Why Do Brakes Lock Up?
2 Answers
Car brake lock-up may be caused by a stuck master cylinder piston cup, improper fit between the master cylinder piston cup and the master cylinder bore, insufficient stiffness of the brake disc, poor internal component fit in the rear brake, or improper brake pad fit. Below is relevant information about brake lock-up: 1. Solution: Use ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) technology. The main feature of this technology is that during emergency braking, the wheels do not stop rotating, ensuring that the vehicle maintains rolling friction with the ground rather than sliding friction. This prevents the vehicle from losing control and avoids tire blowouts due to sliding friction. 2. ABS Working Principle: The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) controls the ABS actuator to increase, maintain, or reduce the brake fluid pressure for each wheel. Each wheel is equipped with a speed sensor that sends the wheel's speed signal to the ECU. If excessive braking force risks causing wheel lock-up, the ECU sends a signal to the ABS actuator to reduce the brake fluid pressure. Once the nearly locked tire is released from braking, it naturally regains traction control capability.
As someone who has driven for many years, I've encountered brake lock-up a few times, especially when the road is slippery after rain. The main reason is ABS system failure, such as sensors being clogged with mud or computer module malfunctions, causing the wheels to suddenly lock up. Additionally, if the brake pads are severely worn or there's fluid leakage leading to uneven pressure, it can easily trigger lock-up. I often remind myself to regularly replace brake fluid and check pad thickness to avoid heat damage from prolonged high-speed hard braking. Another detail is air getting into the brake lines; air bubbles in the system can cause force imbalance, leading to lock-up when braking. In short, paying attention to the car's condition and thorough inspections during every maintenance can prevent most issues. Safety first—can't be careless.
