Method of controlling a brake system of a vehicle

1. A method of controlling a brake system of a vehicle comprising:

determining with an electronic control module whether an environmental brake pad wear condition is detected when the brake system does not actuate a friction material of a brake pad assembly into engagement with a brake friction member;

checking with the electronic control module a clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member when the environmental brake pad wear condition exists; and

adjusting with the electronic control module a clearance between the friction material and the friction brake member when the clearance exceeds a predetermined limit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on a manual input from a vehicle operator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on data from a sensor that detects presence of an abrasive slurry.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on engine speed and wheel speed.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on engine speed, terrain grade, and vehicle load data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on brake temperature data indicative of wear of the friction material by an environmental contaminant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on brake load data indicative of load force exerted on the friction material by an environmental contaminant.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on data from a suspension sensor indicative of the vehicle being driven off-road.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected occurs when an engine of the vehicle is running and a low forward drivetrain gear ratio is engaged.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of whether the environmental brake pad wear condition is detected is based on data that is wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle that is indicative of presence of an environmental contaminant.

11. A method of controlling a brake system of a vehicle comprising:

actuating a brake pad assembly against a friction brake member of the brake system;

determining with an electronic control module whether environmental brake pad wear is detected that is indicative of wear of a friction material of a brake pad assembly by an abrasive slurry through which the vehicle is driven; and

adjusting with the electronic control module a clearance between the friction material and the friction brake member when the clearance exceeds a predetermined limit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein environmental brake pad wear is detected when a vehicle braking distance is greater than a predetermined braking distance that is based on vehicle load, vehicle speed, and a brake input command.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein environmental brake pad wear is detected when a brake pad assembly actuation distance is greater than a threshold actuation distance.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the brake pad assembly actuation distance is based on brake pressure associated with actuation of the brake pad assembly.

15. A method of controlling a brake system of a vehicle comprising:

providing a set of friction brakes, wherein each member of the set of friction brakes brakes a different member of a set of wheel assemblies;

determining with an electronic control module whether an environmental brake pad wear condition exists in which an abrasive slurry through which the vehicle is driven passes between a friction material and a brake friction member of a member of the set of friction brakes to wear the friction material;

checking with the electronic control module a clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member of the member of the set of friction brakes when the environmental brake pad wear condition exists; and

adjusting with the electronic control module a clearance between the friction material and the friction brake member when the clearance exceeds a predetermined limit.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising identifying a member of the set of wheel assemblies that is driven through the abrasive slurry and checking the clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member for members of the set of wheel assemblies that are driven through the abrasive slurry.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member is checked for members of the set of friction brakes disposed on a common axle assembly.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member is checked sequentially such that members of the set of friction brakes are not actuated simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member is checked periodically based on an elapsed time when the environmental brake pad wear condition exists.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein clearance between the friction material and the brake friction member is checked periodically based on a distance travelled by the vehicle when the environmental brake pad wear condition exists.