Brakes and Traction Control: Description and Operation

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Brake System, Hydraulic
This vehicle is equipped with a brake pedal-actuated hydraulic dual brake system. The system consists of the following:
- front disc brake calipers.
- rear disc brake calipers.
- a Four Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (4WABS).
- brake master cylinder.
- brake pressure control valve.
- brake tubes and brake hoses.

The dual ABS hydraulic system is diagonally split with the LH front and RH rear making up one circuit and the RH front and LH rear making up the other circuit.

Master Cylinder, Dual

WARNING: Brake fluid contains polyglycol ethers and polyglycols. Avoid contact with eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. If brake fluid contacts eyes, flush eyes with running water for 15 minutes. Get medical attention if irritation persists. If taken internally, drink water and induce vomiting. Get medical attention immediately.

The brake master cylinder contains the following features:
- The brake master cylinder has a common plastic brake master cylinder reservoir and low fluid level indicator combined in one assembly.

Booster, Power Brake
The power brake booster is a vacuum-operated, dual diaphragm type and is equipped with a separately serviceable power brake booster check valve.

Brakes, Front Disc
Front disc brakes consist of the following features:
- The front disc brakes have hydraulically activated pin slider-type disc brake front caliper assemblies with a full cast vented brake disc.

Brakes, Rear Disc
The rear disc brakes consist of the following features:
- a full-cast vented brake disc.
- hydraulically-activated rear disc brake caliper assemblies with integral mechanically (cable) operated parking brake mechanisms.

Brake System, Parking
The parking brake system consists of the following features:
- The system is cable-actuated and controlled by foot-operated parking brake control.
- The parking brake control pulls a cable which actuates the rear disc brake calipers.
- The parking brake is self-adjusting.

Brake Pressure Control Valve
The brake pressure control valve:
- regulates the hydraulic pressure in the rear brake system.
- is located in the engine compartment, below the battery tray.
Operation is as follows:
- When the brake pedal is applied, the full rear brake fluid pressure passes through the brake pressure control valve to the rear brake system until the valve's split point is reached.
- Above its split point, the brake pressure control valve begins to reduce the hydraulic pressure to the rear brakes.
- The reduced pressure creates a balanced braking condition between the front and rear wheels to minimize rear wheel lockup during hard braking.

Brake Tubing

WARNING: Copper tubing should not be used in a hydraulic system. When bending brake tubing to fit underbody, be careful not to kink or crack the tube.

If a section of the brake tubing becomes damaged, the entire section should be replaced with tubing of the same type, size, shape, and length.

Brake Hose
A flexible brake hose should be replaced if it shows signs of softening, cracking or other damage.
When installing a new brake hose, two new sealing washers should be used. Positioning of the brake hose to brake caliper is controlled by a self-indexing brass block. When securing the front brake hose connection to the caliper, tighten the bolt to specification. Inspect the position of the installed brake hose for clearance to other chassis components. Positioning of the rear wheel brake hose is controlled by self-indexing end fittings.

Brake System, Anti-Lock
The ABS is a four-wheel system which helps prevent wheel lockup automatically modulating the brake pedal pressure during an emergency stop. By preventing the wheels from locking, it enables the driver to maintain steering control and stop in the shortest possible distance under most conditions.
During normal braking, the ABS and non-ABS brake pedal feel will be the same. During ABS operation, a pulsation can be felt in the brake pedal, accompanied with a fall and then a rise in brake pedal height and a clicking sound.