Many of the vehicles covered in this section are equipped with anti-lock brakes.
Before servicing any vehicle, please be sure to read all of the following precautions,
which deal with personal safety, prevention of component damage, and important
points to take into consideration when servicing a motor vehicle:
- When servicing anti-lock brakes, do not force brake fluid through the anti-lock
solenoids when compressing the calipers. Instead, open a bleeder screw and
allow the brake fluid to escape when compressing calipers.
- Some anti-lock systems store brake fluid under high pressure. Pump the brake
pedal with the engine off to bleed off residual pressure before servicing
any part of the braking system.
- Brake fluid often contains polyglycol ethers and polyglycols. Avoid contact
with the eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after handling brake fluid. If
you do get brake fluid in your eyes, flush your eyes with clean, running water
for 15 minutes. If eye irritation persists, or if you have taken brake fluid
internally, IMMEDIATELY seek medical assistance.
- Clean, high quality brake fluid from a sealed container is essential to
the safe and proper operation of the brake system. You should always buy the
correct type of brake fluid for your vehicle. If the brake fluid becomes contaminated,
completely flush the system with new fluid. Never reuse any brake fluid. Any
brake fluid that is removed from the system should be discarded. Also, do
not allow any brake fluid to come in contact with a painted surface; it will
damage the paint.
- When servicing drum brakes, only disassemble and assemble one side at a
time, leaving the remaining side intact for reference.
