Contents: General information ↧ Checking the operation of the brake… ↧ Checking the condition of the front… ↧
General information
Brakes should be tested on a dry, clean, smooth and level road.
1. Test the brakes at various vehicle speeds, with light and heavy pressure on the brake pedal. However, avoid locking the brakes and sliding tires. Locked brakes and sliding tires are ineffective because sliding friction is always lower than rolling friction under equal conditions. Thus, braked but rotating wheels will stop the car in a shorter distance than locked brakes.
Factors that affect braking safety:
- tires with different grip characteristics will cause uneven braking, so:
- tires must be equally inflated;
- the tread patterns of the right and left tires must be the same;
- the vehicle load should be as even as possible, since heavier loaded wheels require more braking power;
- violation of wheel alignment angles, especially excessive camber angle and excessive toe-in angle of one of the wheels, will cause the car to pull to one side when braking.
2. Check the brake system for leaks. To check for brake fluid leaks, press and hold your foot firmly on the brake pedal with the engine idling and the gear shift in position N (neutral gear). If the pedal moves forward gradually when you apply constant pressure, there may be a leak in the hydraulic system or fluid is being bypassed through the master cylinder seals. Perform a visual inspection to confirm any possible brake fluid leaks.
3. If, after several consecutive presses on the pedal, it "rises", that is, the position in which the pedal becomes "hard", becomes higher, this indicates the presence of air in the hydraulic brake system.
4. Check the fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. If a slight drop in the reservoir level is the result of normal wear of the friction linings, then a significant drop in the level indicates a leak in the system.
5. If there are any problems with the brakes ("low" and/or "soft" brake pedal, reduced braking efficiency), the following checks should be performed.
- Check for cracks in the master cylinder body or leaks of brake fluid around the master cylinder. Leaks are only considered if there is at least one drop of fluid. Wetting of the cylinder surface is considered normal.
- Check the adjustment of the controls (pedals and rods of the GGC).
- Disassemble the master cylinder and inspect the seals for stretching, swelling or wear.
6. If swollen seals are found, the brake fluid should be checked for contamination. If the brake fluid is found to be contaminated, all components of the master cylinder should be disassembled and washed, and all rubber components should be replaced. In addition, all pipelines should be washed. Inadequate quality brake fluid, the presence of mineral oils or water in the fluid may cause the brake fluid to boil or cause damage to rubber parts.
Checking the operation of the brake booster
1. Press the brake pedal several times with the engine off until the pressure in the booster chamber equalizes with atmospheric pressure (the vacuum should be "used up").
2. Press the pedal and hold it in this position.
3. Start the engine.
4. The booster is OK if the pedal drops further due to the generation of additional force.
5. If the brake pedal does not fall through, the vacuum system (vacuum hoses, valve, etc.), may be faulty and should be checked.
6. If no faults are found during the vacuum system check, then the fault is in the amplifier itself.
Checking the condition of the front disc brake pads
The minimum thickness of the inner or outer friction lining is 7 mm.