Until the 1970s, all automotive braking systems in consumer automobiles were standard friction brakes that worked by a foot pedal that applied pressure to brakes pads that in turn squeezed a metal disc or a metal drum to bring the wheels to a stop. If you have driven one of these vehicles, you know that these brakes are susceptible to locking up on wet roads and causing the automobile to skid into an uncontrollable slide.
It is necessary to teach drivers how to pump the breaks in order to maintain control of the front wheels and prevent an uncontrolled slide.
The ABS Symbol
Antilock Braking Systems
Beginning in the 1970s, automobile manufacturers began to offer a new braking system, in which the brakes automatically gripped and released in rapid succession in order to maintain steering control of the front wheels. The idea here is that under heavy braking, the wheels continue to turn, which allows for the driver to maintain control of the vehicle rather than surrendering to wheels that freeze up and go into skids.
By the 1980s, ABS systems were becoming common, especially on luxury models, and by the 2000s they had become standard equipment on most cars. Since 2012, all passenger cars are equipped with ABS. But there are still a great many non-ABS vehicles on the road, and if you own one (or plan on owning one), it is important to know how proper braking techniques vary between ABS and non-ABS vehicles.
Differences between the traditional and ABS brake systems
Braking With Traditional (Non-ABS) Brakes
Traditional brakes are pretty simple: you push the brake pedal, the brake pads apply pressure, and the car slows down. But on a slippery surface, it's easy to clamp the brakes hard enough that the wheels stop turning and begin to slide on the road surface. This can be very serious, as it causes the car to skid unpredictably out of control. Hence, drivers learned techniques for preventing that kind of uncontrolled slide.
The technique is to firmly pressure the brakes until the tires are just about to break loose, then let off slightly to allow the tires to resume rolling. This process is repeated in rapid succession, “pumping” the brakes to get the maximum braking grip without skidding. It takes some practice to learn how to sense this "just about to break loose" moment, but it generally works pretty well once drivers have practised and mastered the technique. It isn't the ideal way to brake in a high pressure situation however.
Braking With an ABS System
The traditional brakes are not quite good enough in emergency situations that can result in accidents and loss of lives. This led to the development of the automotive ABS systems, an evolution from systems earlier employed in aircraft. The ABS system does the same thing as pumping the brakes (modulating the brakes) but much faster and more consistently.
ABS “pulses” the entire brake system multiple times per second, using a computer to determine whether any of the wheels are about to slide and releasing brake pressure at precisely the right time, making the braking process much more efficient.
To brake properly using ABS, the driver presses down hard on the brake pedal and holds it there. The driver may get a weird and alarming sensation to a driver if not familiar with ABS, since the brake pedal will pulsate against your foot, and the brakes themselves make a grinding sound. Do not be alarmed—this is entirely normal. Drivers should not, though, try to pump the brakes in the traditional manner, as this interferes with the ABS doing its job. It was unnerving the first time I felt it.
Differences in braking performance in real world simulations on a wet surface. The performance of the ABS systems is evident.
The ABS system is undoubtedly is a better braking system than traditional systems. Many measurement studies that show ABS brake systems stop a vehicle quicker, without loss of control, in almost all circumstances.
For more on the ABS system, please read our earlier article Anti-lock Brakes (ABS); What They Are And How They Work
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