What is ABS Anti-lock Braking System?
3 Answers
ABS Anti-lock Braking System refers to the vehicle's anti-lock braking system, which consists of: ABS module, ABS master cylinder, oil pipes, and wheel speed sensors. Its function is: during vehicle braking, it automatically controls the braking force of the brakes to prevent the wheels from locking up, keeping them in a state of rolling and sliding, ensuring maximum adhesion between the wheels and the ground, and shortening the braking distance. The working principle process of automotive ABS is: 1. The ABS system monitors the rotation speed of all four wheels. When a wheel is about to lock up, the system releases the brake on that wheel to restore its rotation; 2. After the wheel is about to resume rotation, braking hydraulic pressure is applied to the brake; 3. When the wheel is about to lock up again, the system releases the brake on that specific wheel; 4. The system repeats the above process multiple times within one second to maximize the potential of the brakes, ensuring vehicle stability and normal operation.
ABS stands for the Anti-lock Braking System, which basically prevents your wheels from completely locking up when you slam on the brakes. Back in the day, the worst fear while driving was having the tires lock during emergency braking, causing the car to skid and lose control. ABS is equipped with speed sensors that detect when a wheel is about to lock and automatically release the brake slightly, performing this action over a dozen times per second—essentially doing rapid pulse braking for you. The biggest advantage is that you can brake hard while still being able to steer to avoid obstacles, making it especially useful on snowy or wet roads. Nowadays, even budget cars priced at just tens of thousands come with ABS as standard. I remember once driving a friend’s old car without ABS and nearly rear-ending someone in the rain—it scared me half to death. For routine maintenance, just make sure the metal heads of the wheel speed sensors aren’t clogged with mud.
A couple of days ago, my young neighbor asked me what the yellow ABS light on the dashboard meant. The anti-lock braking system is essentially a device that prevents the wheels from completely locking up during braking. If the wheels stop rotating entirely during emergency braking, the tires and road surface transition into sliding friction, which actually reduces traction. The ABS detects abnormal wheel speed through wheel speed sensors and immediately reduces braking force to that wheel via hydraulic valves. Once the wheel resumes rotation, the system reapplies pressure, maintaining the tire at the critical point of rolling. This not only stabilizes braking distance but also allows steering while braking. My decade-old car has had its wheel speed sensors replaced twice—these components are prone to false alarms when corroded.
