Best Steering and Suspension Repair and Replacement in Mankato, MN

ABS - Anti-Lock BrakesnThere’s a common misconception that anti-lock brakes (ABS) help you stop faster. That is not always the case on loose gravel or snowy surfaces. Anti-lock brakes, in fact, are designed to help you maintain control of your vehicle in an emergency braking situation.nnImagine you are driving on a wet road. You need to slam on your brakes and your rear wheels lock up. Chances are good that the rear end of your vehicle will try to pass the front end, and you can easily lose control. What would happen in the same circumstance if your front wheels locked up? Well you certainly would not be able to steer properly, and your front end would go wherever momentum leads it.nnThe ABS modulates your brakes on and off as many as 15 times a second. This keeps your wheels from locking up while providing the greatest amount of braking possible. You are better able to steer your vehicle and maintain control. People often talk about the 3 S’s of ABS: Stomp – Stay – Steer. Stomp on the brake, Stay on the brake and Steer normally.nnModern ABS utilizes a computer to receive information from sensors and control the anti-lock brakes. There are wheel speed sensors at each wheel reporting back to the computer, which can then decide when to activate the anti-lock brakes on the wheel or wheels in need.nnSo what affects how well the ABS works? First, the condition of your brakes: If your brakes are worn or not working properly, the ABS will not be able to do its job as effectively. A brake inspection from us will let you know if your brake shoes/pads are in good condition, if there are any mechanical brake problems and if your brake fluid and power brake system are in need of service. Proper brake fluid maintenance by us helps keep the brake control module in good working order. There can also be problems with the various sensors and the wiring that sends the messages to and from the computer. And, of course, your tires need to be in good condition in order to have enough traction to start, stop and steer. Worn tires are a big problem for ABS and stability control systems.nnThe ABS is the foundation of stability control systems, providing the information needed for stability control as well as to strategically brake a wheel when needed, So making sure your ABS is working well is very important. Also, the rolling diameter of your tires is one of the factors on which the computer uses to base anti-lock decisions. If you’re buy tires that are more than 3% larger or smaller than the tires that were installed at the factory, the ABS and stability control systems will not work properly. Our experienced technicians can recalibrate the computer for the new tire size so that the systems have the correct information.nnWhen you start your vehicle, the ABS light will briefly illuminate on the dashboard. If the system detects a problem with itself, the light will stay on. That is your cue to bring your vehicle to us for an inspection to determine the problem. We are your partner in keeping this important safety system operating as it should.