How to Fix a Car’s Anti-Lock Brakes?

As a car owner, you are faced with many situations where you have to be the mechanic to your precious machine and fix what is wrong or defective. Let’s face it, not everyone is born with the talent to understand the intricacies of how our vehicle works. Don’t worry, I am here to help through it all.

For those of you who have been wondering, how you can fix your car’s anti-lock braking system, allow me to help you understand this by stating some facts. But before proceeding, let’s quickly have a look at what are Anti-Lock Brakes and their functions to learn a little more about them.

What are Anti-Lock Brakes?

Anti-Lock Brakes or ABS, if you might call it, is a safety anti-skid braking system that comes installed in vehicles like cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles. It prevents the vehicle from locking up in case of emergency braking, thus allowing the vehicle to maintain a tractive force between the road & the vehicle. It allows the driver to have a good grip over their vehicle during accidents, emergency, panic or harsh braking conditions.

The main aim of the anti-lock braking system or ABS is to stop the car from skidding when the driver applies sharp brakes. When you apply brakes hard while driving at a high speed, the wheels of your car could be locked. This locking of the wheel causes the car to lose adhesion and you can drop the charge of the steering. However, with the help of ABS, you will not have to face this situation anymore.

Also Read: How Does a Car Brake System Work?

Function of ABS

Anti-lock braking systems are hydromechanical & non-electrical models and were actually introduced a few years ago. These brakes were mechanically controlled to modulate brake application.

In contrast to this, the contemporary anti-lock braking systems are controlled by a computer using the electro-hydro mechanical brake hydraulic systems.

The ABS electronic module is an important part when it comes to the hydromechanical braking controller. There can also be electrical relays that fire when the system is called to duty which helps in triggering the ABS sensors mechanically.

Now that we have learned a few things about ABS with their functions, let’s dig a little deep and learn a few more things about them. Brake Repair isn’t an easy job, so get your tools and thinking cap out.

What are the components of the anti-lock braking system?

The ABS is made up of 4 segments:

• Valves – These examine the amount of pressure in each brake line and helps in relieving pressure in the cases of being high.
• Controller – This is a computer that controls the valves and monitors the speed sensors.
• Speed sensors – Speed Sensors help in warning the system when the wheel is about to lock up.
• Pump – The pump helps in enhancing the pressure again if it has been released in the brake line.

Also Read: Car Brake Fluid Check: Which Brake Fluid is Best for your Car?

Evolution of ABS

The technology of Anti-lock braking is centuries old.

Since World War II, anti-lock braking systems have been used by aircraft as during that time these were the only means of gathering information.

The first-time anti-lock braking systems were used on automobiles in the 1920s.

However, during the early 90s, these anti-skid or anti-lock braking systems were made common in cars and trucks. This turned out to be a positive step towards improved vehicle control and safety during hard braking and in cases of slippery conditions.

It might seem that ABS is complicated, but it’s quite simple.

If you encounter a skid while braking, the ABS control module senses a pause or slowdown in wheel rotation, modulating brake application that will help you in preventing any kind of hassles.

In the case of a conventional skid, steering losses control allowing your vehicle to travel in the direction of the skid. In this condition, anti-lock braking pulses the brakes, resulting in an improved measure of control out of the skid.

A typical ABS has four-wheel sensors, an anti-lock electronic control, hydraulic control unit, and a module. Under normal conditions, this technique applies brake cylinder hydraulic pressure to all or any four brakes.

Now that you have completely understood about ABS and their working, we should not waste any more time in this and quickly move forward to learn how they can be fixed. If you’re someone who isn’t very well-versed with DIY repair, I would recommend you to drive down to a car service centre instead of risking the possibility of an inefficient braking system.

Also Read: Squeaky Car Brakes: How to Stop Car Brakes from Squeaking?

How to fix a car’s anti-lock brakes?

In a car, the ABS works with the braking system & helps in maintaining control during emergencies like slippery or wet roads. And when ABS is on, the ABS light inside your vehicle will switch on informing you that there might be something wrong with your car that needs to get fixed. But, there can be many reasons for the turning of ABS lights on. These could be:

• Low Brake Fluid

Brake fluids are directly involved with controlling the braking pressure in an ABS. There is a brake fluid reservoir which holds the fluid of the anti-lock braking system. And in the cases of a leak, this reservoir helps in dropping the fluid levels, thus causing the ABS light to illuminate the dashboard.

