How to Diagnose & Fix Sticking Brakes!

Have you ever felt your car dragging, even when you're not applying the brakes? Or perhaps you've noticed a peculiar smell after a drive? Sticking brakes might be the culprit! In today’s video, Jake takes a dive deep into the world of brakes, exploring why they can sometimes get 'sticky', how they function, and the symptoms to watch out for with brakes sticking. Brakes are undeniably one of the most critical safety components of any vehicle. Hence, understanding them, recognizing potential issues, and seeking timely interventions can make a world of difference. In this video, Jake breaks down all you need to know about sticking brakes – from causes to cures.

Tools we recommend having for your vehicle at all times:

8020 Automotive Website:

Check Out Our Portfolio:

New Videos Every Week. Subscribe so you don't miss a video!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
What is 8020 Automotive?
8020 Automotive owns and operates a portfolio of content websites and eCommerce stores in the Automotive industry. We provide over a million monthly readers with high-quality automotive content, focused predominantly on technical and performance modification guides.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
00:30 – Sticking Brakes Intro
00:39 – Sticking Brakes Audio Example
01:20 – Why You Should Address Sticking Brakes ASAP!
02:01 – Symptoms of Sticking Brakes or Brake Calipers
02:54 – How Does a Brake Caliper Work?
04:44 – What are the Causes of Sticking Brakes?
04:54 – Common Cause #1 for Sticking Brakes – Too Much Brake Fluid
06:37 – Common Cause #2 for Brakes Sticking – Brake Master Cylinder
07:21 – Common Cause #3 for Brakes Sticking While Driving – Brake Calipers
08:33 – Common Cause #4 for Brakes Sticking While Driving – Bleeding the Brakes
10:34 – Recap of the Most Common Causes for Brakes Sticking

[carolynjane]

thank you! I watched this for a different vehicle but the way you explained the possible problems and generalized it for anyone to understand helped me loads! Thank Google for popping you into my top 5 answer videos to my question 👍🏼

[charlesfranco]

Thank you! Thank you! & Thank you again… Great video and best clear explanation . You really nailed it. I see why in just 8 months you already hit 22000 views although it could be more like. The crowd is just a little lazy to give you a thumb up. Keep up the good work my friend. I rate you you among the very big guys out there. I m in Florida US.

[washed]

Yesterday on my drive home, I started hearing a rubbing noise that is very slight, and after brake pressure is applied its even more aggressive like a grinding. I got home took my wheel off and the pads were healthy (replaced a year ago) the rotor had no uneven wear, and the heatshield wasnt dragging on anything. Could this be a sticking pad/caliper as explained in this video? (1990 NA6 Miata)

[danlarson]

Great video! Well done! Thank you for sharing this with all of us.

[Divine_Sande]

Well explained & very informative. Thanks so much for this💯

[OLDERBONES]

Unfortunately nothing yet has fixed my intermittent seizing front right caliper on a 2004 Buick LeSabre limited. It all started when I blew a brake line and fixed it but then the brakes were not good. Since then the master is new which seemed to bring on the seizing front caliper leading me to change both calipers, the brakes and rotors are in good condition. The brakes are real strong now so long as this issue isn't occurring. It's also been bled every which way including vacum. Next steps I think is to change the hose to the caliper and if that doesn't fix it look into a used ABS control module. You never know when this problem is going to occur or if it will but when it does you can watch the digital miles per gallon meter go down slowly on the highway and feel vibration followed by the heat difference at the wheels after. When it doesn't act up I've been getting some of the best highway gas mileage ever after changing the calipers but when it does this I think i might need another tow truck.

