brakes OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE 1993 User Guide

Your
i
Anti-Lock Brakes (CONE)
This light on the instrument panel will
go on when you start your vehicle.
Your anti-lock brake system has
a two-
part system check:
When you start your vehicle and begin
to drive away you may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise
and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little while this is
going on. This is the
ABS system
testing itself. (You may
also hear this
noise if you leave the ignition in the
Run position for about four seconds
before starting the vehicle.)
If you have your foot on the brake
pedal, this check won’t happen until
the vehicle goes about
4 mph (6 Wh)
or until you take your foot off the
brake pedal.
You’ll also hear a clicking noise the
next time the vehicle goes about
4
mph (6 Wh).
If there’s a problem with the anti-lock
brake system, the anti-lock brake system
warning light will stay on
or flash. See
the
Inda under Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. YOU’E driving safely.
Suddenly
an animal jumps out in front
You
slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are
slowing down. The computer separately
works the brakes at each front wheel
and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions.
of you.
ProCarManuals.com

X3006 I
You can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your
computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
1
‘t
Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need to get your foot
up
to the brake pedal. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of
you, you won’t have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though
you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock: Don’t pump the
brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. When
you start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, you may notice that your brake
pedal moves a little
while this is going
on.
A brief mechanical noise is normal.
This is
the ABS system testing itself.
You also may hear a clicking noise as
you accelerate after a hard stop.
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
Your Oldsmobile 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).
The brake wear warning
sound means that sooner or
later your brakes won’t work well
That could lead to an accident.
when you hear the brake wear
serviced. arning
sound, have your vehicle
151
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
152
Disc Brake Wear Indicators (CONT.)
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.
Rear Drum 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.
ProCarManuals.com

Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your
brakes adjust for wear.
If you rarely
make a moderate or heavier stop, then
your brakes might not adjust correctly.
If you drive in that way, then-very
carefully-make a few moderate brake
stops about every
1,000 miles (1 600 km),
so your brakes will adjust properly.
Braking In Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when
you need to. With anti-lock, you can
steer and brake at the same time.
In
many emergencies, steering can help
you more than even the very best
braking.
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system fails to
function, you can steer but it will take
much more effort.
153
ProCarManuals.com

1 Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be
more effective than braking. For
example, you come over a
hill and find a
truck stopped in your lane, or a car
suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a
child
darts out from between parked
cars and stops right in front of you. You
can avoid these problems by braking-if
you can stop
in time. But sometimes you
can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time
for evasive action-steering around the
problem.
, Your Oldsmobile can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First apply
your brakes.
It is better to remove as
much speed
as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around
the
problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close
attention and a quick decision.
If you
are holding the steering wheel at the
recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a
full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once
you have avoided the object. You
must then be prepared to steer back to
your
original lane and then brake to a
controlled stop. Depending on your
speed,
this can be
rather violent for an unprepared driver.
This is one of the reasons driving
experts recommend that you use your
safety belts and keep
both hands on the
steering wheel.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is a
good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times.
ProCarManuals.com

Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say
about what happens when the
three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying
to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable care
suited to existing conditions, and
by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your Oldsmobile’s
three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling.
In the steering or cornering
skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And
in the acceleration
skid too much throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration
skid are best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal. If your
vehicle
starts to slide (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your
foot
off the accelerator
pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle
start to slide. Quickly steer the way you
want the vehicle to go.
E you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle
will straighten out. As it does, straighten
the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your
driving to these conditions.
It is
important to slow down
on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will
be longer and vehicle control more
limited.
While driving
on a surface with reduced
traction,
try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration,
or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to
I
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
I42
Driving in the Rain (CONT:)
walking. Road spray can often be worse
for vision than rain, especially if it
comes from a dirty road.
So it is wise to keep your wiping
equipment in good shape and keep your
windshield washer
tank filled. Replace
your windshield wiper inserts when they
show signs of streaking or missing areas
on the windshield, or when strips of
rubber start
to separate from the inserts. >riving
too fast through large water
buddles or even going through some car
vashes can cause problems, too. The
vater may affect your brakes. Try
to
[void puddles. But if you can't, try to
low down before you hit them.
I'
ProCarManuals.com

Hi// and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving in flat or rolling
terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep
country, or if you’re planning to visit
there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape.
Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. 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. Don’t make your brakes do it
all. Shift to a lower gear when you go
down a steep or long hill. That way,
you will slow down without excessive
use
of your brakes.
GAU I IUN
If you don’t shift down, your
brakes could get
so hot that I
they wouldn’t work well. You
1 would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You
1 could crash. Shift down to let your
engine assist your brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
Coasting downhill in
N
C L (Neutral) or with the ignition
OII 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
could crash. Always have your
engine running and your vehicle in
gear when you
go downhill.
I
Know how to go uphill. You may want
to shift down to a lower gear. The
lower gears help
cool your engine and
transaxle, 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. That
way, you won’t be surprised by
a
vehicle coming toward you in the
same lane.
It takes longer to pass another vehicle
when you’re going uphill. You’ll want
to leave extra room to pass. If a
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where
your tires meet the road probably have
good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice
between your tires and the road, you can
have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have
a lot less traction or “grip” and
will need to be very careful.
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet
ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be slick
and hard
to drive on. But wet ice can be
even more trouble because it may offer
the least traction
of all. You can get wet
ice when it’s about freezing
(32°F; 0°C)
and freezing rain begins to fd. Try to
avoid driving on wet ice until salt and
sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition-smooth ice,
packed, blowing or loose snow-drive
with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not
to break the fragile traction.
If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will
spin and polish the surface under the
tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your
ability
to make a hard stop on a slippery
road. Even though you have the anti-
lock braking system, you’ll want to
begin stopping sooner
than you would
on dry pavement.
See the Index under
Anti-Lock Brake 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.
174
ProCarManuals.com

Towing a Tmiler
I I If you don’t use the correct I
L L equipment and drive properly,
you can lose control when you pull
a trailer. For example, if the trailer
is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well-or even at all. You and
your passengers could be seriously
injured. Pull a trailer only
if you
have followed all the steps in this section. Your
Oldsmobile can tow a trailer. To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you should
read the information in
Weight of the
Trailer
that appears later in this section.
But trailering
is different than just
driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering
means changes
in handling, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe
trailering takes correct equipment, and
it
has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for
this section, In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer. Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and
tires
are forced to work harder against
the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher
speeds and under greater loads, generating
extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
All
of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
177
ProCarManuals.com