Diagnose and repair a soft brake pedal and grinding noise

You are a light vehicle technician in the service workshop.

Simulated workplaceIntermediate missionCAQA Torque Automotive

What is going on

Lena Bergstrom's 2018 sedan arrives on RO-26-4520 with a soft brake pedal and a grinding noise from the front when braking. The Customer Care Manager has flagged the job as safety related and the customer has asked for a call before any work beyond the inspection fee. Your job is to inspect and diagnose the braking system, find the cause of both symptoms, and prepare a written quote with the reasons for each item so the service advisor can obtain authorisation. The quality and warranty policy requires a second technician to check brake work before release, and the customer service policy means the vehicle cannot be released with an unsafe defect without the Service Manager's approval.

Jarrah Mitchell, Customer Care Manager
Subject: Soft brake pedal, Lena Bergstrom, do not release without a check

Lena Bergstrom is dropping her sedan off at 7:30 am on Friday, RO-26-4520. She described a soft pedal and a grinding noise from the front. Please treat this as a safety job: inspect, diagnose and write up the cause and a quote before anything is replaced. She has asked for a call before any work over the inspection fee, so use the Repair Quote Template and record her authorisation on the order. Nothing leaves the yard until the quality check is signed.

Your brief

Inspect and diagnose the braking system, document the fault found and its cause on the repair order, prepare a quote using the Repair Quote Template, complete the repair once authorised, and arrange the quality check and road test before release.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Open RO-26-4520 in the Repair Orders system, read the customer's concern and update the status to In progress with your name as technician.
Complete hoist pre-use checks, raise the vehicle and inspect the hydraulic braking system, pads, discs, hoses and fluid, recording measured thicknesses and any leaks.
Test the hydraulic system for the soft pedal, record fault found and cause for each symptom on the repair order, and photograph worn components.
Prepare a quote on the Repair Quote Template listing each item with its reason and priority, then pass it to the service advisor and change the status to Awaiting authorisation.
Request the authorised parts from the parts counter against the repair order and confirm fitment against the vehicle identification number.
Complete the repair to manufacturer specification, bleed and test the system, and record torque settings and the fluid used.
Clean brake components using the wet method as the Hazardous Substances and High Voltage Isolation Procedure requires, and dispose of waste correctly.
Arrange the second-technician quality check and road test, record the sign off, and update the repair order to Quality check for the advisor.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

Repair order with diagnosis, cause and correction recorded
Completed repair quote with priorities and customer authorisation recorded
Quality check and road test sign off
Photographs or description of worn components

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.