Ensure the following conditions are present when road testing
the brakes:
| • | Test the brakes on a dry roadway. |
| • | Test the brakes on a clean roadway. |
| • | Test the brakes on a reasonably smooth roadway. |
| • | Test the brakes on a reasonably level roadway. |
| • | Test the brakes in an area that is free of vehicular and pedestrian
traffic. |
The following conditions prevent a true test of brake performance:
| • | A wet roadway prevents the tires from equally gripping the roadway. |
| • | Road oil prevents the tires from equally gripping the roadway. |
| • | A roadway covered with loose dirt prevents the tires from equally
gripping the roadway. |
| • | A crowned roadway throws the weight of the vehicle toward the
wheels on one side. |
| • | A rough roadway bounces the wheels. |
| • | Tires that have unequal contact and unequal grip on the road cause
unequal braking. Ensure the tires are equally inflated. Ensure the tread pattern
of the right tires and the left tires are approximately equal. |
| • | A heavily loaded vehicle requires more braking effort. The most
heavily loaded wheels require more braking power than the other tires when
a vehicle has unequal loading. |
| • | Misalignment of the wheels cause the vehicle to pull to one side.
This particularly applies to excessive camber and caster. |
Test the brakes at different vehicle speeds with both light and heavy
brake pedal pressure.
