Understanding Your Vehicle's Braking System

Foot Brake

The foot brake is a critical component of your vehicle's safety. It is essential to use the brake pedal correctly to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Important Precautions:

• Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving. This can lead to brake overheating, reduced effectiveness, and accelerated wear.
• Never coast with the engine turned off, as this disables the brake booster. While the brake pedal will still function, it will require significantly more effort to engage.
• If the brake warning light illuminates while driving, stop the vehicle immediately when it is safe to do so. Consult a qualified professional before continuing your journey. Refer to the 'Warning Lights' section on page 107.
• Ensure no objects, such as floor mats, are placed under the brake pedal. This can restrict pedal travel and reduce braking efficiency.

The hydraulic brake system operates on a dual-circuit design. If one circuit fails, the other will continue to provide braking power.

Brake Booster:

The brake booster enhances braking performance but only functions when the engine is running. Without the booster, greater pedal force is required for braking, increasing the stopping distance.

Specific Precautions:

• Exercise extreme caution when towing your vehicle with the engine off.
• If you must turn off the engine while driving, stop the vehicle as soon as road conditions permit. Avoid heavy braking, as the brake system may lose its remaining booster energy.

Driving in Wet Conditions:

Driving through water or heavy rain can affect brake performance. To dry the brake surfaces, apply the brakes lightly and intermittently, ensuring you are at a safe distance from other vehicles.

Brake Pads

New brake pads require a break-in period. For the first 800 km (500 miles), avoid situations requiring intense braking.

For long-term operation and optimal performance, regular maintenance, including checks for brake pad wear and periodic replacement, is essential.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

WARNING: The ABS system cannot reduce the physically possible minimum braking distance of a vehicle. It is also less effective in high-speed cornering and does not eliminate the risk of aquaplaning, where a layer of water prevents normal tire contact with the road.

The presence of an ABS system does not mean that a driver can compromise their safety or the safety of others. The driver is always responsible for operating the vehicle cautiously and attentively, considering prevailing weather and road conditions.

Drivers must always consider the road surface conditions and understand that pedal reactions differ from vehicles without ABS.

The ABS system helps the driver maintain full control and directional stability during emergency braking by preventing wheel lock-up and skidding. ABS continuously monitors each wheel's speed and adjusts the braking force to each wheel based on its grip with the road. ABS optimizes tire grip during maximum braking.

During ABS operation, you may feel a series of pulsations when applying the brake pedal. This is normal, so it is important to maintain maximum pressure on the brake pedal. Regardless of the braking force applied, normal vehicle control should be maintained in all road conditions.

ABS allows drivers to maneuver around obstacles during emergency braking. However, ABS does not reduce the risks associated with:

• Following too closely behind the vehicle ahead.
• Aquaplaning.
• Cornering at excessive speeds.
• Driving on poor surfaces.

Precautions:

• Avoid repeatedly pumping the brake pedal, as this can interfere with the system's operation and increase braking distance.
• Do not place additional mats or objects under the brake pedal, as this can restrict pedal travel and reduce braking efficiency.

ABS Warning Light:

If an ABS fault is detected, the ABS warning light will illuminate. If the ABS warning light turns on or remains illuminated after the bulb check cycle, drive with extreme caution. The braking system will continue to function normally, but without ABS.

WARNING: If the ABS warning light illuminates while driving, avoid sudden braking. Seek qualified assistance as soon as possible. Failure to do so may result in injury or loss of control.

Off-Road Driving:

While ABS operates in off-road conditions, it may not be fully reliable on certain surfaces. It cannot always compensate for driver error or inexperience in challenging off-road situations.

Consider the following:

• On soft or loose surfaces such as snow, sand, gravel, or uneven terrain, the braking distance with ABS may be longer than with normal braking, even though control might be better. This is because natural wheel lock-up on soft surfaces creates a buildup of surface material in front of the wheels, aiding deceleration.
• If the vehicle is on a steep incline with poor wheel grip, it may start to slide due to locked wheels, as there is no rotation to trigger the ABS. To prevent this, briefly release the brakes to allow the wheels to gain some momentum, then reapply the brakes to allow ABS to regulate the force.
• Before driving off-road, carefully read the 'Off-Road Driving' section of this manual.

Cornering Brake Control (CBC)

Cornering Brake Control (CBC) is an integral part of the ABS system. It helps maintain vehicle stability and control during braking while cornering or changing lanes at speed.

