You may not pay your brakes much mind, so long as they work. If you’ve heard of anti-lock brakes before but never took the time to really look into how they work and why they exist, we’re here to help fill in the blanks. When might anti-lock brakes be important and when would regular brakes be preferable instead? No matter what type of brakes your car has, you can count on the mechanics at your local AAMCO for any brake repair or brake service your car needs.
A Regular Brake System Will Lock the Brakes with Extreme Braking
When braking hard, regular brakes will lock, meaning none of your wheels will move. It’s natural to want to slam on the brakes when you go over a slick surface or even just coming up on traffic, but with vehicles without an ABS system, you may find your brakes locking often. Instead, the best way to safely stop is to rapidly pump the brake pedal until your vehicle comes to a stop. With an anti-lock brake system (ABS), this locking is prevented by sensors.
Locked Brakes Can Be Beneficial When Driving on Gravel or Snow
In certain situations, some people argue that it’s beneficial for brakes to be able to lock, such as on gravel or snowy roads. It’s even up for debate for some as to whether having locking brakes on dry pavement might be better at slowing your vehicle. Gravel and snow are allowed to build up in front of locked tires and skidding on dry pavement may help slow the vehicle by adding friction. However, many people also prefer anti-lock brakes in these same situations.
How Do Anti-Lock Brakes Work?
So anti-lock brake systems (ABS) prevent your brakes from locking – how does it do that? And what are the real or potential benefits or downsides of having a car with ABS? When it comes down to it, rather than stopping force being applied to all four wheels, as with regular brakes, vehicles with ABS send stopping force to each wheel individually. This helps prevent brakes from locking and ultimately makes for a more effective brake system.
An ABS System Uses Sensors to Keep Your Brakes from Locking
Vehicles with anti-lock brake systems, are equipped with sensors that detect the motion at each wheel. If any wheel locks, the braking force will automatically be reduced for that wheel so that the other wheels are able to be more effective. In many situations, this reduces the braking distance so that your car comes to a complete stop sooner. This also increases your ability to stay in control of your vehicle, rather than spinning out of control or skidding as you would with locked brakes.
The Purpose of ABS is to Prevent Skidding, Making Emergency Braking Safer
A key purpose of anti-lock brakes is to help drivers better maintain control, even in bad driving conditions, and stay safe on the road. When brakes lock, it causes the car to skid and slide in slick conditions, which means the driver completely loses control over the vehicle. While some drivers argue that locking brakes are more helpful on gravel roads or in snowy conditions, many believe that cars equipped with ABS are safer overall.
One Con: Many Vehicles with ABS Systems Can’t Turn Them Off
Depending on your preferences, one commonly felt disadvantage to cars with ABS is that it cannot be turned off. This means, if you’re in driving conditions where regular brakes might be better than anti-lock brakes, you don’t have the ability to decide what’s used and where brake force is distributed. While ABS is agreed to be effective on wet, slippery surfaces, those who believe ABS is less effective on dry, snowy, or gravelly surfaces would prefer the option to prevent ABS from turning on.
For Brake Repair You Can Trust, Visit AAMCO Auto Repair in Minnesota
Whether it’s time for brake maintenance, you need a brake repair service, or simply have questions about your car’s brake performance, the mechanics at your local AAMCO are here to help. Don’t let brake trouble get you down – bring your car to the nearest AAMCO Minnesota auto shop and we’ll help keep you safe on the road. Schedule your appointment with us online today!