Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) components and functions
Maybe you are very familiar with this one feature of the braking system, the Anti-Lock Braking System, commonly known as ABS. The Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is an additional feature on the primary brake system that prevents wheel locking during sudden/hard braking.
It means that when we suddenly make sudden brakes, the car wheels can still rotate and are not fully locked. The goal is to keep the car's wheels tractioned to the road surface so the driver can still control it.
It is very different from brakes that are not equipped with an ABS. When there is sudden braking, brakes without the ABS will cause the wheels to stop turning and lock.
Due to the locked rotation of the wheels, the tires lose traction to the road surface. This effect makes the tires become skid and slip, and the vehicle will be more challenging to control. Pay attention to the animated image below.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM [ABS] COMPONENTS
The ABS brake system is an extension of the conventional brake system so that the essential brake components used are relatively the same such as brake master cylinder, wheel cylinder, drum brake, and so on.
However, specifically for the brakes with ABS, it has several additional components besides the components mentioned above. As a simple illustration, the brakes with ABS, work and controlled by a computer (ABS Control Module) and several sensors as an input.
It means that some parts will function as input, programmer, and implementer. For more details, here are the main brake components of the Anti-lock Braking System.
Hydraulic Control Unit
This Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) is the centre and source of brake fluid pressure for the entire ABS. This HCU consists of an electric motor pump, valve, solenoid, all of which work based on orders from the ABS computer (ABS Control Module).
It means that all brake fluid pressure that comes out to the brake calliper and wheel cylinders is controlled and regulated from the Hydraulic Control Unit.
Wheel Speed Sensor
These Wheel Speed Sensors are sensors installed on each wheel of the car. These sensors will read the speed of each rotation so that the ABS Control Module can get all the information about how fast the vehicle is up to date.
In addition to the wheel speed sensor, they are usually accompanied by several other sensors such as a traction sensor which functions to provide information regarding traction conditions on the wheels.
Read more:
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ABS Control Module
This ABS control module is an ABS computer used to regulate and control the operation of the Hydraulic Control Unit. So the brake fluid pressure can be channelled to every brake calliper with the right amount according to vehicle needs based on data and information from each sensor.
ABS Control Module is the brain that operates the Anti-lock Brake System as a whole. It takes information from sensors, then processes data and produces decisions to executed through the hydraulic control unit in the form of setting brake fluid pressures.
ABS indicator lamp diagnostic
This ABS Indicator lamp diagnostic is an ABS indicator light located on the dashboard panel. ABS Indicator lamp diagnostic function is to provide information regarding the condition of the ABS to the driver via the ABS indicator light.
If there is a malfunction of the ABS, the ABS indicator on the dashboard will light up so that the driver can immediately take the car to check the ABS.