Emergency Brake Assist (EVA)

If you apply the brake pedal quickly, EVA automatically increases braking force to the maximum to help stop the vehicle. If the driver brakes gradually but with sufficient force to activate ABS on both front wheels, the system automatically increases braking force so that all four wheels are controlled by ABS, optimizing ABS effectiveness.

Brake pedal pressure should be maintained throughout the braking process. If the pedal is released, EVA ceases to function.

An illuminated yellow brake system warning light indicates an EVA system fault. Refer to the 'Warning Lights' section on page 107.

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

Your vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) system that directs the appropriate braking force to the front and rear wheels, ensuring effective braking under all vehicle load conditions.

For example, with a light load, EBD applies less force to the rear brakes to maintain vehicle stability. Conversely, if the vehicle is towing a trailer or is heavily loaded, full braking force is applied.

A red brake system warning light indicates an EBD system fault. Refer to the 'Warning Lights' section on page 107.

If the red warning light illuminates while driving, stop the vehicle cautiously when safe to do so and seek qualified assistance.

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)

Manual EPB Engagement:

With the vehicle stationary, pull the lever (1) upwards and then release it. The lever will return to the neutral position, and the indicator in the switch and the red EPB warning light on the instrument panel will illuminate. Ensure the red indicator remains illuminated (not flashing), signifying correct EPB operation.

If you pull the parking brake lever while the vehicle is moving at less than 3 km/h (2 mph), it will result in a sudden stop. The stop lights will not illuminate.

If the system detects an EPB fault, the amber brake system warning light will illuminate, and a message such as 'CHECK PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM' will appear on the information display.

If a fault is detected while the EPB is engaged, the warning light will flash red or turn amber. Additionally, the message 'CHECK PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM' may appear on the information display. After switching off the starter, the indicator will remain illuminated for at least ten seconds.

WARNING: The EPB applies to the rear wheels, so parking stability depends on the firmness and stability of the surface. Do not rely on the EPB's effectiveness if the vehicle is in mud or water. If the brake system warning light is illuminated or the EPB warning light is flashing, do not rely on the EPB to keep the vehicle stationary. Seek qualified assistance immediately.

Active Engagement:

In an emergency, the parking brake can be applied dynamically. If the vehicle is moving above 3 km/h (2 mph), pulling and holding the lever upwards can reduce speed. The warning light will illuminate, accompanied by a sharp audible alert, and the message 'WARNING! PARKING BRAKE APPLIED' will appear on the information display. The stop lights will also illuminate.

Releasing or applying the lever disengages the EPB.

The EPB should not be used regularly for slowing down or temporary stopping; it is intended for emergency use only.

Manual EPB Disengagement:

To disengage the EPB, the ignition key must be in the second position. Press the brake pedal and then lower the EPB lever.

Disengaging the EPB manually without pressing the brake pedal is not possible.

If manual disengagement is not possible, seek qualified assistance immediately.

Automatic EPB Disengagement:

If the vehicle is stationary and the EPB is engaged, and the gear selector is in 'D' (Drive) or 'R' (Reverse), pressing the accelerator pedal will disengage the EPB and allow the vehicle to move.

If the transmission is in manual mode (CommandShift™), automatic disengagement occurs in 1st and 2nd gears in the high range, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears in the low range.

To delay automatic disengagement, keep the lever in the engaged position and release it at the desired moment.

Fault Detection:

If a fault is detected with the ignition on but the parking brake disengaged, the amber EPB warning light will flash, and a message such as 'CHECK PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM' will appear on the information display.

Note: In certain transmission faults, the parking brake may not operate or disengage automatically.

In most cases, the EPB disengages smoothly as the accelerator pedal is pressed, allowing the vehicle to move off. However, the initial disengagement time may be longer when shifting from 'P' (Park) or 'N' (Neutral). This is normal and allows for a longer engagement time in certain situations.

The EPB system also reduces load on the system (depending on the incline), ensuring a smooth start. If the system reduces load, the full parking brake force will be reapplied to the parking brake. To cancel the reduced braking force function, engage the parking brake after selecting a gear.

If the vehicle has been used in challenging off-road conditions, such as muddy or boggy terrain, additional maintenance and adjustment of the parking brake may be required. Contact your Land Rover dealer or service center.

Protection Against Malfunctions

If the system detects a malfunction with the ignition on but the parking brake disengaged, the amber EPB warning light will flash, and a message such as 'CHECK PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM' will appear on the information display.

Note: In certain transmission faults, the parking brake may not operate or engage automatically.