1. The reason for the decrease in braking efficiency may be the unsatisfactory operation of the vacuum booster. For its express check, press the brake pedal several times with the engine off to remove the vacuum in the amplifier, and then, while holding the pedal, start the engine. If the pedal drops a little after starting the engine, the vacuum booster is working.
2. If the pedal remains motionless, check the integrity and reliability of the connection of the vacuum booster hose to the fitting on the engine intake pipe..
3.... and with an amplifier. Replace or repair defective hose. If the hose is good, the vacuum booster needs to be replaced (see Replacing the vacuum brake booster).
Note. The vacuum booster hose is made in one piece with the check valve. Check if it works (see Checking the operation of the vacuum brake booster). If the non-return valve is defective, replace the vacuum booster hose assembly.
If braking is accompanied by a beating and pulsation of the brake pedal, you should first check the condition of the front disc brakes.
4. Having installed the car on a jack, one by one remove the front wheels and inspect the brake discs. The thickness of brake discs with a diameter of 276 and 300 mm must be at least 26.0 mm.
Note. Opel Astra J cars, depending on the configuration, are equipped with front wheel brakes with brake discs with a diameter of 276 and 300 mm.
The surface of the disc must be even and smooth on both sides. If the surface of the disc is covered with rust in places, which usually happens after a long parking of the car with dry brakes, try cleaning the working surface with a fine emery cloth. If this procedure does not help, you will have to give the discs for grinding or replace them with new ones.
5. Check up mobility of the piston of the brake mechanism. To do this, try to move the piston with a screwdriver. If the piston cannot be moved, then it is stuck in the brake cylinder.
Attention! Jamming of the piston of the brake cylinder leads to the constant braking of the corresponding wheel when the pedal is released and the car skids when braking.
If braking is accompanied by car jerks and a creak in the area of the rear wheels, and with intensive braking, the rear of the car skids, check the condition of the brake mechanisms of the rear wheels.
Note.
- On Opel Astra J cars, depending on the configuration, rear wheel brakes with brake discs with a diameter of 268 and 292 mm are installed.
- Check the thickness of the disc in the same way as you did for the front brake (see point 4), the thickness of the brake discs with a diameter of 268 and 292 mm must be at least 12.0 mm.
Check the mobility of the parking brake drive, the cable and the drive lever should move freely.
Note. The parking brake actuates the rear brakes by cables connecting the parking brake lever and the brake pad controls. Many drivers try to use the parking brake as little as possible in order to prolong it «life», and achieve the opposite result. If you do not use the parking brake, dirt and moisture stagnate in the sheaths of the cables, the cables become rusty, stop moving and break. Therefore, use the parking brake when necessary, but do not forget to adjust its drive from time to time (see Parking brake actuator adjustment).
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