ABS Controllers

ABS controllers are the components that instruct the hydraulic units to stop wheel spin in a vehicle's ABS system. The ABS system in your car is operated by a specifically designed computer unit and by braking sensors that are triggered every time the brakes are applied. The computer unit is referred to as the ABS controller. In a split second, this controller detects the presence of wheel-spin from the sensors and automatically instructs the hydraulic system to stop it. This technology isn't 100 per cent reliable, so the computer can fail from time to time. If your wheels are spinning more than they should be, it could be a sign that your ABS controller needs replacing.

Wheel speed sensors feed an ABS computer to monitor if your wheels are skidding during braking. When the brake pedal is depressed, brake fluid flows through the master cylinder to the ABS pump and out to the wheels.

The ABS actuator is a hydraulic device that communicates with the ECU to control the brakes under emergency situations.

The actuator pulses the brake so that wheel doesn't skid. Depending on the situation, the ABS actuator might only pulse one brake. Or it may pulse two, three, or all four brakes.

Non-ABS brakes lock up when hard, steady pressure is applied. If you stop fast enough to have your tires screech on the road,

chances are your brakes will lock. In an ABS-equipped vehicle, you'll feel a pulsating in the brake pedal during hard stops, or if the vehicle loses traction.

Some wheel speed sensors.
Brake calipers.
A hydraulic motor.
Some pressure release valves.
A quick-thinking computer (or control module) which coordinates the whole process.

If it finds it's lacking data, or a hydraulic pump or valve isn't responding, it illuminates the ABS warning light on the dash.

ABS rely on a properly operating conventional brake system. If the ABS packs up, you should still have normal, unassisted braking, so it's safe to continue your journey.

The controller is a computer in the car. It watches the speed sensors and controls the valves.

There are many different variations and control algorithms for ABS systems. We will discuss how one of the simpler systems works. The controller always monitors the speed sensors. It is looking for decelerations in the wheel that are out of the ordinary. Right before a wheel locks up, it will experience a rapid deceleration. If left unchecked, the wheel would stop much more quickly than any car could. It might take a car five seconds to stop from 60 mph (96.6 kph) under ideal conditions, but a wheel that locks up could stop spinning in less than a second. The ABS controller knows that such a rapid deceleration is impossible, so it reduces the pressure to that brake until it sees an acceleration, then it increases the pressure until it sees the deceleration again. It can do this very quickly, before the tire can significantly change speed. The result is that the tire slows down at the same rate as the car, with the brakes keeping the tires very near the point at which they will start to lock up. This gives the system maximum braking power. When the ABS system is in operation you will feel a pulsing in the brake pedal; this comes from the rapid opening and closing of the valves. Some ABS systems can cycle up to 15 times per second.

Sometimes, the worst part of getting your car fixed is having to bring it to the garage.

We are therefore happy to offer our customers a free collection and delivery service If you prearrange a collection, we will pick your car up from your home or place of work and drive it to our premises, carry out all the necessary work (having consulted you) and deliver it back to you at the end of the day.We are able to tow, jump start or repair your vehicle if you are experiencing problems or broken down for a small fee. If we can't sadly start your vehicle, we can contact a local recovery firm to collect your vehicle for a very competitive price.

Don't want to waste your day off?
You don't have the time to take your car in for a service or repairs?
Have you got problems with getting to and from the garage?

Here at Car Services in Reading, we believe that we offer a valuable product with our Free Collection and Delivery Service, we can collect either from your place of work or from your home address. If you are unsure about whether the address you are considering having your vehicle collected from is not within our range, then please do contact us.

Car Services in Reading operate a fleet of pool cars with a dedicated driver, so wherever we are collecting from, we need to be able to leave one of our pool vehicles either in your work car park / parking space, or if in a residential area, we would need to be able to leave our car either at your house or on the road with a permit if required. We would be grateful if you could bear this in mind when booking to use our free Collection and delivery service.