Brakes and Traction Control: Adjustments

INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT





1. Measure the brake pedal height. If the height isn't within the standard value, adjust as follows.
Standard value: 176 - 0.3 mm (6.9 - 0.012 inch)
1 Disconnect the stop lamp switch connector and loosen the stop lamp switch lock nut. Move the stop lamp switch to the position where it doesn't contact the brake pedal arm.





2 Loosen the operating rod lock nut and adjust the brake pedal height by turning the operating rod with pliers until the connect brake pedal height is obtained.
3 Turn the stop lamp switch until its tip just touches the tab on the brake pedal. Then turn it back 1/2 to 1 revolution and secure the lock nut.
4 Connect the stop lamp switch connector.





5 Check that the stop lamp doesn't illuminate when the brake pedal isn't depressed.
Clearance between pedal and stop lamp switch: 0.5 - 1.0 mm (0.02 - 0.04 inch)





2. With the engine stopped, depress the brake pedal two or three times to release the vacuum in the power brake booster. Then, press the pedal down by hand to verify that the amount of movement before any resistance (free play) is within specification.
Standard value: 3 mm (0.12 inch) or less
If the free play is below the standard value, check that the clearance between the outer case of the stop lamp switch and the brake pedal is within the standard value.
If the free play is above the standard value, the clearance between the clevis pin and the brake pedal arm exceeds the standard value. If necessary, check and replace.
3. Start the engine, depress the brake pedal with approximately 50 kgf of force, and measure the clearance between the brake pedal and the firewall.
Standard value (C): 70 mm (2.8 inch) or more





If the clearance is less than the standard value, check for air in the brake line or brake fluid leakage, and check the brakes themselves (for excessive shoe clearance caused by a malfunction of the automatic adjuster mechanism),and repair where necessary.

BRAKE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR CHECK
1. Connect an ohmmeter to the connector of the brake fluid level sensor.





2. Move the float from top to bottom and check for continuity. The brake fluid level sensor is in good condition if there is no continuity when the float surface is above "A" and if there is continuity when the float surface is below "A".

STOP LAMP SWITCH INSPECTION
Connect a circuit tester to the stop lamp switch. When the switch plunger is pushed in, check that there is continuity.





If there is no continuity, the stop lamp switch is good.

BRAKE BOOSTER OPERATION TEST
For a simple check of brake booster operation, perform the following tests.





1. Run the engine for one or two minutes, and then shut it off. Depress the brake pedal several times at normal foot pressure. If there pedal goes down completely the first time, but rises gradually, the brake booster is functioning properly. If the height of the pedal doesn't change, the booster may be damaged.





2. After checking that the height of the pedal changes when depressing the brake pedal several times with the engine stopped, start it keeping the brake pedal depressed. At this time, if it goes down slightly, the booster is good but if the height of it doesn't change, it is damaged.





3. With the engine running, depress the brake pedal and then stop the engine. Hold the pedal depressed for 30 seconds. If the pedal height does not change, the booster is in good condition. If the pedal rises up, it is damaged.