What fault would you suspect if your car’s footbrake starts to feel spongy?
- A The wrong brake pads are fitted
- B The hydraulic system contains air
- C The brake pads are worn
- D The brake discs are worn
Why this is the answer
If air gets into the hydraulic system, the brake pedal will feel spongy. When you press it, the air is compressed, causing the pedal to move further than normal. As a result, braking efficiency is reduced. Have the system checked by a qualified mechanic: brake faults are too important to be ignored.
Why the other answers don't fit
- A
- The wrong brake pads are fitted — The wrong pads give poor braking, not a soft pedal.
- C
- The brake pads are worn — Worn pads give a longer pedal travel and a grinding noise rather than sponginess.
- D
- The brake discs are worn — Worn discs show as vibration under braking.
Where this comes from
- Driving: the essential skills — section 14
Rule numbers link to The Highway Code on gov.uk.
Where this question comes from
The question, its options and the explanation are reproduced word for word from the DVSA revision question bank under licence. The licence requires them to appear unaltered, so we cannot reword them and neither can anyone else — that is why you will meet the same wording on other sites. Everything else on this page is written by Theory Hub: the explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong, the topic guide and the revision notes.
Asked in: Driving Instructor (ADI Part 1)
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