Sometimes, changes occur so gradually that you don't notice them happening. Most of the time, the changes don't put you at risk of dangerous situations, unless it comes to your vehicle. One slow change that many people don't recognize until it may be too late is the way their brake pedal feels. If you've ever gotten your brakes repaired, you've noticed an immediate difference in the range of motion that it takes to engage the braking system.

A squishy brake pedal or one that has little to no resistance is dangerous and is usually a sign of a brake fluid leak somewhere in the braking system. Here's how it all works and why you should call a towing service if your brake pedal is squishy or reaches the floor before engaging the brakes.

How your braking system works

Your braking system consists of many parts that work together to slow your car down and bring it to a stop. When you press on your brake pedal, the master cylinder engages and pushes brake fluid into the brake system lines and to the calipers. The hydraulic pressure forces the closing of the calipers, which squeezes the rotors until they reach the brake pads. The brake pads provide friction, which results in the car slowing down and, when necessary, stopping.

What causes brake pedal to feel squishy or have no resistance

If you step on the brake pedal and it feels squishy or offers little to no resistance, then the master cylinder will not engage and the brake fluid will not get pushed into the lines to the calipers. Or, the brake fluid does not reach the calipers. Your braking system will not engage until or unless it has sufficient brake fluid to the calipers. This lack of brake fluid or a reduction in the amount of brake fluid can be caused by several things, including:

• the fluid is leaking
• the brake fluid reservoir is low
• there is air in the brake fluid lines
• the piston in the caliper is damaged

What could happen if you continue to drive your vehicle

If your brake pedal is squishy or reaches the floor, do not drive your vehicle. Regardless of what the problem is, the condition can progressively worsen. At some point, probably in the near future, you may not have any braking ability at all. Call for a towing service, like Valley  Express Auto Repair, to tow your vehicle to a repair shop instead of attempting to drive it. Yes, it is that serious.