METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS.

摘要

Vehicle engine torque, acceleration, deceleration and brake treadle pressure are determined (30, 32, 38). Vehicle load is calculated (34) from the engine torque and acceleration; and braking system effectiveness is calculated (42) by comparing the determined deceleration with a deceleration predicted for the calculated vehicle load and the determined brake treadle pressure. Values representative of braking system effectiveness are accumulated and evaluated to more accurately determine when braking system service is required than is possible by merely scheduling service according to the amount of elapsed time or the number of miles driven since prior service was performed.