2000 Saab 9-5 Owner's Manual - Page 146

146 Starting and driving To ensure optimum brake performance, it is recommended that you use only Saab original brake pads. Braking To avoid the brakes becoming overheated, (e.g. when negotiating long descents with a drop of several hundred feet), select a low gear to use the braking effect of the engine. If the car has automatic transmission, move the selector lever to position 1 or 2. When driving fast, you can help to prolong the life of the brakes by thinking ahead and braking harder for short periods, rather than braking more moderately over long stretches. ABS brakes WARNING • The additional safety afforded by the ABS system is not designed to allow drivers to drive faster but to make normal driving safer. • To stop as quickly as possible, without loss of directional stability, whether the road surface is dry, wet or slippery, press the brake pedal down hardwithout letting up, declutching simultaneously, and steer the car to safety. ABS (antilock braking system) modulates the brake pressure to the respective wheels. Wheel sensors detect if a wheel is about to lock, and the control module reduces the pressure to that wheel and then increases it once more until the tendency is detected again. The brake system is equipped with an Electronic Brake-force Distribution device (EBD), which distributes the brake pressure between the front and rear wheels, in such a way as to achieve optimum braking performance irrespective of the car's speed and load. The ABS system has a built-in diagnostic function which will switch on the Anti-lock brake warning light if a fault is detected in the system (see page 48). WARNING • It is prudent to try your brakes from time to time, especially when driving in heavy rain, on roads with a lot of surface water, or in snow or slush. In such conditions, the brakes may take longer than normal to take effect. To rectify this, touch the brake pedal periodically to dry the brakes out. The same applies after the car has been washed or when the weather is very humid. • The brakes are power assisted and it should be kept in mind that the servo unit only provides the power assistance when the engine is running. • The brake pressure required when the engine is off,( e.g. when the car is on tow) is roughly four times the normal pedal force required. The pedal also feels hard and unresponsive. • We advise against using wheels with open wheel covers in winter, as the brake components are then more exposed both to slush, road salt and grit. Brake pad wear indicators The outboard brake pads on the front wheels incorporate pad-wear indicators. When the lining is down to 3 mm, the pad will produce a screeching, squealing or scraping noise when the brakes are applied. New pads should be fitted without delay. Brake pads should only be replaced by an authorized Saab dealer.