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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Good driving habits that reduce brake heat include

Anticipating road conditions and leaving enough time to stop

Ignoring road and traffic conditions

Making sudden, hard stops whenever possible

Following other vehicles closely

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When speed is doubled, the stopping distance

Increases by four times

Decreases by half

Increases by two times

Stays the same

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Excessive brake heat can

Only change the brake pedal color

Have no long-term effect

Improve brake performance permanently

Damage brake components

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When vehicle weight increases, stopping distance

Only changes if the tires are worn

Decreases regardless of weight

Stays the same

Increases in proportion to the increase in weight

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When pushrod stroke becomes excessive, the vehicle

Gains additional braking power

Is unaffected in braking

Stops in a shorter distance

Loses some of its ability to stop

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

Increasing the demand on the brake system

Only affecting the steering system

Decreasing the demand on the brake system

Having no effect on the brake system

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

Not noticeable

Always in favor of ABS by half the distance

Very large

Always in favor of non-ABS vehicles

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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

Only tire wear

Lower brake temperatures

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In an air brake system, higher brake demand requires

No change in brake application pressure

Less brake application pressure and less pedal travel

Greater brake application pressure and more pedal travel

Only a change in tire pressure

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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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Brakes that are out of adjustment can be detected

Only by a reliable inspection method

Only by listening to brake noise

By looking at the tires

Just by feeling the brake pedal

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If an ABS malfunction occurs, the driver should know that

Only the parking brake will work

All braking ability is lost

Regular brake function is still available

The vehicle cannot be stopped at all

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Overloading a vehicle affects the braking system by

Improving its ability to stop quickly

Possibly exceeding its capacity to safely stop the vehicle

Having no effect on braking performance

Only affecting fuel consumption

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For safety, the full capacity of the brake system

Only matters on dry roads

Must always be available

Can be ignored on light vehicles

Is rarely needed and not important

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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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You should not expect ABS to

Help maintain steering control

Shorten the stopping distance of your vehicle

Function during heavy brake use

Help prevent wheel lock

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Keeping a safe distance behind other vehicles helps by

Reducing harsh brake use and excessive heat build-up

Having no effect on brake usage

Only improving fuel economy

Increasing the need for sudden braking

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Brake systems are designed for vehicles that are

Loaded within their rated capacity

Always empty

Used only at low speeds

Loaded beyond their rated capacity

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ABS warning indicator lights or malfunction lamps are

Not important for the driver to understand

Only decorative

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

Required to be turned off at all times

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

Improving vehicle safety during heavy braking or poor traction

Making it impossible to brake on ice

Eliminating the need for safe following distances

Shortening stopping distances in all conditions dramatically

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Brake force at a wheel drops significantly when

The vehicle is unloaded

Tire pressure is at the recommended level

The parking brake is released

Brake chamber pushrod stroke becomes excessive

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

Increases by eight times

Doubles

Stays the same

Increases by four times

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Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are designed to

Lock the wheels faster

Work only at very low speeds

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

Eliminate the need for regular brakes

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The reduction in braking effectiveness caused by heat is called

Brake surge

Brake swell

Brake lock

Brake fade

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In Ontario, vehicles with air brakes must be checked

Only at annual inspections

Only when the brakes feel weak

Once a month for correct adjustment

At least once each day for correct adjustment

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

Suitable following distances and stopping actions

Tire rotation schedules

Mirror adjustment only

Radio volume

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

Press more lightly on the brake pedal

Stop using the pedal entirely

Only use the parking brake

Press harder on the brake pedal to get enough brake force

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

Remains unchanged

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

Is improved for emergency situations

Only affects steering

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

Five seconds

One second

One-half second

Two seconds

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Engine brakes, retarders, or auxiliary brakes are used to

Heat the brakes faster

Replace the service brake system entirely

Help slow the vehicle and avoid excessive brake temperatures

Increase engine noise only

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Proper brake adjustment ensures that the brake chamber

Never needs to be inspected

Only works when the vehicle is parked

Produces as little force as possible

Always produces the necessary force

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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

Reduced

Increased

Unchanged

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High demands on brakes that can expose poor adjustment include

Idling the engine in neutral

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

Parking on level ground

Driving at very low speeds only

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Brakes slow a vehicle by converting its moving energy into

Electricity

Heat

Sound

Light

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When a wheel locks and a tire skids, a vehicle

Loses steering control and directional stability

Stops in a shorter distance with full control

Gains better steering control

Is unaffected in handling

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.