[K-KustomKreations]

Please help ... My car when i fist start driving ks fine. Then after it hears up maybe a mile or 2 tops it feels like the engine is dragging no acceleration but also a ton of shaking. Yhis only happens after it heats up i.e winter i xan maybe go 3 miles but once temperature heats up spring/summer i only get about a mile beforeit starts .... I have changed brakes calipers and rotors all the way around got an allignment still doing it. Could it be e brake ?? Mechanics keep telling me its thisor that i change it and still continues PLEASE HELP ME

[saint_keeblerElf]

Is this relatable also if you're traveling at highway speeds (60+mph) and apply the brakes the vehicle or steering will shake? But only at higher speeds, lower speeds below 40 mph feels normal(ish)

[ryanb]

I have a squeaking noise at some certain speeds and a video shows my brake where glowing at a point where I don’t think I was using brakes (can’t remember exactly) could my brakes be sticking would it squeak

[luiscaldeira]

I am having a issue that i dont know if could be brakes or bearing, when turning at 120 kmh and turning to the left the left front wheel start to do a noise similar to when we go over a separator line on the road, any idea of what could be? And i dont know if it helps when wet or after being washed in the firsts kms start making thumping noises from the rear... After some kms seems to stop

[violarulez]

I have a slight metal on metal grinding sound that oscillates (the grinding sound "peaks" once per tire revolution), and it seems like this could be it.. I actually only notice it when there's a concrete barrier or brick wall to my left (from the sound bouncing into my ears). thanks for the video

[Dansfarmstand]

First, great video! I had a caliper that was sticking and replaced it but that tire is still sticking but not all the time. I took the lid off and took out some fluid. The rubber seal on the lid was popped out so popped it back in and did fine but a couple days later same thing, new caliper sticking so repeated again and did fine on way to work. I thought I blead the brake after installing the caliper but maybe not well enough. Could the issue be air? When i changed it the hose drained really fast.

[varmavegiraju]

Hello there I have a problem with my Chevrolet Cruze brake, rear right brake is grinding very fast I have to change brake pads, everytime, I have also replaced the same caliper once please help me with the issue.

[Karmaooo]

Can this cause a car tire to feel bumpy/shaky when going highway speeds just driving not breaking

[Dynasty-sy]

Great video. I’ve been having brake issues primarily on the left side of the car and nobody can seem to figure it out in fact most don’t even see fault in brakes. I’ve swapped pads and rotors numerous time, I’ve even put a new caliper (no change), replaced the rubber hose, bled them. My issue is that when I brake then release I can feel the pads still stuck on the rotor when I try to move forward and it makes a loud clank noise once they release. Also get these occasional brake squeals and eventually the new rotor will get scored. The most recent set of pads I removed had an actual lip on top of the pad itself which I think meant the inner pad was hitting the rotor on an angle. Do you know what could cause this? It sounds as if the pads are jumping but I don’t understand how unless the floating part of the caliper is jumping too and I’m not sure how that could even happen every thing is secured to factory torque spec.

[fd]

FYI Do not leave the brake fluid reservoir cap off for a long time. Brake fluid absorbs water vapour very quickly, which will cause corrosion issues in the future

[lisamillar]

My breaks have frozen the past 2 years when the weather gets down to minus 😭 my driveway is on a small hill. Its soul destroying. Start the car to go and its frozen and starts smoking. Is there anyway i can stop this? I think its the callipers that have frozen

[lilchiefthethird]

I've been experiencing somewhat sticking on my brakes, when I'm at a complete stop and then when I'm releasing on the brake and then pressing on the gas I would hear a thump.

[WunHungLo]

What a great clear idiot proof video. Not sure if any of these diags apply to my sticking caliper but the process for checking your suggestions was brilliant. My only issue is the weird component terminology used 😂 Rotors? Aaah you mean brake discs...

[dr.philphilsphil]

Please help me… literally no shop knows what’s wrong.


19 Silverado 1500

Just a routine new pad/ new rotor job. $800 local shop. 2 days later a new loud moaning noise started coming from the rear wheels. Took it back. They don’t know. Second visit. Said the caliber suddenly went bad. Huh?? 3rd visit, different shop. They said the previous shop didn’t calibrate the electronic brake properly. They calibrated it. Noise went away! One day later the noise came back. Visit 4. They replaced the brake actuator. $300. No dofferent. Visit 5. They want to replace the brake module computer. $1000. Told them no that’s enough. How did a shop install new brakes and FUCK all this up??

So I noticed the reservoir is completely filled to the top cap even when truck is ice cold. Could this really be from them over filling the system when they gave me new brakes?