i just wanted more information on how abs works (simply put) and what it has to do with FRICTION..any information at all would be great! thanks so much
The brakes rapidly engage and release, so you don't lose turning ability.
what ABS does, is when it feels that the wheels are locking up when you brake, it releases the brakes slightly so that you can get more traction when stopping. It's supposed to allow you to be able to steer while coming to a quick stop.
ABS pumps the brakes faster than you can... when it scenes a wheel skidding the pump turns on and quickly applies and releases the brakes so that the tires do not lock up. This is done because when a tire locks up it looses traction, and you cannot steer. ABS does not decrease braking distance, it's purpose is to maintain control when braking, meaning you can still steer (somewhat) the car when the ABS activates.
anti lock brakes are designed to prevent wheel lock up when braking. a locked wheel will not stop a car as quickly as a turning wheel. for a optimal stop distance, the tire should turn approx 10% slower than the car. in a abs system there is a sensor at 2 to 4 of the wheels. a computer interprets the speeds from the sensors to see if a wheel is approaching lock up before the car is stopped. if one of the tires is losing speed faster than the rest, an actuator will stop hydraulic pressure to that wheel. if the wheel does not catch up to the others, it will then activate a pump to reduce pressure. the pump sends fluid back to the master cylinder and can be felt through the brake pedal as it kicks back. usually the only time the anti lock system does anything at all is on ice or other hazards, but if you stomp the brake pedal hard enough, it will go to work. by the way, abs systems, when functioning properly, eliminate the need to pump your brakes when stopping because the car will do it for you. the abs system is superior to pumping to avoid lock up because it is always monitoring wheel speeds, it only pumps when needed, and can operate each tire individually.
