Michigan State Brakes Certification Practice Exam

Dragging brakes occur when the brake components do not fully release after the brake pedal is released, causing continuous friction between the brake pads and the rotors (or shoes and drums). In this context, a defective vehicle load sensor can indeed lead to dragging brakes. The load sensor is responsible for adjusting the brake force applied based on the weight of the vehicle load. If this sensor is faulty, it may not allow for proper adjustment of the brake force leading to improper engagement and resulting in sustained pressure on the brake components, which can cause them to drag.

Other potential causes, while relevant to braking system performance, may not directly result in dragging brakes. Low brake fluid typically leads to decreased braking efficiency or spongy brake feel rather than dragging. Worn brake shoes can affect performance but usually would create other symptoms, such as noise or reduced stopping power rather than dragging. A faulty ABS module could disrupt anti-lock functionality, but it typically wouldn't cause dragging brakes directly unless it affected the overall brake control, which is less common in practice.