Mercedes-Benz SL400 Brake pedal is spongy Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(5,647)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(5,647)

Brake pedal is spongy Inspection Service

How much does a Brake pedal is spongy Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Mercedes-Benz SL400 Brake pedal is spongy Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2016 Mercedes-Benz SL400V6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake pedal is spongy InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$132.49 - $145.62
2015 Mercedes-Benz SL400V6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake pedal is spongy InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$112.52 - $125.67
Show example Mercedes-Benz SL400 Brake pedal is spongy Inspection prices

When you press your brake pedal, it should feel firm and solid. There should be only minimal travel in the pedal before the brakes are engaged, and it should not require significant effort to slow or stop your vehicle. If you’ve noticed your brake pedal feels spongy or soft, there’s a problem with the system that must be identified and repaired immediately.

How this system works:

The “feel” of your brake pedal is created by fluid pressure in the master cylinder and the brake lines. When you press the pedal to slow or stop your car, the master cylinder responds by pushing fluid into the lines that feed the calipers and drums (depending on your vehicle, you may have disc brakes in the front and drums in the rear, or you may have disc brakes on all four wheels).

Once the fluid reaches the calipers, they activate a piston that closes the caliper on the rotor, squeezing it between two brake pads. In the case of drum brakes, an actuator is activated, which pushes the shoes outward against the inner surface of the drum.

In a normally operating system, you should feel little to no difference in the firmness of the brake pedal during any part of operation. However, there are several potential problems that could lead to a spongy or soft pedal feel.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Air in the Lines: If air gets into the brake lines, either due to low brake fluid in the master cylinder or from other source, it will create a spongy feel and reduce your stopping ability. This is sometimes a common occurrence after an inexpert brake pad replacement or repair. Air should be bled from the system after every repair to ensure proper operation and safety.

  • Damaged Caliper: Another potential problem that could cause a spongy brake pedal is a damaged brake caliper. If the caliper’s piston seal has started to leak, this will create a soft pedal. Brake fluid may also contaminate the surface of the rotor and/or brake pads, leading to further problems.

  • Master Cylinder Wear: If your master cylinder is older, it can sustain enough wear and tear that it loses fluid pressure. This is generally caused by a fluid leak at the master cylinder. Again, any loss of fluid pressure will lead to a brake pedal that feels spongy or soft.

  • Brake Line Damage: Your vehicle has both rubber and metal brake lines, and either type can be damaged. When this happens, the line may become crimped, which reduces the flow of fluid through it, or it may begin leaking, which will reduce overall pressure. Both conditions lead to a spongy or soft brake pedal.

  • Moisture in Brake Fluid: If your brake fluid hasn’t been changed in a while, there’s a good chance that it has absorbed moisture. Moisture can be absorbed through the pores on rubber brake lines, leading to a spongy or soft brake pedal.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect the entire brake system, including the master cylinder, the brake lines, the calipers, rotors and pads. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will need to inspect the entire system, with a particular focus on problems that cause air to be trapped in the lines, or that lead to low fluid levels in the brake system. The mechanic will need to inspect the calipers, the brake lines, the master cylinder and other components in order to determine the actual underlying cause of the problem.

How important is this service?

If you’re experiencing a spongy brake pedal, it’s a critical situation. Air in the lines or low brake fluid can compromise your safety on the road. Your brakes are the single most important safety system on your vehicle, and they must be professionally maintained at all times. One of our mechanics can inspect, diagnose and repair your car to ensure that you’re safe while driving.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Mercedes-Benz mechanics

Real customer reviews from Mercedes-Benz owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(5,647)

Rating Summary
5,256
190
54
28
119
5,256
190
54
28
119

David

10 years of experience
170 reviews
David
10 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz SL400 V6-3.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Orlando, Florida
Pre-Purchase service - On time with appointment. Follow up call and report was generated immediately which is greatly appreciate. Many thanks!!

Wayne

31 years of experience
102 reviews
Wayne
31 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz SL500 V8-5.0L - Brake Pads Replacement (Rear) - Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
He did what he was supposed to.

Justin

8 years of experience
40 reviews
Justin
8 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz ML550 V8-5.5L - Liftgate Latch - Roanoke, Texas
Justin was great. Professional and kind and fixed the problem. Would definitely use again.

Ben

41 years of experience
1436 reviews
Ben
41 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz E350 V6-3.5L - Inspection / Diagnostics - Houston, Texas
Very professional, punctual and sincere. Ben knows his stuff, no second guessing with his recommendations. "Straight shooter" to be precise!

Excellent Rating

(5,647)

Rating Summary
5,256
190
54
28
119
5,256
190
54
28
119
Number of Mercedes-Benz services completed
62117+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Mercedes-Benz MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Is it Safe to Drive With a Flat Tire?
Once Once a tire loses a large amount of air pressure, it causes a flat tire. Overuse, puncture, improper air pressure, or a defect can cause a tire to become flat. Furthermore, driving on underinflated tires can cause damage and...
Child Seat Safety Laws in New York
In In the state of New York, the law requires that children be restrained in a car seat when in a moving vehicle. This means that any child has to be in a child seat that is right for their...
How to Get Volkswagen Dealership Certified
Volkswagen car dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to mechanics who are certified through ASE and specialized Volkswagen programs.

What do the Maintenance Minder messages mean?

Your car’s Maintenance Minder™ system is designed as a reminder system and a tracker for your vehicle service. It can display a number of different messages in conjunction with the oil life percentage and the wrench symbol on the dash...

My alarm key for my car won't work

You may need to shut your door, lock your door again, and then try unlocking it. If that doesn't work you may need to replace the battery in your remote. Unfortunately, without more information about the vehicle, it will be...

Aux button on my radio

If the vehicle is equipped with an aux jack, it would be located in the center console bin, on the bottom towards the front. Later models have the jack located just in front of the shifter on the lower dash...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com