Slipping into Fall (Driving with ABS Brakes)
March 28, 2021
As the weather changes over from hot to colder, drivers will have to deal with more slippery streets. And it's important to know how to drive with the brakes you have on your vehicle.
In the 1970s, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) started to be installed on vehicles and they've been a game changer for drivers. Most modern vehicles have ABS and it's important to know how to drive with them.
In older vehicles without ABS, the driver applies the brakes by pushing down the pedal. That, in turn, sends braking pressure to all four wheels at once. But all four tires don't have the same traction because the road surface they're each on isn't exactly the same.
ABS allows sensors to determine when particular wheels are slowing down more quickly. The ABS then reduces braking pressure to the wheels that are about to lock up. That way the wheel turns and the tires keep some grip. (You have to have grip to stop.) It's kind of what drivers try to achieve when they pump the older-style brakes without ABS.
Another engineered feature of ABS is that it makes sure your front wheels will continue to rotate and maintain some traction. That's important because the front wheels are used to steer, and being able to steer gives a driver more control in a quickly-changing situation. So ABS is all about stopping as fast as the road surface will allow but at the same time enabling the driver to maintain control.
ABS is designed for the driver to put steady pressure on the brake pedal and let the vehicle’s computerized system handle the braking. Pumping the pedal in a vehicle with ABS can defeat what the system is trying to do to help you maintain control.
Because stopping techniques in a vehicle with ABS are different than those without, it’s important to know which brakes you have so you can operate them accordingly.
If you have any doubt, consult your service advisor. ABS involves sophisticated technology and must be maintained in order for it to work properly. Your service advisor can recommend a maintenance schedule for you to follow so your ABS is always on the ready to help you stop when you need to.
Charlie's Fast Lube Anna
1215 East Vienna St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
618-833-4999
http://www.charliesfastlubeanna.com
Need Service?
More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Anna
Full of Hot Air (Air Conditioning)
December 29, 2024
In warm weather, you want to be in a cool vehicle. When we're talking cool, we don't mean stylish or trendy, but cool as in not sweltering inside. And if your vehicle's air conditioner stops working correctly, it seems to always break at the worst timeduring a heat wave. Automotive air conditio... More
Thoughtful Gifts for the Winter Driver
December 22, 2024
You may be one of those romantics who don't like giving (or getting) practical gifts for special occasions. Just wait until one of those gifts helps you out of a big predicament in cold weather, and you realize that practical gifts can be life savers. Here are a few things you may give the cold-... More
Straight Ahead (Wheel Alignment)
December 15, 2024
If every road was straight and smooth, we wouldn't have to worry much about wheel alignment. But they're not, so we do. Hitting potholes or driving on rough pavement can knock your vehicle out of alignment and you'll notice it in one of several ways. Your steering wheel may not be centered when ... More