The automobile industry has taken huge leaps and strides to make cars truly remarkable. The new technologies found in vehicles has taken the industry to an all new level, providing the utmost comfort while also enhancing safety features that reduce the overall amount of accidents that occur day in and day out. One of the most imperative and astounding innovations is the electronic brake force distribution that is found in almost every new car available on the market today.
So, what’s electronic brake force distribution? Essentially it is an all-new sub-system designed to go hand-in-hand with the anti-lock braking system to apply ideal force distribution while braking, thus making braking more efficient and overall safer.
If you are thinking about buying a new car or currently have a newer vehicle with electronic brake force distribution, or EBD, you are probably curious as to why it’s a handy gadget to have in your car. We’re going to discuss EBD and how it can seriously benefit you and your vehicle through all aspects of driving.
How Does Electronic Brake Force Distribution Work?
First and foremost, the electronic brake force distribution works hand-in-hand with other handy tools found in many cars today, including the anti-lock braking system and electronic stability control. Together, these gadgets ensure that your car is applying the correct amount of force on all four wheels for the best braking possible.
Think about it this way: when you’re driving on an icy road, it can be possible to get your car moving forward but it can also be difficult to get it to stop. When you apply the brakes, equal force is distributed by a vehicle on all four wheels. However, when we bring our car to a stop, more pressure and force is put on the front two wheels and the motion is pulling us further forward. With an EBC device, force is redistributed to the proper areas to ensure the car comes to a complete stop no matter the conditions or how quickly you are trying to brake to avoid an accident.
The redistribution of force for the brakes is essential for optimal braking. Since the pressure is now being placed more on the front two brakes instead of all four, you have a better chance of coming to a halt quicker than before. This is a crucial element during times where an accident may occur, as you need to stop quickly to avoid the accident. That being said, EBD has helped tremendously in cutting down the frequency of accidents.
Electronic brake force distribution also helps when you’re turning your vehicle. As you turn, there is a lot of force and pressure placed on the tires that are performing the turn. This means that one side of the car is feeling less weight than the other, which can lead to problems if you’re going to fast on a windy curve or the weather conditions aren’t great. But with EBD, the force is redistributed while turning, so there is no chance of lockup on one side or the other.
To put it simply, the electronic brake force distribution has safety and comfort in mind. The new gadget works with the anti-lock braking system to ensure that the car is ready for anything that comes its way. It seems as though the fears of our brakes not working in frightening situations is a thing of the past.
The best part about the EBD is that it works seamlessly while you drive. It’s so smooth that you likely won’t even notice that it’s there. This means that you can remain comfortable in your car while you drive, while also remaining safe through all situations big or small- and you will never notice that you’re getting an extra helping hand thanks to your EBD system.
What Makes the EBD Work?
The electronic brake force distribution isn’t some magical device that can handle our brakes and distribute force and weight all on its own. In fact, there are three major components that work together to ensure our safety and redistribute weight with ease:
- Speed sensor. The speed sensor found in the EBD system will not only calculate the speed the car is going but the speed of the engine. You see, sometimes in situations where road conditions aren’t great, the engine and car won’t be going at the same speed. This can cause ‘skidding’ which is extremely dangerous and a big cause of accidents. However, with the EBD speed sensor available to read speeds of the engine and car, it can calculate the slip ratio and avoid skidding altogether. This is especially imperative in areas where skidding is a frequent occurrence.
- Electronic Control Unit. The electronic control unit is a crucial part of the EBD system, in fact, it’s the unit that will read the calculations from the speed sensor. By calculating the slip ratio, the ECU can then modulate the brake force of the wheels and allow them to keep from slipping.
- Brake Force Modulators. Last but not least we come to the brake force modulators. This modulator is responsible for pushing the brake fluid into the brake lines, which will, in turn, activate the brake cylinders. While doing so, it modulates the force for each wheel separately, applying the proper amount of force and pressure for every situation.
Together these three elements come together to create the electronic brake force distribution element. They each have their own specific function with one goal in mind: better and safer braking for all types of situations, done in a seamless manner that executes properly each and every time.
Do All Cars have the Electronic Brake Force Distribution?
It used to be that only high-end, more expensive vehicles had handy gadgets and tools such as EBD. However, in this day and age, the automobile industry has taken it upon themselves to provide vehicles that are safer and handier than ever before, even in less expensive cars we can all afford. That being said, you will likely find the EBD system (almost always combined with the anti-locking braking device) in newer vehicles available on the market today.
Things to Consider
When you have a vehicle with an EBD system, it is important to make sure the system is working properly. If you notice anything awry going on with your sensors or your brakes, you should have the vehicle looked at immediately to ensure the EBD system is working properly. Without a working EBD system, you will lose the extra safety net when it comes to breaking in harsh conditions or trying to bring your car to a sudden stop.
Conclusion
One of the newest systems found in today’s cars is the electronic brake force distribution, and it is undeniably a handy tool that increases safety and enhances overall comfort for the driver and passengers. The unique gadget combines three different elements to ensure the right amount of brake force and pressure is being placed on each wheel in every situation from everyday braking at a stop sign to try to brake to avoid an accident or skidding. EBD can greatly enhance your safety while driving and can be found in almost every new car on the market- even the less expensive vehicles.
