what is ABS(Anti-Lock Braking System)?

                           Anti-Lock Braking System

ABS means Anti-Lock Braking System in Automobile Engineering. It is one of the safety features designed to help drivers retain steering control by preventing wheels from locking up during an episode of heavy braking.

• When the driver hits the brakes this pressurises a hydraulic system which causes the brake pads to squeeze against the discs which causes the car to slow down. If the ABS system detects that one wheel is slowing down more rapidly than the rest (a symptom of wheel-lock) it automatically reduces the brake pressure on this wheel by opening a pressure release valve in the hydraulic system. ABS also has the ability to build the pressure back up via the hydraulic motor. The system reacts remarkably quickly, and compared wheel speeds many times a second. ABS systems can act on just the front wheels (which do most of the braking work), or all four depending on what car you're driving.

• Anti-lock brakes allow a car to stop quickly on slippery road conditions.The theory behind anti-lock brakes is simple. A skidding wheel (where the tire contact patch is sliding relative to the road) has less traction than a non-skidding wheel. ABS prevents the wheels from locking, regardless of the road surface’s friction coefficient and the applied brake pressure.

• You may have heard that it's possible to slow down quicker in a car without ABS. This has elements of truth, but in practical terms the benefits of ABS massively outweigh the slightly longer braking distances. For road use, ABS is an absolute must as it will allow you to steer out of the way of unexpected hazards. 

• If done correctly, threshold braking can slow a vehicle more quickly that a car fitted with ABS (in the right conditions). Many competitive racing drivers would say that they prefer their cars not to have the system. However, to gain maximum advantage you will need to practice the threshold braking technique repeatedly. A good test is to find a section of test-track, and mark out a cone which will act as the braking point. Accelerate to 60 or 70mph and brake as hard as you can in a car equipped with ABS, then repeat without ABS. Compare the stopping distances by having someone mark them on the side of the track, then practice threshold braking until you notice a marked improvement.

If you do have ABS fitted, don't get into the habit of locking up wheels before entering a corner - this isn't the quickest way of slowing down and can unsettle the car.