• Faulty Speed Sensor

There are speed sensors built inside every wheel’s hub that helps in calculating the movement rate of the wheel, thus transmitting this information to the ABS.
If the wheels are moving slowly or if there’s any problem with the speed sensors, the ABS lights are turned on.

• Bulb Check

Some vehicles do the bulb check for the driver’s convenience to know if the vehicle’s lights are working properly or not. In case, any glitch is detected in the bulb check, it will turn the ABS lights on informing about the same.

So, there can be various problems and they can occur occasionally with the ABS brakes, but there are many ways in which we can fix them and these are:

1. Put the key in the ignition and turn the car on and off, if the ABS light appears on the dashboard. This method helps in solving the minor issues with the vehicle if there are any. But, even after doing this, if the problem continues, take your vehicle to the nearby mechanic shop to get it fixed.
2. Clean the front wheel sensors if your ABS pulses at low speed while little pressure is applied. Get your wheel sensors cleared by a nearby mechanic so that they can work properly.
3. Apply pressure to the ABS brake if it won’t stop. Check the master cylinder brake fluid to check, in case it is low & get it filled to the marked level, if necessary. This can also mean that the air inside your car is in the hydraulic system. And, to get it resolved, bleed the hydraulic system.

Along with this, if you’re experiencing any clunking noise while pressing the ABS brakes, replace the front & end loose or broken parts inside your vehicle. And, if the problem continues, visit the nearby mechanic.

FAQs

1. Can you put Anti-Lock Brakes in a car?
   Yes, it’s possible to get ABS fixed in a car if it has been offered with the car. But, a car that has no ABS offered with it cannot get it fixed inside it. Therefore, it is probably better to get yourself a car that has ABS fixed in it or go for Ceramic Brakes.
2. How much does it cost to fix the ABS?
   The cost of a brake repair varies depending upon the model & the year of your vehicle. It also depends on the severity of the problem that your vehicle has. ABS wheel sensors cost from $100 to $200 and ABS control modules cost from $200 to $600, a piece.
3. Why do my anti-lock brakes come up?
   The problem starts with the wheel speed sensors. A weak signal from a sensor is deciphered as a locked wheel which triggers the computer to activate the ABS system & releases the brake pressure to unlock the wheel.
4. Is it legal to disable the ABS Brakes?
   No, there is no legal way to disable the ABS Brakes. Actually, there is no way to remove a safety system without increasing the risk.
5. Can I drive my car without an ABS Module?
   Yes, it is possible for you to drive your car without the ABS Module but for that, you need to be careful. The car will function normally, it will start up fine & drive how it has always been and the brakes will work as well.
6. How to know if your car has Anti-Lock Brakes?
   If your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System, an alert light will lighten up every time you turn your key to the power. This alert is generally yellow in colour displaying the words ABS or Anti-Lock on the display.
7. Is it safe to drive with the Anti-Lock Brakes light on?
   Driving with the ABS light on might not seem like a good idea because it probably means that your car is not working properly. Thus, your vehicle would not be able to handle heavy brakes properly. And, in some cases, if both your ABS Light and Brake System Light come on, then it is surely not a good sign & is an emergency. So, you need to stop driving right away.
8. What should you do if your anti-lock brake light stays on?
   If your vehicle’s anti-lock brake light stays on, you need to take your vehicle to the mechanic right away without driving any further.
9. How long should an ABS Pump last?
   The longevity of an ABS pump motor depends upon the car’s position and the amount of maintenance it is experiencing. Modern ABS can last as long as 100,000 miles if they’re maintained properly.
10. Is it safe to drive without ABS Fuse?
    Yes, it’s perfectly safe to drive your car without the ABS fuse.
11. When will Anti-Lock Brakes take effect?
    If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, it will only activate when they sense that the wheels are about to get locked. By preventing the wheels from locking, you will be able to avoid the hazard, while the maximum brake is applied to your vehicle.

So, this was brief information on how to fix Anti-Lock Brakes in your car and now that you’ve learned about them & the tips and tricks to fix them, you don’t have to worry about any kind of hazards anymore. And, if you have any other questions regarding the same, feel free to comment down below.