Brake Fluid; Brake Pedal Travel; Brake Adjustment; Replacing Brake System Parts - Chevrolet Malibu 2012 Owner's Manual

Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.

Brake Pedal Travel

See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be
required.

Brake Adjustment

Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.

Replacing Brake System Parts

The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.

Brake Fluid

The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
for the location of the
reservoir.
Vehicle Care
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake
hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much
fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
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