Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)

ABS stands for anti-lock braking system. Anti-lock brakes are designed to prevent skidding, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes help the driver to maintain steering control during maximal braking efforts.

ABS uses electronic controls and sensors to control braking force during hard braking, while the driver steps on the brakes firmly without pumping them . Maximum brake force is achieved when the tires are turning at a certain speed relative to the vehicle's speed (i.e., when the wheels aren't locked and skidding). ABS senses the rotation of the wheels and “pumps” the brakes for the driver, “trying” to keep the wheel speed close to the speed needed for optimal braking performance. More importantly, ABS prevents the vehicle from skidding out of control, and four-wheel ABS allows the driver to maintain the ability to steer around hazards in emergency braking situations.

The big difference between driving a vehicle with ABS and driving one without ABS is that with ABS, you should never pump the brakes . When you're braking hard with ABS, you concentrate on braking hard, and the electronics will do the “pumping” for you.

How do you know ABS is working?

First, ABS will only feel different from ordinary brakes when you're braking hard. During “ordinary” braking (i.e., not a “panic” stop), you should brake in exactly the same manner whether you have ABS or not, and the brakes should respond in the same way.

When you initiate hard braking, the anti-lock braking system may be activated. When this happens, you may experience rapid pulsations or vibrations of the brake pedal, it may feel like the brakes are “pushing back at you,” or the pedal may suddenly drop. Also, the valves in the ABS controller may make a noise that sounds like “grinding” or “buzzing.” These are not signs that the ABS is not working, they are signs that the ABS is working, so if you're braking hard, and you this happens, just keep the brake pedal pressed down.

One way to test your ABS brakes, and also familiarize yourself with the feeling of how they work, is to drive your car ( fairly slowly ) on a loose gravel lot (without any people or traffic ) and apply the brakes hard.

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