Preliminary operations
1. Inspect easily accessible components for obvious damage and/or leaks that may indicate that the vehicle should not be driven until necessary repairs are completed.
2. Adjust the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir.
3. Adjust tire pressure.
4. Inspect the tire tread patterns; the wear pattern should be the same (or almost the same), especially on the wheels of one axle.
5. Check that the vehicle is loaded evenly.
Verification procedure
Warning: When checking on the road, follow the traffic rules. Do not make any maneuvers that may cause you to lose control of the vehicle. Failure to follow this warning may result in serious injury and damage to the vehicle.
1. Start the engine at idle speed.
2. Check if the brake malfunction indicator is on.
3. If the indicator is on, diagnose the system and make any necessary repairs.
4. Choose a level road without noticeable slopes and with low traffic volume.
5. Move the automatic transmission selector to the "P" position and lightly press the brake pedal. Evaluate the pedal travel and pedal feel.
6. If the brake pedal is "soft" or the pedal travel is excessively large, eliminate the cause of these phenomena.
7. If the brake pedal is "hard" and the pedal travel is normal, proceed to checking the entire system.
8. Press the brake pedal.
9. Move the automatic transmission selector to position "D", release the brake pedal and observe the operation of the brake system.
10. Have an external observer drive the car at low speed and apply the brakes lightly as you pass the observer. The observer should evaluate the braking noise while you evaluate both the pedal force and the pedal travel.
11. If the pedal force is excessive or the pedal stroke is unusually large, stop checking until the causes of these phenomena are eliminated.
12. If the pedal force and travel are normal, continue checking.
13. Perform the operations according to point 10 when driving in the opposite direction.
14. Drive the car at low speed and move the automatic transmission selector to the "N" position without pressing the brake pedal. Estimate the free run distance (if the brakes seize, the free run will be short).
15. Choose a dry and level section of the road.
16. Drive at a moderate speed. Watch for the car to pull to the side without applying the brakes.
17. While continuing to drive the vehicle at a moderate speed, perform several light braking applications. Observe the pedal force, pedal travel, pedal feel, and brake noise.
18. If the pedal force is excessive or the pedal stroke is unusually large, stop checking until the causes of these phenomena are eliminated.
19. If the pedal force and travel are normal, continue checking.
20. While continuing to drive the vehicle at a moderate speed, perform several moderate braking applications. Observe the pedal force, pedal travel, pedal feel, brake noise, vehicle pull and/or longitudinal sag (a slight forward sag is normal).
21. If the pedal force is excessive or the pedal stroke is unusually large, stop checking until the causes of these phenomena are eliminated.