brake CHEVROLET TRACKER 1995 Service Manual

Rear Towing Hook-Ups
1. Attach J-hooks around the axle tube.
NOTICE:
Take care not to damage the brake pipes on the
axle tubes.
2. Position the sling crossbar under and forward of the
rear bumper.
ProCarManuals.com

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out’‘ while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your
tires properly. If air goes
out of
a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what
to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip
the steering wheel firmly.
Steer
to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
5-21
ProCarManuals.com

When you open the hood, you’ll see the following on
the 8-valve engine:
1. Battery
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
3. Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Air Cleaner
6. Engine Coolant Reservoir
7. Power Steering Reservoir
8. Radiator Pressure Cap
9. Electric Engine Fan
10. Engine Oil Dipstick
1 1. Windshield Washer Reservoir
12. Main Fuse Box Before
closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on.
6-9
ProCarManuals.com

When you open the hood, you’ll see the following on
the 16-valve engine:
1. Battery
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
3. Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake muid Reservoir
5. Air Cleaner
6. Engine Coolant Reservoir
7. Power Steering Reservoir
8. Radiator Pressure Cap
9. Electric Engine Fan
10. Windshield Washer Reservoir
11. Main Fuse Box Before
closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on.
Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on the hood prop.
Remove the hood prop from the slot in the hood and
return the prop to its retainer. Then just let the hood
down and close it firmly.
6-11 ProCarManuals.com

To check transmission fluid hot: Get the vehicle
warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when
outside temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If it's
colder than
50°F ( 10°C), drive the vehicle in
DRIVE (D) until the engine temperature gage moves
and then remains steady for ten minutes. Then follow
the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold check is
made after the vehicle has been sitting for eight hours or
more with the engine
off and is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for five minutes if outside
temperatures are
50 OF ( 10 " C) or more. If it's colder
than
50°F (10°C)' you may have to idle the engine
longer. Should the fluid level
be low during a cold
check,
you must perform a hot check before adding
fluid. This will give you
a more accurate reading of the
fluid
level.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
running.
in
PARK (P).
ProCarManuals.com

Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder
YOLK brake master cylinder is here. It is filled with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
your master cylinder might go down. The first is that the
brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the fluid level goes back up. The other reason is that fluid
is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system fixed, since
a leak means
that sooner or later your brakes won’t work well, or
won’t work at
all. So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off”
your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct a
leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then
you’ll have too much fluid when you get new brake
linings. You should add (or remove) brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
check your brake fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections” in the Index.
6-31
ProCarManuals.com

To Check Brake Fluid
You can check the brake
fluid without taking off the
cap. Just look at the
windows on the brake fluid
reservoir. The fluid levels should be above
MIN. If
they aren’t, have your brake
system checked to see
if
there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system, make
sure the levels are above
MIN and below the top of each
window.
What to Add
When you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 1 l@ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing it.
I NOTICE:
Don’t let someone put in the wrong kind of
fluid, For example, just
a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in
your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced.
0 Brake fluid can damage paint, so be careful
not to spill brake fluid on your vehicle.
If
you do, wash it off immediately. See
“Appearance Care” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

Brake Wear
Your Geo 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 velvcle is moving
(except when you are pushing on the brake pedal
firmly).
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates rSray C2iQSg si 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 make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
If your brake pedal goes down farther than normal, your
rear drum brakes
may need adjustment. Adjust them by
backing up and firmly applying the brakes a few times.
ProCarManuals.com

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 Geo 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 Geo 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 replacement 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.
ProCarManuals.com

Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
Chevrolet/Geo dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts for your Geo
model. I NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer/odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance,
and tire or tire chain clearance to the body and
chassis.
ProCarManuals.com