{"id":4201,"date":"2022-12-13T23:38:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T23:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=4201"},"modified":"2023-06-20T22:48:24","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T22:48:24","slug":"anti-lock-brakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/auto-tips\/anti-lock-brakes\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Should Know About Anti-Lock Brakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to the safety of your vehicle, auto insurance<\/a> is just one piece of the puzzle. Your brakes are possibly your vehicle\u2019s most important feature. Drivers need to have confidence their brakes will allow them to stop suddenly, if necessary, in safe distances. When that happens in less-than-optimal conditions, such as when the road is wet, it can be a frightening experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An effective brake system<\/a> allows you to avoid accidents on the road. Through the 1970s, vehicles utilized drum brakes, but most cars these days have disc brakes. Although the two types have their advantages and disadvantages, both tended to lock up the wheels when the brake pedal is suddenly and forcefully applied. An additional measure was needed to control this tendency, which caused skids and loss of control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inventors came up with Anti-Lock Brake Systems (ABS) as a way to combat the skidding and loss of control that happens when a driver slams on the brakes and the wheels lock up. Inventors starting testing a new system on railway cars, aircraft and motorcycle prototypes in the 1950s. In the 1960s, the new technology was introduced with the first 4-wheel drive Formula One vehicle. In 1978, Mercedes-Benz rolled out the anti-lock brake systems on passenger cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This helps the driver avoid skidding or losing control by preventing the wheels from locking up during stopping distances. Anti-lock brakes<\/a> help wheels maintain the proper grip on road surface and reduces the likelihood of driving off the road. It even reduces the risk of a frontal collision on dry or wet roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does My Vehicle Have ABS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, if you have a model manufactured after 2012, when it became a legal requirement on all new passenger vehicles in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have an older model, you\u2019ll need to test to see if it is equipped with this safety standard. You can do a test by locating a long, empty stretch of road and then do a sudden, hard stop. If the wheels lock up, then you do not have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it isn\u2019t, there are some things you can do to alleviate the risk of your wheels locking up during a sudden, hard braking emergency situation. For example, you can use what is called \u201ccadence\u201d braking, where you can press the brake pedal very forcefully as fast as you can. This will simulate what it does and help you to stop without locking up your wheels and going into a skid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just keep in mind that, if you do this too often, you can do damage in the long run. This is only for an emergency situation and, hopefully, you won\u2019t be in one of those very often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does an Anti-Lock Brake System Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"An
An ABS system in a pickup truck.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anti-lock brakes are part of the vehicle\u2019s electronic stability program. The electronic stability program monitors balance and wheel speed via sensors attached to each wheel. The wheel speed sensors detect when wheels are close to locking up and send a message to the ABS controller to release for a short moment. This prevents the brakes from locking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The controller can release and apply brake pressure for up to 20 times per second. The system is comprised of five components, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n