Symptom | Possible Sources | Action |
Brakes pull or drift | * Worn or damaged brake shoes or brake pads and linings. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Abnormal wear or distortion of front brake disc. | * INSTALL a new front brake disc. REFER to: (206-03 Front Disc Brake) Brake Disc (Removal and Installation), Brake Disc - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (Removal and Installation). |
* Incorrect rear brake adjustment. | * ADJUST the parking brake cable. REFER to: Parking Brake Cable Adjustment (206-05 Parking Brake and Actuation, General Procedures). |
* Incorrect wheel alignment adjustment. | * ADJUST the wheel alignment. REFER to: (204-00 Suspension System - General Information) Front Toe Adjustment (General Procedures), Rear Toe Adjustment (General Procedures). |
* Incorrect wheel bearing preload adjustment. | * ADJUST or INSTALL a new wheel bearing. REFER to: Wheel Hub (204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and Installation). |
* Grease or fluid on the brake shoes or brake pads; glazed linings. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Stuck or seized wheel cylinders or brake calipers. | * INSTALL a new wheel cylinder or brake caliper. REFER to: Wheel Cylinder (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
The red brake warning indicator is always on | * Low brake fluid level. | * FILL the reservoir. CHECK the brake and clutch system for leaks including brake fluid in the brake booster. |
* Leaking brake master cylinder primary piston cup. | * INSTALL a new brake master cylinder. REFER to: (206-06 Hydraulic Brake Actuation) Brake Master Cylinder - LHD (Removal and Installation), Brake Master Cylinder - RHD (Removal and Installation). |
* Parking brake control not fully released. | * FREE UP and ADJUST the parking brake cable. REFER to: Parking Brake Cable Adjustment (206-05 Parking Brake and Actuation, General Procedures). INSTALL new components as necessary. |
* Malfunctioning anti-lock braking system (ABS). | * REFER to: Anti-Lock Control (206-09 Anti-Lock Control, Diagnosis and Testing). |
* Shorted indicator circuit. | * REFER to: Instrument Cluster (413-01 Instrument Cluster, Diagnosis and Testing). |
Vibration when the brakes are applied | * Grease or fluid on the brake shoes or brake pads; glazed linings. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Worn or damaged brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Loose caliper mounting bolt(s). | * TIGHTEN the caliper mounting bolt(s). |
* Damaged brake drum contact surface. | * INSTALL a new brake drum. REFER to: Brake Drum (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Excessive brake disc thickness variation or brake disc runout. | * REFER to: Brake Disc Runout Check (206-00 Brake System - General Information, General Procedures). |
* Wheels and tires. | * CHECK the tires. BALANCE or INSTALL new tires as necessary. REFER to: Wheels and Tires (204-04 Wheels and Tires, Diagnosis and Testing). |
* Loose or missing wheel hub bolts. | * TIGHTEN or INSTALL new wheel hub bolts as necessary. |
* Worn or damaged brake drums or brake discs. | * INSTALL new brake drums or brake discs. REFER to: Brake Drum (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Disc (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Disc - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Disc (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
Pedal goes down fast | * Low brake fluid level. | * FILL the reservoir. CHECK the brake and clutch system for leaks including brake fluid in the brake booster. |
* Leak in the hydraulic system. | * REPAIR the leak. CHECK the entire hydraulic system. FILL and BLEED the brake system. REFER to: (206-00 Brake System - General Information) Brake System Bleeding (General Procedures), Brake System Pressure Bleeding (General Procedures). |
* Air in the system. | * CHECK for leaks. BLEED the brake system. REFER to: (206-00 Brake System - General Information) Brake System Bleeding (General Procedures), Brake System Pressure Bleeding (General Procedures). |
* Brake disc “brake knock back” (Brake pads push the brake caliper piston back into the brake caliper. Caused by excessive brake disc lateral runout or loose wheel bearings.) | * CARRY OUT a brake disc runout check. REFER to: Brake Disc Runout Check (206-00 Brake System - General Information, General Procedures). |
* Worn brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Worn brake master cylinder piston cups or scored cylinder bore. | * |
Pedal eases down slowly | * Air in the system. | * BLEED the brake system. REFER to: (206-00 Brake System - General Information) Brake System Bleeding (General Procedures), Brake System Pressure Bleeding (General Procedures). |
* Malfunctioning brake master cylinder. * Low engine vacuum (stationary). | * |
Pedal is low or feels spongy | * Worn brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Air in the system. | * CHECK for leaks. BLEED the brake system. REFER to: (206-00 Brake System - General Information) Brake System Bleeding (General Procedures), Brake System Pressure Bleeding (General Procedures). |
Brake lockup during light brake pedal force | * Glazed or worn brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Brake booster. * Low engine vacuum. | * |
Excessive or erratic pedal travel | * Worn brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Wheel bearings | * CARRY OUT a brake disc runout check. REFER to: Brake Disc Runout Check (206-00 Brake System - General Information, General Procedures). |
Brake drag | * Incorrectly adjusted parking brake. | * ADJUST the parking brake cable. REFER to: Parking Brake Cable Adjustment (206-05 Parking Brake and Actuation, General Procedures). |
* Brake booster. | * REFER to brake booster operation check in this procedure. |
* Seized wheel cylinder or brake caliper. | * INSTALL a new wheel cylinder or brake caliper. REFER to: Wheel Cylinder (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Seized brake caliper slide pins. | * INSTALL a new brake caliper. REFER to: Brake Caliper (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Caliper (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Seized parking brake cables. | * INSTALL new parking brake cables. REFER to: (206-05 Parking Brake and Actuation) Parking Brake Cable - Vehicles With: Rear Drum Brakes (Removal and Installation), Parking Brake Cable - Vehicles With: Rear Disc Brakes (Removal and Installation). |
Excessive brake pedal effort | * Worn or contaminated brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Malfunctioning vacuum pump (diesel). | * INSTALL a new brake vacuum pump. |
* Disconnected or damaged brake booster vacuum pipe. | * CONNECT or INSTALL a new brake booster vacuum pipe as necessary. |
* Brake booster. | * |
Brake noise | * Worn or damaged brake shoes or brake pads. | * INSTALL new brake shoes or brake pads. REFER to: Brake Shoes (206-02 Drum Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads - 2.5L Duratec-ST (VI5) (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-03 Front Disc Brake, Removal and Installation), Brake Pads (206-04 Rear Disc Brake, Removal and Installation). |
* Brake booster. | * |
Slow or incomplete brake pedal return | * Brake booster. * Seized brake pedal pivot. | * |