External Conditions That Affect Brake Performance
ROAD TESTINGWhen road testing complaint vehicles, it is important to be aware of other vehicle systems and conditions which may affect the brake system and/or generate brake complaints. Be particularly aware of conditions which may cause the car to lead or pull to one side while driving without the brakes applied. Conditions which may contribute to vehicle lead/pull or may be mistaken for brake system conditions include:
Tires
- Lead/pull conditions. Refer to Tires and Wheels for tire-related lead pull diagnosis.
- Uneven traction. Tires having unequal contact and grip on the road will cause unequal braking. Tires must be equally inflated and the tread pattern of right and left tires must be approximately equal.
Front End Alignment
- Misalignment of the front end, particularly with regard to camber and caster, will cause the car to pull to one side. Refer to Steering, Suspension, Wheels and Tires Diagnosis for alignment related diagnosis.
Vehicle Loading
- When a car has unequal loading, the most heavily loaded wheels require more braking power than others. A heavily loaded car sometimes requires more braking effort.