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February 16, 2025
As the weather changes over from hot to colder, drivers will have to deal with more slippery streets. And it's important to know how to drive with the brakes you have on your vehicle.
In the 1970s, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) started to be installed on vehicles and they've been a game changer for drivers. Most modern vehicles have ABS and it's important to know how to drive with them.
In older vehicles without ABS, the driver applies the brakes by pushing down the pedal. That, in turn, sends braking pressure to all four wheels at once. But all four tires don't have the same traction because the road surface they're each on isn't exactly the same.
ABS allows sensors to determine when particular wheels are slowing down more quickly. The ABS then reduces braking pressure to the wheels that are about to lock up. That way the wheel turns and the tires keep some grip. (You have to have grip to stop.) It's kind of what drivers try to achieve when they pump the older-style brakes without ABS.
Another engineered feature of ABS is that it makes sure your front wheels will continue to rotate and maintain some traction. That's important because the front wheels are used to steer, and being able to steer gives a driver more control in a quickly-changing situation. So ABS is all about stopping as fast as the road surface will allow but at the same time enabling the driver to maintain control.
ABS is designed for the driver to put steady pressure on the brake pedal and let the vehicle’s computerized system handle the braking. Pumping the pedal in a vehicle with ABS can defeat what the system is trying to do to help you maintain control.
Because stopping techniques in a vehicle with ABS are different than those without, it’s important to know which brakes you have so you can operate them accordingly.
If you have any doubt, consult your service advisor. ABS involves sophisticated technology and must be maintained in order for it to work properly. Your service advisor can recommend a maintenance schedule for you to follow so your ABS is always on the ready to help you stop when you need to.
Tuffy Lorain
1400 Broadway
Lorain, Ohio 44052
440-245-2823
http://www.tuffylorain.com
February 22, 2026
Air conditioning used to be a real luxury in a vehicle, but now it's standard in most. Your vehicle's air conditioning system is built to last a pretty long time, but like anything mechanical, sometimes it fails. It helps to know a little about how the A/C works. There's a compressor that press... More
February 15, 2026
So your vehicle won't start. What's the first thing that comes to mind? Battery dead? Starter motor worn out? Out of gas? Well, those are all reasons that make sense. But your vehicle may be refusing to start because one of its computers is being warned that to do so might damage it. Here's ... More
February 8, 2026
If your vehicle creaks and squeaks when you drive down the road, it may mean that some of the metal parts are rubbing against each other and need to be lubricated. Those could be parts of the suspension, steering system and the drivetrain. Years ago, most vehicles had to have their chassis (wha... More
