Recent Posts
- The Step-By-Step Guide To Changing Your Car’s Spark Plugs
- How Your Car’s Air Conditioner Works
- Things That Can Go Wrong With Your Vehicle’s Clutch
- 5 Tips When Buying A Certified Pre-Owned Car
- Basics Of Replacing Your Timing Belt
- Guide To Your Vehicle’s Fuel Injection System
- 3 Types Of Used Vehicles To Avoid Buying
- An Overview Of Your Vehicle’s Exhaust System
- How To Select An Extended Warranty
- Buying A Car: Using The Salesperson’s Tactics Against Him
Categories
Understanding How Your Car’s Anti-lock Brakes Work
20th April 2009
Understanding How Your Car’s Anti-lock Brakes Work
Safety is a chief concern in any modern car. With innovations including the airbag, seat belt, and head rest, risk has been reduced to levels that were unfathomable decades ago. Along those lines, the introduction of electronic control systems has included the development of anti-lock brakes (ABS). They prevent your vehicle’s wheels from locking while braking, an event that would otherwise cause you to lose control and potentially crash.
If any of the tires on your vehicle lock up, your car will start to skid; it will become very hard to control. On the other hand, if your tires are able to maintain contact with the pavement, they’ll provide the level of control you need to maneuver your car. This article will explain how the components of your braking system work together to prevent your wheels from locking.
Anti-Lock Brake Components
Your vehicle’s anti-lock brake system has four basic components; they include the pump, sensors, valves, and controller. The pump is responsible for putting pressure on the brake pedals and stopping your car. The valves are responsible for releasing the pressure. When combined, these two assemblies create the rapid flutter of the brakes that prevent them from locking.
The second two components of the system are the sensors and controller. Immediately before a lock-up, the wheels decelerate very quickly; the sensors are able to recognize this change and act accordingly, relaying the information to the controller. In turn, the controller activates the valves and pump to control the brakes, thereby preventing your vehicle from skidding.
Anti-Lock in Action
In the event of a lock-up, the controller interprets the information from the sensors and identifies your car’s deceleration as too severe for a standard braking situation. In response, the controller releases the valves which cause the wheel to accelerate slightly. The subsequent pumping action applies the necessary pressure to cause deceleration. This cycle, performed multiple times per second, causes your wheels to slow down at the same rate as your car without locking up.
Anti-Lock Varieties
There are three main types of ABS assemblies, but the most effective is known as a four-channel system. In this type of system, each wheel is independently monitored and controlled for maximum stopping power. Three-sensor setups are common as well. In this layout, the front wheels are independently monitored and controlled while the rear axis has its own independent sensor and valve.
Lastly, the single-channel design uses a single sensor-valve combination on the rear axle. This is commonly used in pickup trucks but is flawed because the wheel has to lock up first before activation while the other two systems act preemptively.
A lot of drivers mistakenly believe that vehicles equipped with ABS offer superior stopping ability. In reality, there are other factors, such as slippery roads and weather, that should be considered. Automotive technology will continue to advance as automakers strive to offer more protection to drivers and passengers. It is likely that today’s braking systems will be significantly improved in the future.
Subscribe to the American Cars feed.
No Comments »
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL