Chapter 7: Demands on Brakes While Driving

The “Demands on Brakes While Driving” chapter in the Ontario air brake test guide highlights the various stresses brakes endure during regular vehicle operation.

Ontario Air Brake Test - Chapter 7: Demands on Brakes While Driving

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ABS helps prevent tire skid and loss of steering control, thereby

Eliminating the need for safe following distances

Improving vehicle safety during heavy braking or poor traction

Making it impossible to brake on ice

Shortening stopping distances in all conditions dramatically

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In Ontario, vehicles with air brakes must be checked

Only at annual inspections

At least once each day for correct adjustment

Only when the brakes feel weak

Once a month for correct adjustment

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Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are designed to

Lock the wheels faster

Eliminate the need for regular brakes

Work only at very low speeds

Sense wheel speed and reduce brake force to a wheel about to lock

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Keeping a safe distance behind other vehicles helps by

Only improving fuel economy

Having no effect on brake usage

Increasing the need for sudden braking

Reducing harsh brake use and excessive heat build-up

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You should not expect ABS to

Shorten the stopping distance of your vehicle

Help maintain steering control

Function during heavy brake use

Help prevent wheel lock

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Good driving habits that reduce brake heat include

Making sudden, hard stops whenever possible

Following other vehicles closely

Ignoring road and traffic conditions

Anticipating road conditions and leaving enough time to stop

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Under normal driving conditions on clean, dry roads, the difference between vehicles with and without ABS in stopping distance is

Always in favor of ABS by half the distance

Not noticeable

Always in favor of non-ABS vehicles

Very large

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For safety, the full capacity of the brake system

Is rarely needed and not important

Must always be available

Can be ignored on light vehicles

Only matters on dry roads

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In extreme cases, such as long downhill travel at excessive speed with an overloaded vehicle, brake fade can become so severe that

The brakes stop producing heat

The brakes automatically repair themselves

Only the horn stops working

You may be unable to slow or stop the vehicle

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Proper brake adjustment ensures that the brake chamber

Never needs to be inspected

Produces as little force as possible

Only works when the vehicle is parked

Always produces the necessary force

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When vehicle weight increases, stopping distance

Decreases regardless of weight

Stays the same

Only changes if the tires are worn

Increases in proportion to the increase in weight

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Overloading a vehicle affects the braking system by

Having no effect on braking performance

Improving its ability to stop quickly

Only affecting fuel consumption

Possibly exceeding its capacity to safely stop the vehicle

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Excessive brake heat can

Only change the brake pedal color

Damage brake components

Improve brake performance permanently

Have no long-term effect

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The delay in an air brake system must be considered when determining

Radio volume

Suitable following distances and stopping actions

Tire rotation schedules

Mirror adjustment only

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When a wheel locks and a tire skids, a vehicle

Is unaffected in handling

Loses steering control and directional stability

Gains better steering control

Stops in a shorter distance with full control

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When speed is doubled, the stopping distance

Stays the same

Increases by four times

Increases by two times

Decreases by half

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When pushrod stroke becomes excessive, the vehicle

Gains additional braking power

Loses some of its ability to stop

Is unaffected in braking

Stops in a shorter distance

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When brake chamber pushrod stroke exceeds the adjustment limit, braking ability

Remains unchanged

Only affects steering

Can be reduced so much that the brakes may not stop or hold the vehicle

Is improved for emergency situations

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Brakes slow a vehicle by converting its moving energy into

Heat

Electricity

Sound

Light

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If an ABS malfunction occurs, the driver should know that

All braking ability is lost

Regular brake function is still available

The vehicle cannot be stopped at all

Only the parking brake will work

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Repeated or severe brake use, such as on long steep hills, can cause

Higher-than-normal brake operating temperatures

No change in brake temperature

Lower brake temperatures

Only tire wear

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Air brake systems have a built-in delay in brake application and release of up to

Five seconds

Two seconds

One-half second

One second

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Increasing a vehicle’s speed or weight affects the brake system by

Increasing the demand on the brake system

Having no effect on the brake system

Decreasing the demand on the brake system

Only affecting the steering system

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Brakes that are out of adjustment can be detected

Only by listening to brake noise

By looking at the tires

Only by a reliable inspection method

Just by feeling the brake pedal

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Engine brakes, retarders, or auxiliary brakes are used to

Increase engine noise only

Help slow the vehicle and avoid excessive brake temperatures

Replace the service brake system entirely

Heat the brakes faster

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Small losses in braking ability due to out-of-adjustment brakes are

Unlikely to be noticed during normal driving

Visible on the dashboard

Always obvious to the driver

Only present when the engine is off

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The reduction in braking effectiveness caused by heat is called

Brake swell

Brake fade

Brake lock

Brake surge

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Brake force at a wheel drops significantly when

The parking brake is released

Tire pressure is at the recommended level

The vehicle is unloaded

Brake chamber pushrod stroke becomes excessive

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When a brake is out of adjustment and pushrod stroke exceeds the adjustment limit, braking ability is

Automatically corrected by ABS

Unchanged

Reduced

Increased

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ABS warning indicator lights or malfunction lamps are

Only decorative

Not important for the driver to understand

Required to be turned off at all times

Used to indicate the status of the system and warn of malfunctions

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If you double your vehicle weight and double your speed, your stopping distance

Doubles

Increases by eight times

Increases by four times

Stays the same

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High demands on brakes that can expose poor adjustment include

Heavier loads, higher speeds, long downhill grades, or emergency stops

Driving at very low speeds only

Parking on level ground

Idling the engine in neutral

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Brake systems are designed for vehicles that are

Used only at low speeds

Loaded within their rated capacity

Loaded beyond their rated capacity

Always empty

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In an air brake system, higher brake demand requires

Less brake application pressure and less pedal travel

Greater brake application pressure and more pedal travel

No change in brake application pressure

Only a change in tire pressure

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As brake components heat up and become less effective, you may need to

Press harder on the brake pedal to get enough brake force

Stop using the pedal entirely

Press more lightly on the brake pedal

Only use the parking brake

Your score is

It explains how frequent or prolonged braking, especially on long descents or in heavy traffic, can cause heat buildup, reducing brake effectiveness or “brake fade.” The chapter emphasizes the importance of proper braking techniques, such as using engine braking and maintaining safe following distances to prevent overuse. Understanding these demands helps drivers operate their vehicles safely, anticipate potential brake issues, and pass the Ontario air brake test, ensuring both personal and public safety on the road.