Test the brakes on a roadway that meets the following conditions:
Do not test the brakes on a roadway with the following conditions because
the tires will not grip the road equally:
• | Covered with loose dirt |
Testing is adversely affected if the roadway is crowned, which would
throw the weight of the vehicle toward the wheels on one side. Testing is
also adversely affected if the roadway is so rough that the wheels tend to
bounce.
Test the brakes at different vehicle speeds, with both light and heavy
brake pedal pressure. Avoid locking the brakes and sliding the
tires. Locked brakes and sliding tires do not indicate brake efficiency,
since heavily braked but turning wheels will stop a vehicle in less distance
than locked wheels.
The brake system is balanced in order to avoid locking the wheels except
at very high deceleration rates. Because of a high deceleration capability,
a firmer brake pedal may be felt at higher deceleration levels.