Brake vacuum is depleted in most modern vehicles with power assist, which is powered by a brake vacuum. The reserve vacuum in your car may be depleted if you’ve been squeezing the brake pedals while the engine isn’t running. The stiffness of your brake pedal will be a result of this.
Why is my brake pedal hard to push when I start my car?
Power Steering Pump or Vacuum Pump FailureBrake pedal stiffness can be caused by the vehicle’s vacuum pump, hydraulic booster, or a failing electric pump, as well as low power steering fluid.
What does it mean when your brake pedal feels hard?
In reality, the hard pedal you’re experiencing is the pedal bottoming out and stopping moving, but the master cylinder is still applying brake pressure to the wheels. If you have to move the pivot of the pedal to correct the pedal ratio, it can be difficult.