GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Test the brake system on a road that meets the following conditions:

    â€¢ Dry
    â€¢ Clean
    â€¢ Reasonably smooth
    â€¢ Level

Do not test the brake system on a road with any of the following conditions because the tires will not grip the road equally:

    â€¢ Wet
    â€¢ Greasy
    â€¢ Slippery
    â€¢ Crowned
    â€¢ Rough

A wet road may cause the tires to hydroplane.

A greasy road may cause the tires to slip.

A slippery road may cause the tires to slide.

A crowned road may throw the weight of the vehicle toward the wheels on one side.

A rough road may cause the wheels to bounce.

Test the brakes at different vehicle speeds, with both light and heavy pedal pressure. Locked brakes and sliding tires do not indicate brake efficiency, since heavily braked but turning tires will stop a vehicle in less distance than will locked wheels.

Because of a higher deceleration capability, the driver may feel a firmer pedal at higher deceleration rates.