Problem Symptoms Table
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Toyota RAV4. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
HINT:
Use the table below to help determine the cause of the problem symptom. The potential causes of the symptoms are listed in order of probability in the "Suspected Area" column of the table. Check each symptom by checking the suspected areas in the order they are listed. Replace parts as necessary.
Brake system
PROBLEM SYMPTOMS REFERENCE
| Symptom | Suspected Area | Refer to |
|---|---|---|
| Low pedal or spongy pedal | 1. Fluid leaks in brake system | - |
| 2. Air in brake system | BRAKE FLUID | |
| 3. Front brake piston seals (worn or damaged) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 4. Rear brake piston seals (worn or damaged) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 5. Brake master cylinder (faulty) | BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER | |
| 6. Booster push rod (adjustment necessary) | INSPECTION | |
| Brake drag | 1. Brake pedal free play (minimum) | ADJUSTMENT (2006/01- ) |
| 2. Parking brake lever travel (adjustment necessary) | PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| 3. Parking brake cable (sticking) | PARKING BRAKE CABLE | |
| 4. Parking brake shoe clearance (adjustment necessary) | REASSEMBLY | |
| 5. Front brake pad (cracked or distorted) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 6. Rear brake pad (cracked or distorted) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 7. Parking brake lining (cracked or distorted) | DISASSEMBLY | |
| 8. Front brake piston (stuck or frozen) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 9. Rear brake piston (stuck or frozen) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 10. Parking brake shoe return tension spring | DISASSEMBLY | |
| 11. Booster push rod (adjustment necessary) | INSPECTION | |
| 12. Vacuum leaks in booster system | BRAKE BOOSTER | |
| 13. Brake master cylinder (faulty) | BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER | |
| Brake pull | 1. Front brake piston (stuck or frozen) | FRONT BRAKE |
| 2. Rear brake piston (stuck or frozen) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 3. Front brake pad (oily, cracked or distorted) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 4. Rear brake pad (oily, cracked or distorted) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 5. Parking brake lining (oily, cracked or distorted) | DISASSEMBLY | |
| 6. Front brake disc (uneven wear) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 7. Rear brake disc (uneven wear) | REAR BRAKE | |
| Hard pedal but braking inefficient | 1. Front brake pad (worn, cracked, distorted, oily or glazed) | FRONT BRAKE |
| 2. Rear brake pad (worn, cracked, distorted, oily or glazed) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 3. Parking brake lining (worn, cracked, distorted, oily or glazed) | DISASSEMBLY | |
| 4. Front brake disc (uneven wear) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 5. Rear brake disc (uneven wear) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 6. Booster push rod (adjustment necessary) | INSPECTION | |
| 7. Vacuum leaks in booster system | BRAKE BOOSTER | |
| Noise from brakes | 1. Front brake pad (cracked, distorted, dirty or glazed) | FRONT BRAKE |
| 2. Rear brake pad (cracked, distorted, dirty or glazed) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 3. Front disc brake pad support plate (loose) | FRONT BRAKE | |
| 4. Rear disc brake pad support plate (loose) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 5. Front disc brake cylinder slide pin (worn) | FRONT BRAKE FLEXIBLE HOSE | |
| 6. Rear disc brake cylinder slide pin (worn) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 7. Front brake installation bolt (loose) | FRONT BRAKE FLEXIBLE HOSE | |
| 8. Rear brake installation bolt (loose) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 9. Front brake disc (scored) | FRONT BRAKE FLEXIBLE HOSE | |
| 10. Rear brake disc (scored) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 11. Parking brake shoe return tension spring (faulty) | DISASSEMBLY | |
| 12. Front brake anti-squeal shim (damaged) | FRONT BRAKE FLEXIBLE HOSE | |
| 13. Rear brake anti-squeal shim (damaged) | REAR BRAKE | |
| 14. Parking brake shoe hold-down spring (damaged) | DISASSEMBLY |