After reading through some information in the owner’s manual of my car about the ABS system, I started to wonder how necessary this system is in the average vehicle. To answer the question of whether or not brakes will work without the ABS system, I did some research on the internet to pull together all of the facts.
Will brakes work without the ABS system? In theory, the braking system of a car will be able to carry out all of its normal stopping functions without the presence of an ABS system. However, it will not be able to stop the car with as much control and traction that is provided by the ABS system.
To learn more about how the ABS system works together with the brakes of a vehicle, as well as how necessary it really is to the main functions of an automobile, keep reading through the sections of this article.
When it comes to the braking system in your car, it is one of the most important components that will provide safety and control while you are driving. The ABS system is an aid to the functions of the actual brakes, and will kick in as needed in emergencies.
Will Brakes Work Without The ABS System?
For all drivers who own vehicles, the ABS system is a well-known lifesaver in a variety of situations. The main purpose of this function in a vehicle is to stop the wheels from sliding, either on slippery terrain or in the event of a sudden slam to the brake pedal.
The ABS system is used in coordination with the main braking system that exists within the vehicle. So, at that point, will the brakes still work even in the absence of the ABS system?
This is the question that we will be addressing throughout this section. Consult the list down below for some answers to this inquiry, and keep reading for a more detailed explanation.
Brakes Without ABS:
- Will still be able to stop like normal
- Loss in traction
- Less control than usual
- No help from ABS system in emergencies
Brakes without ABS can still be used just like normal, with all of the regular stopping functions included. In other words, you will be able to stop your car effectively in the absence of this feature.
However, you will notice a loss in traction and much less control than usual. The ABS system does not only help in emergency braking situations, but also in the regular ones.
Most people never realize what this feature actually does for them on a daily basis until it is gone, but it is true that ABS comes with a much smoother and safer drive.
How The ABS System Works
Now that we have covered the topic of brakes working without the ABS system, the last section might have still left you curious about ABS and how it works.
In order to elaborate on the main question of this article, we will be going over how the ABS system works, along with some of the characteristics that it comes with.
Take a look at the list down below for a brief outline of the answers to all of these questions, and keep reading for a more detailed description.
ABS System:
- Emergency system
- Anti-skid properties
- Provides additional traction to prevent slipping
- Prevents wheels from locking up on cars
Consists of 3 components: detecting when a wheel is going to lock, releasing the brake, and placing the pressure back onto the same brake line
ABS is an emergency system that is built with anti-skid properties to stop the wheels of a car from sliding over the surface of the road. In these cases, it provides additional traction on the tires to prevent any slipping that might potentially occur.
It also prevents the wheels from locking up on cars in the event of an emergency stop of a slippery terrain.
The ABS system exists in 3 main parts, which should be kept in mind before you read on to the next part of this section. The first part is detecting when a wheel is going to lock, then releasing the brake, and finally placing the pressure back onto the same brake line.
This particular process is described in more detail down below, with a quick list to recap the information that was just given.
How The ABS System Works:
- The system detects when a wheel is going to lock due to driving conditions
- It releases the brake on the wheel in question quickly
- The brake is immediately reapplied to the same wheel to avoid skidding and sliding
The ABS system works to detect when a wheel is going to lock due to driving conditions with the use of a special algorithm that detects the driver’s normal braking behavior.
As soon as potential skidding is detected on one or more of the wheels, the brake on these specific areas will be released as quickly as possible.
The same brake is then immediately reapplied to the same wheel, or wheels, that it was taken from, in order to avoid any skidding or sliding that might occur.
How The Brakes Work In a Car
To tie up the discussion on ABS systems and brakes, we will be concluding this article with an explanation of how the brakes work in a car. In order to get the full spectrum of information when it comes to ABS and car brakes, it is important to understand how the actual braking system works to further highlight the importance of the ABS system that was discussed previously.
In the list down below, you will find a quick outline of how the brakes work in a car. Keep reading to the end of this section for amore detailed explanation.
How Brakes Work In a Car:
- The driver pushes on the brake pedal
- The brake pedal compresses the piston within the braking system
- The brake fluid inside of the system is released and begins to flow through the components
- The brake fluid ends up pushing against the rotor
- The pressure that is placed against the rotor will cause friction against the brake pads
- The friction between these two components will cause the wheels of the car to come to a stop
As you can see, the brakes in a car go through a complex process from the time that you place your foot on the pedal to when the vehicle actually comes to a complete stop.
With a basic understanding of how this works, it will be easier to grasp the concept of ABS systems working in harmony with brakes, as well as why they should be used together.
Should I Use My Brakes Without The ABS System?
So, now that we have established that brakes do not need the ABS system to properly function, a new question now arises of whether or not you should use your brakes without ABS.
Using Brakes Without ABS System:
- Not recommended for safest practice
- Should be fixed as soon as possible
The answer to this question is no, this is not recommended for the safest practice. The ABS system has so many built in safety features that will pick up where you are lacking when it comes to braking.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where your ABS system is broken or out of commission, you should take immediate action to get it fixed so you can have it back up and running for the next time that you drive your car, because you never know when you might need it.