Anti-lock brakes

Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) use electronic controls to stop your wheels from locking when you’re jamming on the brakes. This helps you control your steering better, even on rough surfaces and wet pavement.

The main benefit of ABS? You can steer around what you’re heading towards — even while applying maximum brake force. Our studies have shown that anti-lock brakes are very effective in our winters, when roads are most likely to be wet or slippery.

How do you know if your vehicle has ABS brakes?

When using a vehicle with ABS for the first time, you should hear or feel these differences during vehicle startup and during panic stop:

• Brake pedal pulse or kickback. It may feel as if the car is braking you when the ABS applies and releases hydraulic pressure to the brake shoes. The pulsing will continue until your car stops or the ABS turns off.
• Tire chirp. This is common when the vehicle has braked almost to a stop. The wheels are approaching lockup and the system releases pressure.
• Popping, clicking and motor noises. These may occur whenever the braking system is being used, but the most unexpected time is when the ABS performs a self-test. The self-test is designed to happen as the vehicle goes through the range of 3 to 8 km/h from a dead stop.

ABS tips

• Hold the brake pedal down firmly, don’t pump it.
• Keep steering around the obstacle you want to avoid — even while applying full brakes.
• Don’t expect the stopping distances to be shorter (your ABS is there to prevent wheel lock-up and allow you to steer around obstacles).
• Don’t try to diagnose brake system problems by judging the feel of your brake pedal.
• Don’t worry if the ABS fails — your vehicle will still have conventional braking ability.