brake CHEVROLET C/K 2003 Workshop Manual

4-19
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some vehicle washes can cause problems,
too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you can't, try to slow down before you
hit them.
CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won't work
as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or
a vehicle wash, apply your brake pedal lightly
until your brakes work normally.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you're
going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles or other vehicles, and raindrops ªdimpleº the
water's surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn't a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when it is raining.

4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.Here are some tips that can make your drive through
steep country safer:

Keep the vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.

Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the
slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill.
CAUTION:
If you don't shift down, your brakes could get
so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.

4-25
CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get
so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going down
a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine
running and your vehicle in gear when you go
downhill.

Know how to go uphill. Use lower gears. They help
cool your engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.

Stay in your own lane when driving on two
-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.

As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled car
or an accident.

You may see highway signs on mountains that warn
of special problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no
-passing zones, a falling rocks area,
winding roads and special truck lanes. Be alert to
these and take appropriate action.

4-28
If you don't have a traction system, accelerate gently.
Try not to break the gentle traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.

Whatever your braking system, allow greater
following distance on any slippery road.

Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until you hit a spot that's covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can't reach: around
clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you're actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.If You're Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here are some
things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your
passengers safe:

Turn on your hazard flashers.

5-2
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
Your hazard warning
flashers button is located on
top of the steering column.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn't in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to turn the
flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won't work. The hazard warning flashers will
not flash if the brakes are applied.

5-4
If you have a diesel engine vehicle with two batteries
(or more), you should know before you begin that,
especially in cold weather, you may not be able to
get enough power from a single battery in another
vehicle to start your diesel engine.
If your vehicle has more than one battery, use the
one closest to the starter
-- this will reduce electrical
resistance.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don't want. You wouldn't be able to
start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in neutral before setting the parking brake.
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn't be covered by
your warranty.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory power outlets. Turn off the radio
and all lamps that aren't needed. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries, and it could save
your radio!

5-10
Towing Your Vehicle
CAUTION:
To help avoid serious personal injury to you
or others:

Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
being towed.

Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.

Never tow with damaged parts not fully
secured.

Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by the tow truck.

Always secure the vehicle on each side with
separate safety chains when towing it.

Working on air brakes without first using
the release studs to compress the springs
can lead to injury. Never work on the air
brakes chambers without first using the
release studs to compress the brake springs.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

When the brake springs are manually
compressed, you will have no brakes.
Release your air
-operated parking brakes
manually only to tow the vehicle. Never
drive the vehicle with the brakes released.
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your vehicle towed. They can provide
the right equipment and know
-how to tow it without
damage. See ªRoadside Assistanceº in the Index.
Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning
flashers (if they have not been damaged).
When you call, tell the towing service:

That your vehicle has rear
-wheel drive.

The make, model and year of your vehicle.

Whether you can still move the shift lever.

If there was an accident, what was damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains towing instructions.
The operator may want to see them.

5-11
Here are specific towing instructions:
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front
(Front Wheels Off the Ground)
Before Towing
Block the rear wheels of the disabled vehicle. On
vehicles with air brakes, release the emergency brake
system by compressing the brake chamber springs
as outlined in this section. (This is to prevent the
possibility of the emergency brake being applied
during towing.)
On vehicles with hydraulic brakes, release the parking
brake fully by moving the lever to the fully
-released
position.
Disconnect the propshaft at the rear axle (forward axle
on tandem axle models). Secure the propshaft to the
frame or crossmember.
Towing the Vehicle with the Front Bumper Removed
1. Remove the front bumper.
2. Connect and lock the lift chains to the front axle,
outside of the spring anchor plates as shown.
A. Spring Anchor Plate
B. Lift Chain
C. Front Axle
3. Place a 6º x 6º x 5' hardwood beam underneath and
slightly behind the front spring shackle brackets.
4. Connect the lift chains to the tow bar and raise the
tow bar until lift chain slack has been taken up and
the hardwood beam is fully seated against the spring
shackle brackets as shown.

5-14
Single Drive Rear Axle
Disconnect the propshaft at the rear axle. Secure the
propshaft to the frame or crossmember.
Tandem Drive Rear Axles
(Forward Axle Off the Ground)
Raise the front of the vehicle until the forward tandem
axle wheels are off the ground. Remove the rearward
propshaft.Tandem Drive Rear Axle (Both Axles on the Ground
Due to Type of Suspension or Attached Load)
Disconnect the propshaft at the forward tandem axle.
Secure the propshaft to the frame or crossmember.
If there is damage or suspected damage to the axle(s),
remove all axle shafts. Cover the hub openings to
prevent the loss of lubricant or entry of dirt or
foreign objects.
After Towing
1. Block the rear wheels and install axle and propshafts.
2. Check for proper phasing of universal joints.
3. Apply the emergency brake system before
disconnecting from the towing vehicle.

5-15 Towing Your Vehicle From the Front
(All Wheels On the Ground)
Your vehicle may be towed on all wheels provided the
steering is working. Remember that the power brakes
and power steering will not have power assist. Vehicles
with air brakes will not have brakes. There must be a
tow bar installed between the towing vehicle and the
disabled vehicle.
Before Towing
Block the wheels of the disabled vehicle. On vehicles
with air brakes, release the emergency brake system by
compressing the brake chamber springs as outlined in
this section. (This is to prevent the possibility of the
emergency brake being applied during towing.)
On vehicles with hydraulic brakes, release the parking
brake fully by moving the lever to the fully
-released
position.
Disconnect the propshaft at the rear axle (forward axle
on tandem axle models). Secure the propshaft to the
frame or crossmember.
If there is damage or suspected damage to the axle(s),
remove the axle shafts. Cover the hub openings to
prevent the loss of lubricant or entry of dirt or
foreign objects.After Towing
1. Block the rear wheels and install axle and propshafts.
2. Check for proper phasing of universal joints.
3. Apply the parking brake system before
disconnecting from the towing vehicle.
4. Check and fill with oil as required.
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear
Before Towing
Secure the steering wheel to maintain a straight
-ahead
position. Make certain that the front axle is not loaded
above the front axle Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
as indicated on the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) label. See ªGross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR)º in the index for more information.
After Towing
Block the rear wheels and release the steering. Apply the
parking brake system before disconnecting from the
towing vehicle.
Refer to the transmission shift label for additional
information.