When you step on your car's brake pedal, you expect the car to slow or stop as soon as you need it to. If this does not happen, you might be at risk of causing a car accident. One of the main problems that can cause your braking system to fail is having air in the brake lines. But what exactly are brake lines, and how can you know when you have air in your brake lines?
What Are Brake Lines?
Brake lines are parts of your braking system that are responsible for housing and circulating the brake fluid. The braking system of most cars is hydraulic, and this means that powering it relies on high pressure from the brake fluid. Like with any other hydraulic system, having air in the brake lines is one of the greatest enemies of your brake's hydraulic system. When it finds its way into the brake lines, you can expect your car's brake system to suffer significantly, and it might become very hard for you to control your car.
Symptoms of Air in the Brake Lines
As indicated above air in the brake lines can be a risky issue, since it endangers your life and that of other road users. Therefore, you need to keen and ensure that you get in touch with a mechanic as soon as you notice any symptoms. Some of the symptoms that are associated with air in the brake line include:
Spongy Brake Pedal
One of the most obvious signs that you have air in the brake lines is that the brake pedal will feel spongy when you press it down.
Ineffective Brakes
When your brake lines have air, pressing the brake pedal will not only feel soft but also less effective.
Loose Brake Pedal
Why you have air in your brake line, you will notice that the pedal is loose, and it moves further than usual when you step on it. In some cases, it might move all the way to the floor of your car when you press it down.
The Takeaway
Overall, it is apparent that having air in the brake lines can be a serious mechanical problem. If you need brake line repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to our auto repair shop today.