uneven worn linings. | Replace the linings.
Front suspension out of alignment. | Align the suspension.
Restricted brake pipe or hose. | Replace the pipe or hose.
Brakes Grab | Contaminated brake linings. | Replace the linings.
Damage to braking surface of the rotors or drums. | Replace the rotors or drums.
Rotor or drum out of specifications, e.g. lateral runout, parallelism, out of round, etc. | Replace or refinish the rotor or drum.
Damaged vacuum booster. | Replace the booster.
Brakes Drag | Caliper pistons stuck. | Overhaul the caliper and replace the piston.
Corroded caliper bolts. Caliper will not retract. | Replace the bolts and the bolt boots.
Compensating port or bypass hole in the master cylinder clogged. | Replace the master cylinder.
Worn or damaged drum brake return springs. | Replace the drum brake springs.
Contaminated or improper brake fluid, rubber seals are swollen. | Flush the brake system and replace all the rubber parts including hoses.
Parking brake not releasing. | Check the parking brake adjustment and cables.
Self-adjusters over adjusting for lining wear. | Overhaul or replace the adjusters.
Improper vacuum booster push rod length. | Adjust the push rod length.
Brake Action Uneven (Front - Rear) | Uneven wear on the tires, tires improperly inflated or incorrect tires installed. | Check the tires and replace if needed.
Proportioning valve not functioning properly. | Replace the proportioning valve.
Linings wearing unevenly front to rear. | Replace the linings.
Fluid leak in system. | Check the system for leaks and repair or replace the components.
Hot spots or worn surface on the drum or rotor. | Replace the drum or rotor.
Brakes Slow to Release | Caliper piston sticking. | Overhaul the caliper and replace the piston.
Corroded caliper bolts. Caliper will not retract. | Replace the bolts and the bolt boots.
Contaminated or improper brake fluid, rubber seals are swollen. | Flush the brake system and replace all the rubber parts including hoses.
Worn caliper piston seals. | Overhaul the calipers.
Worn or damaged drum brake return springs. | Replace the drum brake springs.
Worn or damaged master cylinder seals. | Replace the master cylinder.
Damage to the mechanical action of the brake pedal. | Check the pedal and repair or replace.
Slow Response/Excessive Stopping Distance | Improper rotor surface finish. | Refinish or replace the rotor.
Linings not adjusting properly, damaged self-adjusters or worn piston seal. | Overhaul drum brake or caliper.
Caliper pistons sticking. | Overhaul the caliper and replace the piston.
Worn or glazed linings. | Replace the linings.
Proportioning valve not functioning properly. | Replace the proportioning valve.
Odor | Linings overheated. | Refer to "Brakes Drag."
Lining contaminated with a foreign substances. | Replace the lining.
Poor Fuel Economy | Linings over-heated. | Refer to "Brakes Drag."
Telltale Lamps
Red Brake Warning Lamp On | Park brake on. | Release the park brake.
Low brake fluid level in master cylinder, check for leaks. | Fill the reservoir. Check for leaks.
Improperly adjusted park brake switch. | Check the park brake switch connection and the adjustment.
Damaged park brake switch or switch circuit. | Replace the switch or repair the circuit.
Damaged low brake fluid switch or switch circuit. | Replace the switch or repair the circuit.
ABS System. | Refer to ABS diagnosis.
Amber (ABS) Telltale Lamp On | ABS System. | Refer to ABS diagnosis.
Parking Brake
Does Not Hold | Park brake not adjusted properly. | Adjust the park brake.
Brakes not adjusting properly. | Check the brake adjusters and repair or replace as needed.
Linings worn out. | Replace the linings.
Linings contaminated with foreign material. | Replace the linings.
Cable disconnected from lever. | Connect the cable.
Lever bent or loose. | Replace the lever.
Does Not Release | Park brake cables binding. | Check the cable and cable attachments.
Release lever broken or binding. | Replace the park brake lever.
Parking Brake Lever Hard to Apply | Lack of lubrication on the apply mechanism. | Lubricate the apply mechanism.
Park brake cables binding. | Check the cables and cable attachments.