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
wor~ 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 warning
sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE: I
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,
Free movement of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake pulsation.
When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers for
movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque wheel
nuts
in the proper sequence to GM specifications.
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.
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Throttle Linkage Inspection
Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding,
and for damage or missing parts. Replace parts as
needed. Replace any cables that have high effort
or
excessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator and cruise
control cables.
Rear Axle (All) and Front Axle
(Four-wheel Drive) Service
Check the gear lubricant level and add if needed. See
“Rear
Axle” and “Four-wheel Drive” in the Index.
A fluid loss may indicate a problem. Check the
system(s), and repair
the system(s) if needed. Refer
to “Scheduled Maintenance Services,” earlier in this
section, to determine when to change the lubricant.
Brake System Inspection
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and
hoses
for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing,
etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors
for surface condition.
Also inspect drum brake linings
for wear and cracks. Inspect other brake
parts, including
drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment.
You may need to have
your brakes inspected more often if your driving habits
or conditions result in frequent braking.
Clutch System Service
Check clutch pedal free travel and adjust as necessary.
See “Clutch Adjustment”
in the Index.
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