Advanced Braking

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

What is ABS?

Braking is achieved through friction being generated at two points:

1. Friction between the brake linings and the brake drums/discs. 2. Friction that exists between the tyre and the road.

Braking can be controlled in a stable manner as long as the friction created between the tyre and the road surface is greater than that between the brake linings and brake drums/discs. If the opposite is true, then the wheels will lock up. When lock up occurs, the friction between the road and the contact patch will change in nature – it becomes dynamic friction (moving) rather than static friction. i.e. the contact patch is being dragged across the road surface rather than laid onto it.