Fiat Bravo Quiz
Brake system

Brake troubleshooting

In this manual: Brake system
Dear Reader — 1Engine — 35Engine lubrication — 3Engine cooling — 10Ignition/spark plugs — 14Fuel system — 10Petrol fuel injection — 13Diesel injection system — 13Exhaust system — 7Clutch — 7Transmission / Gearshift / Automatic Transmission — 5Front Axle — 11Rear axle — 4Steering — 9Wheel alignment — 1Brake system — 22Wheels and tyres — 10Body — 34Heating — 6Electrical system — 39Lighting system — 14Instruments — 7Windscreen wiper system — 8Vehicle care / tools — 6Jump Starting / Towing the Vehicle — 3Jacking up the vehicle — 1Fiat Bravo / Brava Maintenance Schedule — 1Maintenance — 38Wiring diagrams — 5
~3min read
Fault Cause Remedy
Brake pedal travel too great. Brake pads partially or fully worn.

One brake circuit has failed.

Especially with drum brakes: automatic adjuster of the drum brake is seized.
  • Replace brake pads.
  • Check brake circuits for fluid loss.
  • Free up the adjuster unit.
Brake pedal can be depressed a long way and feels spongy. Air in the brake system.

Insufficient brake fluid in the reservoir.

Vapor lock. Usually occurs after heavy use, e.g. descending a mountain pass.
  • Bleed the brakes.
  • Top up with new brake fluid and bleed the brakes.
  • Replace brake fluid. Bleed the brakes.
Braking effect decreases, and the brake pedal can be depressed. Leaking line.

Damaged boot in master or wheel brake cylinder.

Especially with disc brakes:

Stationary rubber sealing ring damaged.
  • Retighten line connections or replace the line.
  • Replace the boot. For the master cylinder, replace internal parts; if necessary, replace the master cylinder.
  • Overhaul the brake caliper.
Poor braking effect despite high pedal force. Brake pads contaminated with oil.

Unsuitable or hardened brake pad.

Brake booster defective, vacuum line porous or defective.

Especially with disc brakes: brake pads worn.
  • Replace brake pads.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Check brake servo and vacuum line.
Vehicle pulls to one side when braking. Incorrect tire pressure.

Uneven tyre wear.

Brake pads contaminated with oil.

Different brake pad types on one axle.

Poor brake pad contact pattern.

Disc brakes only: contaminated caliper guide channels.

Corrosion in the caliper cylinders.

Brake pad worn unevenly.

Drum brakes only: pistons in the wheel brake cylinders stick.
  • Check and correct tyre pressure.
  • Replace worn tyres.
  • Replace brake pads.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Replace brake pads.
  • Clean the seating and guide surfaces of the brake pads in the caliper.
  • Replace brake caliper.
  • Replace brake pads (both wheels) and check caliper for free movement.
  • Repair wheel brake cylinder.
Brake drags on its own. Compensating port in master cylinder clogged.

Clearance between pushrod and master cylinder piston too small.
  • Clean master cylinder and have internal parts replaced.
  • Check clearance.
Brakes overheat while driving. Compensating port in master cylinder clogged.

Clearance between pushrod and master cylinder too small.

Brake drags.

Disc brakes only: restrictor bore in the special bottom valve clogged.

Drum brakes only: brake shoe return springs weakened.
  • Clean master cylinder and have internal parts replaced.
  • Check clearance.
  • Lubricate moving parts of the drum brake. Have the brake caliper overhauled (workshop job).
  • Clean master cylinder, replace internal parts and renew brake fluid.
  • Replace return springs.
Brakes chatter. Unsuitable brake pad.
Especially with disc brakes:

Brake disc partially corroded.

Brake disc has lateral runout.

Drum brakes only: brake pads worn.

Brake drum out of round.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Carefully smooth the disc with a sanding block.
  • Machine the disc or replace it.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Replace brake drum.
Brake pads do not release from the brake disc; wheels are difficult to turn by hand. Disc brakes only: corrosion in the caliper cylinders.
  • Overhaul brake caliper, replace if necessary.
Uneven pad wear. Disc brakes only: unsuitable brake pad.

Brake caliper contaminated.

Piston does not move freely.

Brake system leaking.

  • Replace pads, use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Clean caliper guide channels.
  • Free up the piston.
  • Check brake system for leaks.
Wedge-shaped brake pad wear. Disc brakes only: brake disc does not run parallel to the caliper.

Corrosion in the brake calipers.

  • Check the contact surface of the brake caliper.
  • Remove contamination.
Brake squeals. Often caused by atmospheric influences (humidity).

Especially with disc brakes:

Unsuitable brake pad.

Brake disc does not run parallel to the caliper.

Contaminated guide channels in the caliper.

Drum brakes only: unsuitable brake pad.

Pad does not sit flush.

Brake contaminated.

Return springs too weak.

  • No remedy required if the squeal occurred after the vehicle had been standing for a long time in high humidity and does not recur after the first few brake applications.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer. Apply anti-squeal paste to the backing plate.
  • Check the contact surface of the brake caliper.
  • Clean caliper guide channels.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Replace pads. Use only original brake pads from the vehicle manufacturer.
  • Clean wheel brakes.
  • Replace return springs.
Brake pulsates. ABS active.Especially with disc brakes:

Lateral runout or thickness variation of the brake disc too large.

Brake disc does not run parallel to the caliper.

Especially with drum brakes:

Contact surface of the wheel disc against the brake drum is not flat, causing the brake drum to distort.

  • Normal, no remedy required.
  • Check runout and thickness variation. Machine the disc or replace it.
  • Check the contact surface of the brake caliper.
  • Try swapping the wheels with each other.

Test yourself

A quick Fiat Bravo quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.