ABS works with your regular braking system by automatically pumping them. In vehicles not equipped with ABS, the driver has to manually pump the brakes to prevent wheel lockup. In vehicles equipped with ABS, your foot should remain firmly planted on the brake pedal, while ABS pumps the brakes for you so you can concentrate on steering to safety. More specifically, ABS automatically changes the brake fluid pressure at each wheel to maintain optimum brake performance just short of locking up the wheels. There is an electronic control unit that regulates the brake fluid pressure in response to changing road conditions or impending wheel lockup.
Most newer vehicles offer ABS as either standard or optional equipment.
To find out whether your car has an antilock brake system, and what type, read your owner s manual. You can also check your instrument panel for a yellow ABS indicator light after you turn on the ignition. There s more than one kind of antilock brake system. Four-wheel systems, including those found on cars and minivans, are designed to keep all four wheels from locking up. When ABS is activated, you may experience a slight vibration or a rapid pulsation of the brake pedal almost as if the brakes are pushing back at you.