Thursday, 8 November 2012

ABS

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a system that allows a driver to slam the brakes as hard as they want without the wheels locking up and sending the car into a spin.

In an ABS system, there are the following components:
Speed sensors:
- The system needs this in order to tell if the wheels are about to lock up. They are usually located at the wheels.
Valves:
- There are valves in the brake lines of each brake. In some cases they have 3 positions:

  • 1. Open - Pressure from the master cylinder is passed through the brake.
  • 2. The valve blocks the line which isolates the master cylinder. (Stopping pressure from rising too high.)
  • 3. Releases some pressure from the brake.
Pump:
- When pressure is released the pump helps build pressure back up.
Controller:
- If a wheel locks up, a signal is sent to the controller which will limit the brake force and activate ABS.

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