5 Symptoms of a Brake Fluid Leak
Brakes are vital to the safety and longevity of your vehicle. A common brake failure is a fluid leak, which can occur in the master cylinder, brake lines, or brake calipers. A puddle of water under your car likely indicates a leak, but there are other signs as well.
It’s very important to find and repair a brake fluid leak quickly, as driving with low fluid can lead to brake failure. Here are 5 common brake fluid leak symptoms to help you troubleshoot: Key Insights
1. Symptoms of a leak include brake warning light, puddles or dripping fluid near the wheels, spongy or soft brake pedal, brake pedal reaching the floor, and reduced braking performance.
2. If you notice any of these symptoms, stop driving and have your vehicle inspected by a mechanic immediately.
3. The cost to repair a brake fluid leak varies depending on the location, but in most cases it will be between $100 and $400.
5 Most Common Symptoms of a Brake Fluid Leak
1) Brake Warning Light Comes On
This is usually the first sign that a driver will notice that there is a brake problem, as it is easily spotted when the warning light in the instrument cluster comes on.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re low on fluid, but as we mentioned before, most braking issues are a direct result of having too little brake fluid, so consider this an early sign.
2) Brake Fluid Puddles
If you notice small puddles or droplets near or on the wheels, you may have a brake fluid leak. If you have a leak in the master cylinder or brake lines, there will be brake fluid under your car, but it can be a little trickier to tell if it’s brake fluid, transmission fluid, or even engine oil. Brake fluid is pale yellow or clear when new, but darkens over time.
It feels very oily (more greasy than oil) and has a foul odor similar to fish oil. These characteristics make it relatively easy to determine if the fluid on your floor is actually brake fluid. As a final check, check to see if your brake fluid reservoir is full. If it’s not, you probably have a leak.
3) Brake pedal feels spongy
When you press the brake pedal to slow or stop your car, the brakes should feel firm and only need to travel a short distance before they engage. If your brake pedal feels soft, mushy, spongy, or spongy, you may have air trapped in your brake lines.
Normally, to function properly, brake lines need to be completely full of brake fluid (this is why we “bleed” your brakes). If a leak causes a lack of brake fluid in the system, air can get into the brake lines, which can have serious consequences if you need to stop.
4) Brake pedal goes all the way to the floor
This often happens if your brake pedal is soft or spongy. If you have a serious brake fluid leak or a problem with your master cylinder, you may experience what’s called “brake pedal drop.” This simply means that there is not enough brake fluid in the lines for the brakes to work.
If you notice this before you set off, do not attempt to drive your car, as driving a car with no brakes working is a very bad thing.
If this happens while you’re driving, immediately downshift or gently apply the emergency brake to force your car to slow down and safely get off the road. Do not drive your car until the problem is fixed.
5) Poor Brake Performance
Poor brake performance can be caused by issues with the brake pads, rotors, calipers, or even a brake fluid leak.
Most people will notice one of the symptoms above first, but if you feel like something is wrong with your car’s braking performance, check your brake fluid reservoir as soon as possible. If the reservoir is not full, there is likely a leak somewhere.
No matter which of the symptoms above you experience, you should not continue driving your car until you have it inspected and repaired. Brake failure is one of the most serious car problems that can occur and can literally be life-threatening. While it is certainly possible to diagnose and repair a brake fluid leak yourself, in this case it is best to contact a mechanic unless you are 100% sure you know what you are doing.
