The brake pedal is that crucial piece of metal you press to slow down your vehicle.
You typically don’t think about it – until the pedal feels spongy and your car’s brake distance (stopping distance) increases. Once these problems show up, you’ll likely need a new pedal, or you could get into serious trouble.
To better prepare for such situations, we’ll discuss the brake pedal’s role in daily driving and the common problems you can encounter. We’ll also look at the reasons why you should reconsider your next drive if you have a bad pedal.
This Article Contains:
- What Is a Brake Pedal?
- What Are the Different Types of Brake Pedals?
- How Much Does a New Brake Pedal Cost?
- Is There a Difference in Using the Brake Pedal in Manual vs. Automatic Cars?
- 3 Common Brake Pedal Problems
- Should You Drive with a Failing Brake Pedal?
- 4 Useful Tips to Maintain New Brake Pedals
What Is a Brake Pedal?
The brake pedal is the part of the car that initiates the entire brake system in a vehicle. In automatic cars, it’s the pedal on the left side, and in manual cars, it’s the middle.
How does the brake pedal influence braking?
After you press the pedal, the master cylinder transforms that force into hydraulic pressure in the brake lines. This hydraulic brake pressure engages the piston at the:
- The brake caliper in cars with a disc brake mechanism
- Wheel cylinder of drum brakes
The friction material on the brake pad (at the brake caliper) or brake shoe (inside the brake drum) stops the wheels from moving.
Simultaneously, to alert the drivers behind you about the stopping action, the pedal triggers the brake switch to turn on the rear brake lights.
Does the parking brake aid in braking?
No. The parking brake system prevents a parked vehicle from rolling and isn’t generally used for regular braking.
In newer vehicles with an electronic braking system, you can use a switch instead of a hand brake lever to perform the same function. To engage the electronic parking brake, you can flip the switch on and disengage it by either releasing the switch or pressing the gas pedal.
NOTE: Although you may not use the hand brake for decelerating during daily commutes, it’s helpful in emergencies like brake failures. When you lose your main brakes, the manual or electronic parking brake can help you gradually slow down and stop your car at the nearest safe spot.
You now know how a brake pedal works. So, let’s check out the different variants of it.
What Are the Different Types of Brake Pedals?
You’ll usually find the following brake pedal designs:
1. Single-Type Design
This design has one pedal arm (lever that transfers braking force to the master cylinder).
Here’s how it works:
When you press the brakes, the arm rotates around a fixed pivot point (fulcrum). The brake pedal is attached to the vehicle’s structure at this point. As the arm rotates, it pushes a rod into the master cylinder, generating and transmitting the brake pressure necessary to slow down your vehicle.
2. Link-Type Design
In this design, there are two pedal arms: upper and lower.
As the braking action begins, the upper arm activates the mechanical linkage (springs or rods) to move the lower pedal arm. Then, the lower arm pushes the master cylinder to carry out the braking process.
3. Other Sub-Types
Based on the above designs, you’ll find pedals with different constructions like:
- Thin plate pedal: This design uses two thin metal pieces joined together (by plasma welding) to form a hollow but sturdy pedal. Thin plate pedals are lightweight and offer steady performance in everyday driving.
- Thick plate pedal: The pedal pad is attached to a thick metal plate. Its robust design can handle heavy braking and is ideal for high-performance motor vehicles.
NOTE: You’ll also encounter other sub-types, like suspended pedals in everyday cars and floor-mounted units in racing or high-performance vehicles.
With several types of pedals available on the market, let’s check how much your next purchase will set you back.
How Much Does a New Brake Pedal Cost?
Brake pedals will roughly cost you between $17 and $700.
Here are some factors that will affect your total cost:
- Package type: Online websites and dealers sell pedals as a single unit, part of a kit, or as a combined clutch-brake pedal assembly. Your cost will depend on what you choose.
- Pedal design: Due to their complex structure, link-type brake pedals are more expensive than single-type units.
- Vehicle type: Pedals used in standard vehicles will be cheaper, whereas racing and high-performance motor vehicles will require specialized high-end brake pedals.
Want to quickly test your new brake pedal assembly in your vehicle?
First, let’s explore how brake pedals function in cars with automatic and manual transmissions.
Is There a Difference in Using the Brake Pedal in Manual vs. Automatic Cars?
Yes, let’s see how:
A. Manual Cars
Stick-shift cars typically have three pedals: clutch, brake, and accelerator. To operate them, use the left foot for the clutch and the right for the brake or accelerator pedals.
Now, let’s look at the basics of braking in the following conditions:
- When driving fast, at around 20mph (miles per hour): Push the brake pedal with your right foot. Slowly, your vehicle will decelerate. Unless you’re worried the engine will stall, you don’t need to press the clutch.
- When driving slowly at around 10mph: Press the clutch with the left foot first, then apply the brake with the right foot. While driving at low speeds, there’s a higher chance of engine stalling, so it’s best to press the clutch before pushing the brake pedal.
B. Automatic Cars
There are two pedals in automatic vehicles: brake and accelerator. Since there’s no clutch, you rely entirely on the brake pedal to decelerate these cars.
When you want to slow down, simply press and hold the brake pedal with your right foot. This braking action will gradually reduce your car’s speed.
