brakes BUICK CENTURY 1994 Owner's Manual

Brake Wear
Your Buick has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving
(except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal
firmly).
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with
your brakes.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums
should be removed and inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you have the
front brakes replaced, have the rear brakes inspected,
too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes moderately, with or
without the vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
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Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality GM brake
parts in them, as your Buick does when it is new. When
you replace parts of your braking system -- for example,
when your brake linings wear down and
you have to
have new ones put
in -- be sure you get new genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between your front and rear brakes can change,
for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to
expect can change
in many other ways if someone puts
in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Buick has a Delco Freedom’ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. When it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom’
battery. Get one that has the catalog number shown on
the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, take off the black, negative
(-) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from running
down.
Contact your dealer
to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
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WHAT TO DO
Steering Column brake set,
try to turn the key to “LOCK”
Lock While parked,
and with the parking
in each shift lever position.
0 The key should turn to “LOCK”
only when the shift lever is
in “P’
(Park).
The key should come out only in
“LOCK.”
CHECK OR
SERVICE
Parking Brake and
Automatic
Transaxle
“P’
(Park) Mechanism
Check
WHAT TO DO
CAUTION: When you are doing this
check, your vehicle could begin to
move. You or others could be injure&
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front of
your vehide in case it begins to roll.
Be ready to apply the regular brake
at once should the vehicle begin to
move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping your
foot on
the regular brake, set the
parking brake.
0 To check the parking brake: With the
engine running and transaxle
in “N”
(Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal.
Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
0 To check the “P’ (Park) mechanism’s
holding ability:
Shift to “P” (Park).
Then release all brakes.
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CHECK OR SERVICE
Steering, Suspension and
Front-Wheel-
Drive Axle Boot
and Seal
Inspection
Exhaust System
Inspection
Throttle Linkage
Inspection
WHAT TO DO
Inspect the front and rear suspension and
steering system
for damaged, loose or
missing parts, signs of wear, or lack of
lubrication. Inspect the power steering
lines and hoses for proper hookup,
binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
Clean and
then inspect the drive axle
boot seals
for damage, tears or leakage.
Replace seals if necessary.
Inspect the complete exhaust system.
Inspect the body near the exhaust
system. Look for broken, damaged,
missing or out-of-position parts as
well
as open seams, holes, loose connections,
or other conditions which could cause a
heat build-up
in the floor pan or could let
exhaust fumes into the vehicle. See
“Engine Exhaust”
in the Index.
Inspect the throttle linkage for
interference
or binding, and for
damaged
or missing parts. Replace
parts as needed.
CHECK OR
SERVICE
Brake System
Inspection
WHAT TO DO
Inspect the complete system. Inspect
brake lines and hoses for proper
hookup, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for
wear and rotors for surface condition.
Also inspect drum bmke linings for
wear and cracks. Inspect other brake
parts, including drums, wheel
cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment.
You
may need to have your brakes inspected
more often if your driving habits or
conditions result
in frequent braking.
NOTE: A low brake fluid level can
indicate worn disc brake pads which
may need
to be serviced, Also, if the
brake system warning
light stays on or
comes on, something may be wrong
with the brake system. See “Brake
System Warning Light”
in the Index. If
your anti-lock brake system warning
light stays on, comes on
or flashes,
something may be wrong with
the
anti-lock brake system. See “Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light”
in the
Index.
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System. Anti-lock Warning Light ................. 114
System Warning Light
......................... 113
Wear
....................................... 230
Brakes. Trailer
.................................. 168
Braking in Emergencies
........................... 147
Break-In. New Vehicle ............................ 74
Bulb Chart
...................................... 258
Bulb Replacement ....................... .232.233. 234
Bulbs. Halogen
.................................. 232
Braking
........................................ 144
Canadian Roadside Assistance
................... -286
Capacities and Specifications Chart
.............. 259. 260
Carbon Monoxide
................................ 86
Cargo Security Cover
............................. 105
Carrier. Luggage
................................ 106
Cassette Tape Player
............................. 125
Cassette Tape Player Care
......................... 136
Cautions. Safety
.................................. 10
CB Radio. Adding
............................... 126
Cellular Telephone. Adding
........................ 126
Chains. Tire
.................................... 244
Changing a Flat Tire
.............................. 194
Checking Brake Fluid
.................................. 228
Engine Coolant
............................... 223
Engineoil
................................... 213
Power Steering Fluid
.......................... 226
Restraint Systems
.............................. 63
Transaxle Fluid
............................... 220 Underhood
.................................. 212
Windshield Washer Fluid
....................... 227
Chemical Paint Spotting
........................... 251
Child Restraints
.................................. 50
Children and Safety Belts ......................... -48
Circuit Breakers and Fuses ........................ 254
City Driving
.................................... 156
Cleaner. Air .................................... 218
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............................ 250
Antenna
..................................... 137
Cassette Player
............................... 136
Fabric
...................................... 245
Glass ....................................... 248
Inside Your Buick
............................. 245
Leather
..................................... 248
Outside Your Buick
........................... 249
Power Antenna
............................... 137
Safety Belts
.................................. 248
Instrumentpanel
.............................. 248
Underbody Maintenance
........................ 251
vinyl
....................................... 247
White Sidewall Tires
........................... 250
Windshield and Wiper Blades
.................... 249
Clock Setting
............................ 127.129. 132
Comfort Controls
................................ 121
Compact Disc Care
.............................. 136
Compact Spare Tire
.............................. 205
Compartment. Rear Locking Storage
................. 108
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 144
Controls. Features and
............................. 65
Cigarette Lighter
................................ 109
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Methanol in Gasoline ............................. 209
Mirrors
........................................ 102
Mountain Driving ................................ 160
Net. Convenience ............................... 105
Neutral Gear Position
.............................. 80
New Vehicle Break-In
............................. 74
NightDriving
................................... 152
Octane Requirements
........................... 209
Odometer
...................................... 110
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 149
Oil. Engine
..................................... 213
Change
................................. 217. 261
Quality
..................................... 215
Warning Light
................................ 11 7
Overdrive. Automatic
............................. 8 1
Overheated Engine ............................... 184
Paint Spotting
.................................. 251
Park
........................................... 77
Park. Shifting Into
................................ 83
Parking Brake
........................................ 82
Over Things That Burn
.......................... 85
With a Trailer
................................ 165
With the Engine Running
........................ 86
Passing
........................................ 150 Polishing
and Waxing
............................ 249
Power
Antenna
..................................... 137
DoorLocks
................................... 68
Mirrors
..................................... 102
Seats
........................................ 15
Steering
..................................... 147
Steering Fluid
................................ 226
Windows
..................................... 87
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts
...................... 42
Problems on the Road ............................ 171
Publications. Service
............................. 286
Radiator Overheating
............................ 184
Radiator Pressure Cap
............................ 226
Radio 125
Reading Lights
.................................. 100
Rear Seats. Folding ............................... 17
Rear Storage Security Cover
....................... 105
Rear Window Defogger
........................... 123
Rearview Mirror
................................. 102
Reclining Seatbacks
............................... 15
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
................ 277
Remote Keyless Entry System
....................... 68
Remote Trunkbiftgate Release ...................... 71
Replacing
BrakeSystemParts
............................ 231
Safety Belts
................................... 64
Tires
....................................... 241
Wheels
..................................... 243
Light Bulbs
.................................. 232
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