Description & Operation: Notes
Sable and Taurus are equipped with a brake pedal actuated dual brake system. See Fig 1 and Fig 2 . The front disc brake caliper bolts to the front disc brake caliper anchor plate, which bolts to the front wheel knuckle. Front disc brake uses a disc brake caliper locating pin, single piston caliper design. The front brake discs are of a ventilated full-cast design, with non-directional cooling fins, are bolted to the wheel hub. Front discs are serviced on the vehicle with the disc brake caliper and front disc brake caliper anchor plate removed. The front brake disc shield is riveted to the front wheel knuckle. See Fig 3. It protects the front wheel bearings and inboard surface of the front brake disc. The pads are housed in the front disc brake caliper anchor plate and are of a non-asbestos, semi-metallic composition.
Rear disc brakes are optional on Sable and Taurus. The rear disc brake system is comprised of the components shown. See Fig 4.
The drum brake system is the single anchor type, is active self-adjustment and is split front and rear hydraulically. See Fig 5.
The brake hydraulic system consists of the following:
- Power brake booster.
- Brake master cylinder.
- Front disc brake calipers.
- Rear disc brake calipers.
- Rear drum brake cylinders.
- Brake tubes and hoses.
- Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) components.
The dual ABS hydraulic system is diagonally split, with the left front and right rear making up one circuit and the right front and left rear making up the other circuit.
Vehicles equipped with ABS and ABS/traction control do not use a proportioning valve. Hydraulic pressure to the brake assemblies is controlled by the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) as directed by the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). Non-ABS station wagons use 4-wheel disc brakes and are equipped with a proportioning valve in the engine compartment. Non-ABS sedans use drum brakes in the rear and are equipped with a junction block in the engine compartment and a brake load sensing-proportioning valve in the rear. During braking, weight is shifted to the front of the vehicle, causing the rear to rise. The brake load sensing-proportioning valve is mounted on the body and is attached to the rear suspension lower control arm. As the body and suspension separate, the valve proportions pressure to the rear wheels to prevent premature rear brake lock-up.