IMPORTANT: Avoid using your left foot to brake in an automatic car. Pressing the brake and accelerator pedals together can be confusing, resulting in loss of vehicle control and skidding.
As you can see, using brake pedals requires basic knowledge and skills. However, despite your efforts, the pedal may fail sometimes.
3 Common Brake Pedal Problems
When your vehicle struggles to control speed and the brake distance increases, you’ll notice problems like:
1. A Spongy Brake Pedal
A soft brake pedal means it has minimal resistance when you press it. Without appropriate resistance, your pedal may sink to the floor without springing back.
Here are the most common causes of a soft brake pedal:
- Air in the brake line: When you apply the brakes, the system transports pressurized fluid through brake lines and hoses to facilitate braking. However, when air enters the brake line during repairs or fluid refill, it lowers hydraulic pressure. When this happens, even a slight amount of pedal effort can make the pedal sink.
- Brake fluid leak in cars with disc or drum brakes: If you find a puddle of clear, amber, or brown-colored fluid under your vehicle, there’s a crack or tear in your braking system. A leak can spring at the brake hose, metal line, or caliper. Based on your car, even brake drum system parts like wheel cylinders can leak fluid. Your system’s lack of hydraulic brake fluid can cause your pedal to drop with minimal resistance.
- Brake pad or shoe wear: Brake shoes or pads won’t last forever. As the pads and shoes wear down and reach the end of their life, the piston driving the caliper or wheel cylinder has to extend further to stop the wheel’s rotation. This will cause the brake fluid level to drop, making the brake spongy.
- Master cylinder failure: The main brake cylinder pumps fluid into the metal lines to create hydraulic pressure. Over time, seals within the cylinder fail due to age and wear. When this happens, the brake pressure drops and the pedal sinks to the floor.
2. The Pedal Is Hard to Press
In contrast to spongy brakes, you may also encounter a hard brake pedal that needs extra effort to press down. Let’s see what causes this issue:
- Brake booster failure: The brake booster amplifies the braking power in cars with “power brakes.” It uses the intake manifold as a vacuum source to multiply the force applied to the pedals, making braking easier. A torn vacuum diaphragm or front booster seal failure commonly causes a bad brake booster. When the brake booster fails, vacuum pressure drops, making the pedal hard to press. Decelerating your vehicle in this situation will require more pedal effort or the brakes might not engage.
- Leaking vacuum hose: The hose delivers the vacuum to the brake booster, which amplifies the braking force. A problem with the vacuum hose (like a leak) can cause the brake booster to malfunction, resulting in a hard brake pedal.
- Extreme brake fluid contamination: Brake fluid is a hygroscopic fluid that absorbs water. Excess moisture in the braking system can damage the booster seal and affect pedal performance.
3. Brake Pedal Pulsation
A pulsating pedal is often a problem in cars with a faulty disc brake mechanism, and here are some reasons why:
- Warped brake disc rotor: Pads press against the rotor while braking to create friction and heat. This heat can melt and transfer some brake pad material to the rotor’s surface, creating uneven high spots on the rotor. These spots on the brake disc cause inconsistent contact with the pads, leading to pedal pulsation and squealing brake noise while decelerating.
- Other possible causes: Wear on the wheel bearings or stiff CV joints can result in brake vibration and pedal pulsation while stopping.
NOTE: When disc brake and brake drum system parts like calipers and return springs wear out, they can also exhibit pedal problems, brake vibration, and noise. Consult a professional to assess the odd brake sound and other issues to identify the culprit.
Wondering if it’s safe to drive with a faulty pedal?
Keep scrolling to find out.
Should You Drive with a Failing Brake Pedal?
Absolutely not!
A malfunctioning pedal often signals underlying problems, such as a damaged main brake cylinder or rotor.
These failing parts can increase your braking distance — making it harder to stop in time in traffic or on national highways where controlling your speed is essential. Eventually, you may experience brake failures that can be extremely dangerous.
To restore brake efficiency, call a professional for immediate help.
That said, you can take some proactive steps to prevent these issues in the future.
4 Useful Tips to Maintain Brake Pedals
Brake pedals are made with durable steel, aluminum, and titanium, so they generally last as long as your car. But if a brake hose leaks, the pedal may be ineffective.
To keep your pedal and brake system in peak condition, follow these handy tips:
- Clean the brake pedal periodically with a stiff-bristle brush and soapy water to remove dirt on the pedal.
- Inspect the brake pedal often for smooth or worn pads. Worn pedal pads indicate the need for replacement.
- Check the brake fluid levels at every oil change.
- Schedule comprehensive brake repair every 10,000 miles or once a year to service vital components like the brake switch, pedal, rotor, and hoses.
Get Expert Brake Pedal Service with AutoNation Mobile Service
Your pedal is vital in maintaining brake efficiency and keeping you safe. But daily use and harsh braking habits can leave your brake pedal assembly in poor condition, which is neither good for your car nor your wallet.
For timely repairs, contact AutoNation Mobile Service. Our mobile mechanics can inspect and install a new brake pedal quickly.
And that’s not all!
In case of a severely malfunctioning pedal, they’ll inspect disc brake or brake drum system parts, assess odd brake noise, and fix them.
So, book your service, and our mechanics will be at your driveway in no time.