Car pedals are designed to be sensitive and function according to the pressure exerted on them. In a properly functioning vehicle, the pedals should not go all the way down to the floor whenever the brakes are applied. If you find your pedals going all the way down, then something is wrong somewhere. Some car drivers believe that the anti-lock braking system could be one of the reasons behind their pedals going all the way to the floor. We’ll look at this and other potential causes of pedals going all the way down in this article.
A faulty ABS system is more likely to result in unresponsive brakes or the brake pad requiring more effort to function. If this happens, it’s advisable you have a mechanic inspect and repair your car.
You should never take any brakes issue with levity, even if the problem seems to be minor. A minor problem ignored now will escalate into a bigger problem in the future and poses a serious risk to your safety. No one wants to be in a situation where the brakes fail to work while driving. Below, you’ll learn about the ABS system and how it can affect the functioning of your car’s braking system.
What Is The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)?
The brake pedal is one of the most important components of a vehicle as it allows drivers to slow down or completely bring an automobile to a stop. If you apply the brake too firmly, perhaps due to traveling at high speeds or in poor road conditions, your wheels will lock, and skidding will occur. Skidding means losing control of a car, and that’s something that’s very dangerous.
Thanks to the improvement in technology, there’s now a system that can prevent the wheels from locking up and consequently prevent skidding. That system is the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and it ensures that the brakes don’t completely stop spinning when you enforce too much pressure on the pedal.
There is a common misconception that the ABS system will stop a car faster than the traditional brake system. However, this is not true. If anything at all, an ABS will add a small amount of distance. But this isn’t a bad thing as the ABS ensures the driver is still in control, thereby offering drivers the opportunity to potentially steer their way off of an accident. An ABS system will also increase the lifespan of the braking system while also increasing its efficiency.
Can The ABS System Make The Brake Pedal Go All The Way Down?
There are several things that can make a brake pedal go all the way down. However, a faulty ABS system isn’t usually among those reasons. It’s more common for faulty ABS systems to cause the brake pedals to become unresponsive, although this will happen slowly over time.
Faulty ABS systems will also result in the brake pad requiring more effort or pressure to function. When you notice any of these, it’s recommended you take your car to an experienced mechanic to diagnose and fix the problem.
If there’s any problem with the ABS system, the ABS light, which is usually amber colored, will come on. For older car models that don’t have a dedicated ABS light, the ‘Check Engine Light’ may light up.
Why Is My Car Brake Pedal Going To The Floor?
There are a couple of reasons why your brake pedal may be going all the way to the floor, and they include:
Air In The Brake Lines
This is one of the most common reasons why brake pedals become so soft that they go all the way down. The brake fluid is responsible for transmitting the pressure from your legs to the brakes to slow down or stop your car. When the air gets into the brake fluid, then their important function in stopping your vehicle becomes compromised.
In contrast to the brake fluid that provides force when you step on the pedals, air doesn’t provide any force. The pedals will become increasingly soft as time passes until they get to a point where they are so soft they go all the way to the floor.
There are a number of ways for air to get into the brake lines, and this is usually during brake repairs or when the brake fluid is being repaired.
Brake Fluid Leak
Your braking system needs brake fluid to work, just like we humans need water to survive. If there’s insufficient brake fluid in a car, then the pedal will become soft or spongy, and it may even touch the floor when it is stepped on.
It’s not unusual for brake fluid to leak from cars, especially when the brake fluid reservoir or any other parts of the brake lines have been compromised. Fortunately, it’s easy to know when your car is leaking brake fluid. You’ll see a puddle of an oily substance underneath your vehicle after you’ve parked it for some time.
Old Brake Fluid
Nothing lasts forever. The brake fluid in your vehicle becomes less effective as they age. And if you don’t change them before they completely lose all their valuable properties, your pedal may go down to the floor.
Failing or Bad Booster Pad
A bad or failing brake booster pad is another reason why a pedal may go all the way to the floor. The brake booster pad boosts or amplifies the force you apply on the pedals to stop or slow down your car. In truth, the force you apply on the pedals isn’t enough to stop your car. It’s the booster pad that amplifies the force to a level where it’s enough to stop or slow down cars.
Over time, the efficiency and effectiveness of the booster pad decrease, and it may decline to such a level that it’s unable to generate enough force to stop your vehicle. Even pressing the pedal all the way down won’t stop the vehicle.
Failing Or Bad Master Cylinder
The master cylinder is a hydraulic pump that pumps brake fluid into the brake lines. This way, all the components of the braking system get the brake fluid they need to function. So, when there’s a problem with the master cylinder, the brake lines don’t receive the much-needed brake fluid, and this can cause the brake pedal to go all the way down to the floor.
How To Fix A Brake Pedal Going Down To The Floor?
If you notice your brake pedals going all the way to the floor, then you need to take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible. There’s no time to waste. Your safety and that of other road users are at stake if your braking system isn’t in good condition.
You can also do some checks to find the cause of the problem and fix it if it’s not too complex. For example, bleeding a car or changing the brake fluid is fairly easy and can be accomplished by many drivers. But it’s always a good idea to have an experienced mechanic take a look at your brake whenever there’s a problem.
Should I Drive If My Brake Pedal Goes To The Floor?
You should never drive a car with any brake problems until the issue has been resolved. If your brake pedal goes all the way to the floor, then your car isn’t fit to be on the road. You shouldn’t even attempt to drive the car to a repair shop. Instead, have a mechanic come over to inspect the vehicle and repair it.
If your brake pedal suddenly goes to the floor while driving, try not to panic, although this is easier said than done. Keep your foot off the accelerator and maintain your lane of travel. When your speed drops to 30 MPH, attempt to exit the shoulder of the road and only apply the emergency brake when the speed is about 20 MPH. When you finally bring your vehicle to a stop, don’t continue driving and call a tow company to help you get the car to a repair shop.
