| You are cruising along one day just minding your own | | | | sounds like a small thing, but the system is based on |
| business. You come up to a light and notice you | | | | pressure so anything that affects the fluid can cause |
| aren't slowing down very quickly. In fact, you nearly | | | | problems. This is particularly true if air is getting into |
| have to push the brake pedal to the ground to get | | | | the system. If you think this is the problem, bleed |
| the car to stop. | | | | the system dry and replace the brake fluid. |
| Braking is one of those important functions that | | | | The final common problem you might be suffering |
| nobody really thinks about until there is a problem. If | | | | has to do with your break pads. If they are worn |
| you can't stop, you are going to be in big trouble! | | | | down, the break pedal could go to the floor. That |
| The good news is it is very rare for the brakes on a | | | | being said, the pads would have to be worn down to |
| car to just completely fail outright. Instead, they | | | | the nub. They would have been squeaking, vibrating |
| usually start to evidence problems that get your | | | | and grinding for a long time before this happened. |
| attention. A brake pedal that has to be pushed to | | | | You would really have to be the most unobservant |
| the ground is certainly one of those. | | | | driver to have this happen, but it is a possibility. The |
| The first potential cause is also the easiest one to | | | | cure to the problem is to replace the pads. |
| deal with. Pop the hood and check your brake fluid. | | | | If these three issues are not the problem, you may |
| Even though the braking system should be enclosed, | | | | have a one off problem with the system that |
| it will leak a bit over time. If you are really lucky, you'll | | | | requires professional help. Take the car down to a |
| just need to buy some brake fluid and top off the | | | | brake shop and let them take a look at it. Whatever |
| system. The perfect fix - cheap and quick. | | | | you do, don't just procrastinate. A brake pedal going |
| If the brake fluid seems up to the appropriate levels, | | | | to the floor is a very bad sign and an indicator that a |
| you may have a secondary problem. The problem | | | | major failure of the system may be about to happen. |
| may be the brake fluid is bad. Air and water can get | | | | If that occurs, you are going to end up in an |
| into the system and contaminate the brake fluid. It | | | | accident. |