Why’s my brake pedal sitting lower than usual?
Had a situation where your brake pedal’s sitting a bit closer to the floor than usual, especially driving around Hamilton East or down Ulster Street during peak hour? It happens more often than you’d think, and sometimes it creeps up without you even noticing. A low brake pedal isn’t just a small annoyance though – it can easily cause trouble at your next Warrant of Fitness (WOF) check, or worse, affect your safety.
What you want in any car – whether it’s a Toyota Hiace from Eureka or a VW Golf a student brings in from Te Awamutu – is a good bit of distance between your brake pedal and the floor. That’s what gives you proper stopping grunt, especially when you hit a pothole outside The Base or slam the brakes for a rogue cyclist in Claudelands!
What’s behind a low brake pedal?
Seen it plenty in the workshop, and the causes aren’t always obvious. Here’s what we usually find after a look under the bonnet – or sometimes under the car if it’s a Mazda CX-3, Skoda Octavia, or even a Nissan Leaf someone’s wrangling around Dinsdale.
- Rear brake drums need a tweak – Loads of modern cars rock disc brakes up front, but a lot still use drum brakes out back. As they bed in, the gap between the drum and the brake shoe can get too big, and suddenly you’ve got to push the pedal a lot further. Seen this heaps on Honda Jazzes and older Suzuki Swifts.
- Air in your brake fluid – Brake fluid’s meant to transfer force, but get a bit of air in the lines and things just get spongy. One of our techs bled the brakes on a Kia Sportage from Ngaruawahia last week and sorted this exact thing. If you’re pumping the pedal and it still feels soft, this could be your culprit.
- Brake fluid’s gone rusty or dodgy – Bit of rust or gunk from worn brake lines or old parts can mess with the fluid too. Doesn’t matter if it’s a Mercedes, an old Outlander, or a late-model Corolla. It’ll all leave your pedal feeling lower than it should.
- Brake master cylinder seals giving up – Sometimes you’ll notice your foot sinking towards the floor while you’re stopped at the lights on Greenwood Street. That’s usually the seals in the master cylinder starting to bypass, letting fluid sneak past rather than build pressure. Needs sorting pronto.
Is it safe to drive like this?
Honestly, nah – it’s not great. With Hamilton’s stop-start traffic, all those roundabouts in Rototuna, the winter fog and icy mornings, you want your brakes on form. A low brake pedal means you’re losing control – next thing, the pedal’s flat to the floor outside Chartwell, and you just keep rolling. If you notice it, sort it out straight away. Better for your safety, your car’s value and your next WOF Hamilton visit.
Need a brake pedal check up or adjustment in Hamilton?
If your brake pedal’s feeling off or you’ve already failed your WOF because of it, we can help. Seen it on everything from Ford Rangers coming in from Tamahere to Mitsubishi Outlanders driven by mums in Hillcrest. One of our techs will check your whole braking system and give you the straight-up, honest advice you’d expect. We’ll get you sorted with a pedal you can trust, whether it’s a quick adjustment, new fluid or something more involved.
If you’re after car service Hamilton, brake repairs, hybrid repair, or just want to get your brakes sorted before you’re stuck in Te Kowhai with a dodgy pedal, give us a shout. We’ll get you back on the road safely and quickly.