When your brake fluid level drops

If that’s the case, it’s a good bet you have a leak somewhere in your brake system — which means that you likely have bigger brake issues than something as simple as worn brake pads. Your braking system comprises series of rubber and steel hoses, check valves, pistons and cylinders. They’re all joined together and […]

If that’s the case, it’s a good bet you have a leak somewhere in your brake system — which means that you likely have bigger brake issues than something as simple as worn brake pads.

Your braking system comprises series of rubber and steel hoses, check valves, pistons and cylinders. They’re all joined together and work in concert to slow and stop your vehicle. Imagine your brake system as a cardiovascular system, pumping blood to several different areas of the body. The vehicle’s master cylinder acts as the heart and pumps brake fluid through brake lines to the extremities, in this case, the calipers and drums. This is where a lot of brake problems originate.  At all four corners of your vehicle, brake lines — with fittings that serve to connect the master cylinder to the different parts of the brake system that actually slows or stop your wheels — quite simply, can leak. Obviously, to be able to spot where the leak is coming from it will require you to observe the different components of the brake system. You need to search the floor for signs of leakage underneath the car to trace where it’s coming from.

Bleeder bolts, sometimes called bleeder valves, are located on the brake calipers and are designed to allow brake fluid to flow out of the system. If you’ve recently had some brake work done on your vehicle, it may be that one of your bleeder valves was inadvertently left a little loose. If that’s the case, it’s a simple matter of tightening the valve to stop the fluid flow.

Remember, brake fluid is essential for the brake system to operate properly. Leaks in the system release fluid, causing reduced (or even complete loss of) brake pressure. If you don’t address the problem, your vehicle will eventually run out of brake fluid; however, chances are you won’t get to that point, as the brakes won’t continue to work after the fluid level drops beyond a certain level.

Culled from howstuffworks.com