What is ABS in a Car: Features, Benefits & How It Works

Have you ever wondered how your vehicle maintains the steering control while braking? The reason behind this mechanism is ABS or the Anti-Lock Braking System.

Since sudden brakes can cause wheels to not spin, eventually leading to loss of traction, it can later result in severe damage to the car and cause accidents.

This is why manufacturers include ABS in a car to prevent the wheels from locking and improve steering and traction control.

Continue reading to discover more about the ABS and its types and functions.

The Anti-Lock Braking System was first introduced during the 1920s. However, not until 1970 did the use of ABS in cars become popular, and this system got incorporated within commercial vehicles. In recent times almost every vehicle is equipped with an ABS to save from sudden brakes and tyre skidding.

Anti-Lock Braking System consists of the following parts:

• Speed Sensors: The function of these speed sensors is to observe how fast these wheels rotate.
• Pump: Hydraulic fluid is present in these pumps that aid in applying pressure to the brake callipers.
• Valves: These are responsible for allowing, blocking or releasing pressure on the brakes.
• Controller: ECU, or electronic control unit, is the brain of ABS. It uses data from its sensors to comprehend whether to apply the brakes.

Drivers have reported that the effectiveness of this mechanism is highly beneficial. As research shows, nonfatal car crashes have reduced to 6% in cars after incorporating the ABS.

There are three different kinds of Anti-Lock Braking systems in a car. Namely, four channel, three channel and one channel. These channels are also termed sensors. Here is a brief description of them and their functions.

1. Four Channel/ Four Sensor

The function of this system is to designate different valves for each wheel. In addition, it also separates speed sensors for the four wheels. This is the most preferred type of ABS because it monitors every individual wheel to check whether the braking force is optimally achieved.

2. Three Channel/ Three Sensor

This kind of ABS mainly focuses on the front wheels by providing each with a valve and speed sensor. Another sensor is located at the rear axle that impacts both rear brakes. Nevertheless, since one sensor and valve are shared among the rear wheels, they are always monitored together. So, if one-wheel locks, these brakes will not have the same effectiveness.

3. One Channel/ One Sensor

Here only one valve and speed sensor are positioned to monitor four wheels. This is also located in the rear axle. However, it also has the same issue as the three-channel ABS, the risk of locking up one rear wheel.

These are some of the steps to understand the function of ABS in cars:

• The wheel sensors present in a car are used to monitor the speed of the wheels individually. ECU, or electronic control unit, focuses on its readings. If any abnormality is noticed in any of the wheels, like speed reducing significantly, ECU signals valves. Then these valves reduce the brake pressure and get closed.
• When wheels start acceleration again, ECU signals those valves to open and increase their pressure. This is how brakes are applied.
• This process keeps on repeating until this brake application becomes normal.