7 Common Problems with Industrial Disc Brakes and Their Solutions

Your industry relies on equipment to run properly, safely, and efficiently. So when a significant part begins to break down, it threatens your business’s health and your employees’ safety. This is especially true when we’re talking about brakes.

How do you know if your disc brakes are beginning to fail before they give out ultimately? Save yourself the pain of a broken-down machine by learning the significant signs of beginning brake failure. 

1. A Hot Rotor

Rotors sustain the most damage when they overheat. All cross-drilled rotors dissipate heat. But they also potentially develop stress cracks because of the heat. 

Overheated rotors will end up warping. You’ll know you have a warped rotor when you feel a pulsating action as you engage the brake pedal. In short, your industrial brakes will fail if you do not have your rotor replaced immediately. 

2. Brake Pad Breakdown

Hard braking, like when you stop quickly at high speed or constantly braking on an incline, can overheat your brake pads. This constant heat will glaze your brake pads, so they are now slippery rather than the gritty surface they should be. Glazed brakes cannot adequately grab the rotor and will put out a bad smell

If your brakes shudder or vibrate when you brake, have your brake pads checked by a brake maintenance expert. 

3. Seized Caliper Piston

When your disc brakes overheat, the caliper piston will seize. At this point, your brakes will either fail to disengage or fail to engage. If the brakes don’t engage, you won’t have any brakes, and if they fail to disengage, your vehicle will pull to the side and begin to smoke. 

4. Boiling Brake Fluid

Overheating brakes can also cause your brake fluid to boil. Hot brake fluid cannot compress, reducing your brakes’ efficiency. In short, you won’t be able to stop if your brake fluid gets excessively hot. 

Look for the signs of overheating brakes before the brake fluid gets to this point. 

5. Soft Pedal

When the pedal on your industrial vehicle pushes too easily, you have a problem with fluid level and a possible fluid leak. You could also have air in your hydraulic line. A soft pedal also indicates a potential bad wheel bearing, completely unrelated to the brakes. 

Regardless, if you have a soft pedal, contact a mechanic. You may not need new brakes but should check to be sure. 

6. Hard Pedal

When your pedal pushes hard, you could have a problem with the power boost system and engine vacuum. You could also have a seized or stuck brake caliper. If the problem is the brakes, you will also smell a burning smell and feet dragging on one wheel. 

7. Sinking Pedal

If your pedal begins to sink to the floorboard without touching it, you have a problem with a master cylinder. You could have a bad master cylinder or a leak. Regardless, you can’t brake adequately if your pedal is already on the floorboard, so you need to have a brake maintenance expert look at it. 

Check Your Disc Brakes

Your disc brakes are essential in your industrial vehicle. Without them, you put your driver and anyone they come in contact with at risk. 

Do you need brake parts? If so, contact us. Our vast supply of parts in our inventory can help you get your brakes working again. 

Posted in Industrial Brakes and Clutches.