DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR THE GENERAL MOTORS EXPERIMENTAL SAFETY VEHICLE

The Experimental Safety Vehicle program in General Motors was a study in meeting the Department of Transportation performance requirements, with the sole objective being to meet or exceed all of the contract specifications. This vehicle was not intended for production; it was a safety idea car with many unique features including a four-wheel, anti-lock disc brake system using a hydraulic power brake system with an electro-hydraulic back-up system. In addition, the design of the dual piston caliper for the disc brakes provides a redundant system thereby minimizing the effect of a single line or hose failure. This feature coupled with the redundant back-up power brake system provided performance under various failed conditions approximately equal to the original effectiveness with only a slight increase in pedal effort.

This brake system, developed for the ESV, satisfied the General Motors performance objectives, and equaled or surpassed the contract requirements of the ESV program.