3 answers
★ Best answer
It could come from several things, and not necessarily all serious. Before thinking about the pump or leaks (like it's already been mentioned), first check your brake fluid level - it's silly but it happens all the time. If it's low, top it up and see if it improves. Another really common cause is air that's gotten into the lines, especially after work on the circuit. Then you need to have the brakes bled, that's the simplest solution.
After that, there's also brake pads wearing down and they can give you a harder pedal feel depending on the wear, or calipers seizing up. I had that happen once on an old car - the pedal got weird overnight, I thought it was serious, and in the end it was just a pad on one side that had come loose. So before panicking, do a simple check: fluid level, then possibly a bleed. If the pedal's still hard after that, then you really need to have someone who knows their stuff check out the pump and calipers.
The problem often comes from a leak in the brake hydraulic system or a worn brake master cylinder, which causes a loss of pressure and makes the pedal hard to push down. You need to get that checked out quickly by a mechanic because it's a safety issue that can get dangerous if you let it go.
Did you notice if it got hard all of a sudden or gradually? Because there's also brake pad wear that can give you that feeling - when they wear down too much, the system compensates by increasing hydraulic resistance. It can seem counterintuitive but it's pretty common, especially if you haven't changed your pads in a while. Of course, you still shouldn't ignore what the others said about leaks and the pump, but start by checking the condition of your pads before you get into more serious repairs.
Julien_88 asker
All of a sudden, yeah. I changed the brake pads about 6 months ago. Thanks for the info.
Your answer
Log into answer.