Brakes and Traction Control: Description and Operation

Brake System

WARNING: Brake fluid contains polyglycol ethers and polyglycols. Avoid contact with the eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. If brake fluid contacts the eyes, flush the eyes for 15 minutes with cold running water. Get medical attention if irritation persists. If taken internally, drink water and induce vomiting. Get medical attention immediately. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

The braking system is a diagonally split, dual circuit design featuring front disc brakes and rear drum brakes with anti-lock control available on certain variants.

The hydraulic system provides separate circuits for each pair of diagonally opposed wheels (left front, right rear and right front, left rear). The front calipers, mounted on the wheel knuckle, are of single sliding piston design which make sure that equal effort is applied through both brake pads. The pads in all cases are asbestos free.

The rear drum brakes are of conventional design. They feature one primary and one secondary shoe with bonded thick/thin asbestos free linings. The thick/thin linings allow the shoes to wear at proportional rates. The brakes self adjust during foot brake operation.

The parking brake control is located between the front seats and operates the rear brakes through a cable system.

The master cylinder is of a tandem design and is linked to a brake booster to reduce the brake pedal effort. The tandem design will make sure that in the event of one brake circuit failure the other will remain fully operational. The master cylinder and brake booster are located on the same side as the steering wheel. The booster operating rod is connected directly to the brake pedal.

Vehicles fitted with the basic braking system have Pressure Conscious Reducing Valves (PCRVs). These are fitted between the master cylinder and the brake tubes to the rear wheels.

The PCRVs control the hydraulic pressure applied to the rear brakes thereby reducing the risk of rear wheel lock-up under braking.

Principles of Operations
The brake system operates by transferring effort applied to the brake pedal by the driver to the brakes at each wheel.

The braking effort is distributed to each wheel, using a hydraulic system. The system is assisted using a vacuum brake booster that reduces pedal effort and increases hydraulic pressure.

The parking brake operates on the rear wheels and is applied using a hand operated control.