Many Honda cars and other vehicles come equipped with anti-lock brakes, which can help you in a range of braking situations. What is an anti-lock braking system? Simply, it’s a complex system that comes into play when you need to brake in a hurry or on a slippery surface.
At Faulkner Honda, we want to teach drivers across Harrisburg, Hershey, and Mechanicsburg all about it, so read on to learn more and feel free to contact us with any questions!
Anti-Lock Braking System: The Basics
An anti-lock braking system, or ABS for short, is designed to help prevent skidding when you brake. It keeps wheels from locking up during braking so you can maintain traction with the road surface. With a series of speed sensors, valves, and pumps, it can rapidly “pump” the brakes up to 15 times per second.
You’ll recognize a distinctive pulsing sensation when your ABS is engaged. The idea behind this pumping is to maximize braking power by keeping the brakes and tires in their states just before they would normally lock up.
When Do I Need Anti-Lock Brakes?
When you need to make a sudden stop—perhaps when a pedestrian, bike, or another car unexpectedly enters your path—the anti-lock brake system comes in handy. It can help you reduce your speed at a faster rate than you’d be able to with traditional braking, even with you pumping the brakes.
Those frigid Pennsylvania winters often bring icy and snowy roads with them, and it’s not uncommon to see severe rainstorms and flooded roadways in the summer either. Whenever you encounter a slippery road, ABS can help you brake safely and more quickly without skidding and losing control of your car.
How Do I Use Anti-Lock Brakes?
If your car is equipped with an anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to know how to use it correctly. When you’re in a panicked stop or on a slippery road, you may feel or hear the ABS vibrating. Don’t pump the brakes yourself—just continue to apply them firmly and steer your way to safety.
It’s important to know that ABS works with the regular braking system on your vehicle. Even if ABS should fail, you’ll still have the regular braking system at your disposal. If the system does fail, your next best option is to pump your brakes when the vehicle starts to skid.
ABS works best when the tires are properly inflated and in good condition. If ABS is malfunctioning, you may have worn brake linings or air/dirt in the brake fluid. Either way, you’ll need that problem checked and fixed ASAP.
Contact Us to Learn More About ABS
Now that you know what an anti-lock braking system is and how it functions, you’ll be better equipped to use any ABS system you find in your vehicle. If you want to learn more about ABS, feel free to reach out to us at Faulkner Honda, your go-to dealer serving Harrisburg, Hershey, and Mechanicsburg.
If you need service on a malfunctioning ABS system, feel free to schedule an appointment at our service center. If you want to check out our inventory of Honda cars equipped with ABS, visit our showroom today!
