Brake Problem on Car

Lemlin

Was driving along the other day and put my foot on the brake and it was as if something had snapped. The brakes still worked. Just not if you go to jam on. And I wouldn't be confident of braking while driving quickly.

Anyone know what could be wrong? Would it be a brake pad?

I'm bringing the car to my garage when it reopens. Garage is only across the road so haven't to drive far.

Row

What make,model,year,disc or drum brakes...:)

sundodger5

the only time i have heard of the "something snapped" description was when a circuit went down in the brake hydraulics. this could be caused by either a brake cylinder or hose failing.
before you panic check the fluid level in the resevoir under the bonnet.
is the pedal now lower down before you get any braking?

Lemlin

Row wrote: »

What make,model,year,disc or drum brakes...:)

1999 Toyota Corolla. Three door hatchback model.

Lemlin

sundodger5 wrote: »

the only time i have heard of the "something snapped" description was when a circuit went down in the brake hydraulics. this could be caused by either a brake cylinder or hose failing.
before you panic check the fluid level in the resevoir under the bonnet.
is the pedal now lower down before you get any braking?

Yep, the pedal seems to be going a bit lower when I brake alright. What happened was I was braking, then it felt like something snapped and the brake went lower than normal and is now lower. The car is still braking but not as well as normal.

Row

On models with rear drum brakes it can be common that the brake liners come away from the brake shoes which can cause a bang but usally a
scraping noise can be heard from the rear of the car when driven...

Maybe jack up the rear of the car apply the brakes (engine on) sometimes i jam a brush between the headrest and the brake pedal and see if the
rear brakes are catching....this is also a good way of checking the if the handbrake is working correctly........but be sure to place something under the front wheels........:eek:...maybe do the same for the front.

CJhaughey

IIRC the brakes are done diagonally, ie left front and right rear are one circuit and vice versa.
Maybe the pads were hanging up on crap in the caliper slot or the caliper was sticking on the pins and suddenly slid down the pin.
If you can see evidence of fluid leakage at any point then there has been a failure, but it could be just sticky parts that have been frozen and come free.

the merchant

This is almost certainly a rear wheel cylinder failure. Have a look at at the back of the backing plates behind the rear brakes and you should see signs of fluid on one side.

You should however replace the cylinders on both sides and obviously the shoes as these will be soaked with brake fluid.

alo1587

the merchant wrote: »

This is almost certainly a rear wheel cylinder failure. Have a look at at the back of the backing plates behind the rear brakes and you should see signs of fluid on one side.

You should however replace the cylinders on both sides and obviously the shoes as these will be soaked with brake fluid.

+1.What i was going to say.

Lemlin

the merchant wrote: »

This is almost certainly a rear wheel cylinder failure. Have a look at at the back of the backing plates behind the rear brakes and you should see signs of fluid on one side.

You should however replace the cylinders on both sides and obviously the shoes as these will be soaked with brake fluid.

Will this cost alot to fix?

the merchant

Depends on where you go - shouldn't cost more than a couple of hundred quid all in. Maybe less.