Service & Appearance  Care 
202 
container only, and always  clean the 
brake  fluid reservoir  cap before 
removing  it. 
NOTICE: 
DOT-5 silicone brake fluid can 
Don’t  let someone  put in the 
damage 
your vehicle.  Don’t use it. 
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. 
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. 
Brake  Wear 
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). 
NOTICE: 
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. 
ProCarManuals.com 
have been approved for  use on General 
~ Motors  vehicles.  All passenger type 
(P Metric)  tires  must  conform to 
Federal safety  requirements  in  addition 
to  these  grades. 
Wheel  Alignment  and  Tire 
Balance 
The  wheels  on your  vehicle  were 
aligned  and balanced  carefully at  the 
factory  to give  you  the longest  tire  life 
and  best  overall performance. 
In  most  cases,  you  will  not need  to have 
your wheels aligned  again. However, 
if 
you notice  unusual  tire  wear  or  your 
vehicle  pulling one way  or the  other,  the 
alignment  may need  to be  reset.  If you 
notice  your vehicle  vibrating  when 
driving  on a smooth  road,  your wheels 
may  need 
to be rebalanced. 
Wheel  Replacement 
Replace  any wheel  that is bent, cracked 
or  badly  rusted.  If wheel  nuts keep 
coming  loose, the wheel, wheel  bolts, 
and  wheel  nuts should  be  replaced. 
If 
the wheel  leala  air,  replace  it  (except 
some  aluminum  wheels, which  can 
sometimes  be  repaired).  See your  Oldsmobile 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 
Oldsmobile  model. 
NOTICE: 
The wrong  wheel can also  cause 
problems  with bearing  life, brake 
cooling,  speedometer/odometer 
calibration,  headlight aim,  bumper 
height,  vehicle ground  clearance, 
and  tire  or tire  chain  clearance  to 
the  body  and  chassis. 
Used Replacement Wheels 
21 1 
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