New Brake Pads/Linings - SMART fortwo coupe Owner's Manual

Driving tips
128
Heavy and light loads
G
WARNING
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never
cause the brakes to rub by applying con-
stant slight pedal pressure. This causes the
brake system to overheat, increases the
braking distance and can lead to the brakes
failing completely.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while to allow the air-
flow to cool the brakes.
If you only use the brakes moderately, you
should occasionally check their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet road surfaces
If you have been driving in heavy rain for a
long period without braking, the first time
you brake:
the brakes may respond with a delay.
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you may have to depress the brake pedal
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more firmly.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
Brake firmly after driving on a wet road.
This will warm up the brake discs, thereby
drying them more quickly and protecting
them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
G
WARNING
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a signifi-
cantly longer braking distance, which
could lead to an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
occasionally brake carefully, without
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putting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
maintain a greater distance to the vehi-
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cle ahead and drive with particular care.
carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
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trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are
removed from the brake discs.
Note that braking performance on salted
road surfaces can be limited. A layer of
salt residue may form on the brake discs
and pads/linings, resulting in a signifi-
cant reduction in the coefficient of fric-
tion between the brake disc and brake pad/
lining.
This particularly occurs:
after long drives without braking, for
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example on motorways
after the vehicle has been parked for
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several hours

New brake pads/linings

For safety reasons, smart recommends that
you only use brake pads/linings which have
been approved by smart or ones that are
equally safe. Further information can be
obtained at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. a smart Centre.
G
WARNING
New brake pads/linings only have optimal
braking performance after several hundred
kilometres. Until then, compensate the
reduced braking performance by applying
greater pressure to the brake pedal and
adapt your driving style to suit. This also
applies when brake pads/linings or brake
discs have been changed.