🛑 Why You Should Never Ignore a Spongy Brake Pedal
🛑 Why You Should Never Ignore a Spongy Brake Pedal
By Andrews Car Centre – Brake Safety Specialists in Lincoln
A spongy or soft brake pedal isn’t just an annoyance — it’s a serious safety warning. If your foot sinks further than usual before the brakes engage, or the pedal feels “mushy,” your braking system could be compromised.
At Andrews Car Centre in Lincoln, we regularly diagnose and fix spongy brakes — and in most cases, it’s fixable fast. But ignoring it could lead to longer stopping distances, MOT failure, or even complete brake failure.
Here’s what you need to know.
⚠️ What Is a Spongy Brake Pedal?
A spongy brake pedal typically feels:
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Soft under your foot
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Like it sinks too far before the car starts slowing
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Less responsive than usual
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Sometimes even slowly dropping to the floor under pressure
If you’ve ever had to pump the brakes to make them “feel normal” again, that’s a red flag.
🔎 Common Causes of a Spongy Brake Pedal
At Andrews Car Centre, we diagnose spongy brakes daily. Here are the most likely culprits:
1. Air in the Brake Lines
The most common reason. Brake systems are hydraulic — they rely on fluid, not air. If air gets in, the pressure is reduced, and your pedal feels soft.
Fix: Brake fluid bleed to remove air.
2. Old or Contaminated Brake Fluid
Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, reducing performance and increasing the risk of corrosion.
Fix: Brake fluid flush (recommended every 2 years).
3. Leaking Brake Lines or Cylinders
If your system is losing fluid, you’ll often feel a soft pedal. Leaks can occur in pipes, callipers, hoses or master cylinders.
Fix: Identify and replace faulty components, then bleed system.
4. Worn or Faulty Master Cylinder
The master cylinder pushes brake fluid through the system. If it’s worn or seals are damaged, pressure is lost.
Fix: Replace the master cylinder.
5. Worn Brake Components
Worn brake pads, warped discs or sticking callipers can all affect how your pedal feels — and how safely your car stops.
Fix: Full brake inspection and component replacement if needed.
📉 Why You Shouldn’t Delay
A spongy pedal isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s unsafe.
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🚫 Longer stopping distances
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🚫 MOT failure (brake efficiency below minimum)
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🚫 Risk of complete brake failure in an emergency
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🚫 Danger to yourself and others
Even if the problem seems minor now, it can get worse quickly — and become much more expensive to fix.
🛠️ What We Do at Andrews Car Centre
When you book a brake inspection with us, we:
✅ Check brake fluid quality and level
✅ Test pedal pressure and system response
✅ Inspect brake lines, callipers, and cylinders
✅ Look for leaks, worn pads, or disc issues
✅ Advise you clearly and honestly on what needs doing
We work on all makes and models, including petrol, diesel, hybrid and EVs.
📍 Brake Checks & Repairs in Lincoln – Book Today
If your brake pedal feels soft, don’t ignore it. Let our trained technicians get to the root of the issue before it becomes dangerous.
👉 Call Andrews Car Centre, book online, or visit our workshop on Dixon Street, Lincoln.
✅ Free brake inspections available
✅ Same-day repairs in many cases
✅ Clear pricing & no pushy upselling
✅ Trusted local garage for over 25 years
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