Brother Printers Streaking on Pages: How to Fix It Yourself
Streaks or lines on your Brother printer pages are usually caused by a dirty drum, a low toner cartridge, or a dirty corona wire. These are all easy fixes. In many cases, a simple cleaning inside the printer makes the streaks disappear instantly. You probably won't even need to buy anything.
⚠️ Safety First
- Turn off and unplug the printer before cleaning inside it.
- Toner powder is messy and harmful to breathe. Handle cartridges carefully and don't shake them over anything you care about.
- On laser printers, the fuser can be very hot. Wait 10 minutes after printing before touching internal components.
Parts You May Need
Step-by-Step Repair
- 1
Print a test page to identify the problem
Print a test page from your printer's menu or from your computer. Look at the streaks carefully. Vertical lines running down the page usually point to a drum problem. Horizontal lines across the page suggest a toner issue. Faded spots mean low toner. Repeating marks at regular intervals usually mean something is stuck on the drum or roller.
- 2
Remove and reseat the toner and drum
Open the front cover of the printer. Pull out the toner and drum unit assembly. Separate the toner cartridge from the drum unit (usually a lever or button releases them). Put them back together firmly and slide the assembly back in. Sometimes a loose connection causes streaks. Close the cover and print a test page.
- 3
Clean the corona wire
With the drum unit removed, look for a green or blue tab on the drum unit — this is the corona wire cleaner. Slide the tab back and forth from end to end several times. Make sure you return it to its home position when done. The corona wire electrically charges the drum, and if it's dirty, you get streaks.
- 4
Clean the drum surface
Look at the green drum cylinder. Slowly rotate it by hand and look for any toner buildup, marks, or scratches on the surface. If you see a mark, gently wipe it with a dry, lint-free cloth. Don't touch the drum with your fingers — oils cause print quality issues. If the drum has deep scratches, it needs replacing.
- 5
Check the toner level and replace if needed
If the test page is faded or has light streaks, the toner may be low. Take out the toner cartridge and gently rock it side to side 5-6 times — this redistributes the remaining toner and can give you a few hundred more pages. If that doesn't help, it's time for a new toner cartridge.
- 6
Replace the drum unit if streaks persist
Drum units wear out over time (typically after 12,000-15,000 pages). If cleaning didn't fix the streaks and the toner is fine, the drum is likely worn out. Replace the drum unit — they cost $25–$50 and are easy to swap (just pull out the old one and put in the new one).
If That Didn't Work
- Humidity can affect print quality. Store paper in a dry location and avoid printing right after bringing the printer in from the cold.
- Refilled or third-party toner cartridges sometimes cause streaks. Try a genuine Brother cartridge to see if that's the issue.
- A dirty fuser roller can leave marks on pages. These typically appear as shiny or smeared streaks. The fuser is harder to clean and may require a service kit.
When to Call a Professional
If cleaning and replacing the toner and drum don't fix the streaks, the fuser unit may need replacement ($50–$100). A repair shop will charge $60–$120 for this service. For budget Brother laser printers (under $150 new), it may be more cost-effective to replace the printer than to replace the fuser unit. For higher-end models, the fuser replacement is worth it.
Related Repairs
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional repair advice. All repairs are performed at your own risk. RepairItFree.com is not liable for any personal injury, property damage, device damage, voided warranties, or other losses resulting from the use of this information.
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