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Question

Difficulty: HardBasic Maintenance and Daily Checks

During routine pre-journey safety checks, a brake pedal that feels spongy and soft when pressed indicates that the vehicle's brake pads are worn down to their legal limit.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. A spongy brake pedal indicates air in the hydraulic brake system, not worn brake pads.
The statement is false because a soft, spongy pedal feel is a definitive sign of air inside the hydraulic brake fluid system, which requires bleeding by a mechanic. Severely worn brake pads cause grinding noises, reduced braking power, and can trigger warning sensors, but they do not make the hydraulic pedal feel elastic or spongy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the symptom described during the pre-journey footbrake check.
The symptom is a soft, spongy brake pedal feel when pressure is applied.
Vehicle safety checks require drivers to identify specific mechanical and hydraulic faults by their distinct physical symptoms.
2
Determine the physical cause of a spongy pedal feel.
Air trapped in the hydraulic fluid lines compresses under pedal pressure, causing a soft or spongy sensation.
Hydraulic brake fluid is non-compressible, but air bubbles compress easily when pressurized.
3
Contrast the symptoms of hydraulic air locks with those of worn brake pads.
Worn brake pads cause thin friction linings, resulting in metal-on-metal grinding, increased stopping distances, or lower reservoir levels, but not pedal sponginess.
Distinguishing hydraulic issues from friction lining wear is essential for accurate vehicle maintenance diagnosis.
4
Evaluate the truth value of the stem.
The stem incorrectly attributes pedal sponginess to worn brake pads.
Since the stated cause does not match the symptom, the statement is false.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between hydraulic faults (air in fluid causing a spongy pedal) and mechanical wear (worn brake pads causing noise and reduced friction).
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Basic Maintenance and Daily Checks

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