While no one can deny the beauty of classic cars, the anti-lock braking system (ABS) in today’s vehicles has changed how we look at the brakes on our car.
For those of you old enough to remember life before ABS, driving in winter weather or suddenly needing to stop was an adventure all on its own. If you had to slam on the brakes, your car would immediately go into skid. All four wheels would lock up tight while your car went merrily down the road, leaving about $5 worth of tire rubber on the pavement.
With today’s anti-lock brake system, the brakes will not lock up. As a result, you are better able to maintain control of your car and stop straighter and more safely than you would with the old-fashioned braking system.
Perhaps one of the most often repeated myths about ABS is that they will make the car stop in a shorter amount of time or space. This absolutely isn’t true. The ABS is designed to prevent the wheels from locking up and prevent you from losing control of the steering wheel.
How does this happen? Let’s take a quick look at the anti-lock braking system on your vehicle.
How ABS Works
To prevent locking up the brakes, drivers are supposed to pump the brakes in rapid succession. But let’s be honest. How many of us remember to do that in a panic situation?
The ABS is part of a system in your car called the electronic stability control. This system has a sensor attached to each wheel. When the sensor detects that the wheel is about to lock up, it begins to pump the brakes for you. This helps the car maintain a grip on the road and provides you with better control.
This is why you sometimes feel the brake pedal “moving” or pumping underneath your foot. No, it’s not an evil genie. It’s the ABS system working as intended.
Common Misconceptions about ABS Brakes
Because many drivers believe ABS helps them stop sooner (not true), they also assume they can drive faster or more recklessly. This is also 100 percent false. While our cars are safer than ever before, this does NOT mean that you can drive with speed down the highway.
Many people also think they can follow other cars more closely (also known as tailgating). Unless you have one of the new models with automatic emergency braking, you should still maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you.
Finally, some people mistakenly believe that even with ABS, they need to pump the brakes to maintain traction. This is also incorrect. The ABS will always pump the brakes if necessary. If YOU are pumping the brakes, then most likely the ABS isn’t and you’re doing the opposite of what is needed. Let the anti-lock braking system work as intended by keeping a steady amount of pressure on the brake pedal.
What to Expect from the ABS on Your Vehicle
While this system won’t necessarily stop your vehicle faster, it can pump the brakes more quickly than you ever could.
If you have never used the ABS or wonder if you did and didn’t realize it, it often feels like:
- The brake pedal “falling away” under your foot. This can cause people to instantly press harder and that’s OK.
- You may feel the pedal pulsing under your foot. Some people say they don’t feel it, but that might be due to the panic you are feeling at the moment.
- You may hear a thumping, grinding, or buzzing sound as the system activates. This is completely normal.
- Other people say that it feels as if the pedal is fighting them as it pushes back against their foot. This is nothing more than the ABS working to pump the brakes. It isn’t trying to fight with you.
- You should still be able to steer the vehicle. In fact, that is really the main purpose of anti-lock brakes. If the wheels lock up, you cannot steer. By pumping the brakes for you, you can then concentrate on steering to avoid an accident (if that is possible).
If you are concerned that you have never felt or experienced anything like the above and you wonder if the ABS system is working, you could find a safe and deserted place where you can slam on the brakes and see if you feel a difference in the pedal. Or, you can schedule an appointment at My Mechanic, where we will happily inspect the system for you.
ABS=Lifesaver
The ABS on your car is second only to the seatbelt when talking about saving lives in the event of a car crash. Newer models with other safety features will cause the ABS to drop to a lower number. However, for most people, a NHTSA study published in 2009 found that, between 1995 and 2007:
- Cars with ABS had reduced the number of overall crashes by 6 percent.
- During wet road conditions, ABS reduced the number of crashed by 12 percent.
- Fatal crashes between cars and pedestrians were reduced by 14 percent.
There is so much to appreciate about the ABS on your car. If the ABS warning light has come on the dash of your car or if you aren’t sure about the braking system in general, we urge you to contact us today. We will happily do an inspection of your vehicle or repair the anti-lock braking system, so you can drive with the peace of mind that only a well-cared car can offer.
