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Troubleshooting Brake Problems

By Matthew Wright, About.com Guide

3 of 10

Troubleshooting Brake Problems - No Brake Pressure - Pedal Goes To Floor

Brake Pedal Goes To Floor. If you step on the brake pedal and it has little to no pressure and goes all the way to the floor, especially if you're getting no braking:

  • Low Brake Fluid Level: Check your brake fluid. If it's low, top it off to the mark on the side of the reservoir.
  • Air in the Brake Fluid: Even though your brakes operate in a closed system, contaminants can still work there way into the works. Air can enter the system through the smallest hole. There's not really any way to check for this, but bleeding your brakes will remove the air and replace it with new fluid.
  • Master Cylinder Bad: A bad master cylinder will cause your brakes to have no pressure. Master cylinders cannot be repaired and will need to be replaced.
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