Your Neighborhood Full Service Repair Facility
Open All Day on Saturdays!
Payment Plan with Delayed Check/Debit Payments
No Credit Check Payment Plans!
50% OFF TOWING WITH ALL MAJOR REPAIRS
March 14, 2021
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 Kentwood (Kalamazoo Ave SE)
4384 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Kentwood, Michigan 49508
616.301.1436
April 27, 2025
No matter what the temperature is outside, it's important for your vehicle's engine to remain cool, calm, and collected. Well, cool, anyway. If your vehicle has a gasoline engine, it's powered by a bunch of explosions involving spark plugs, pistons, gasoline, and air. And the by-product of all ... More
April 20, 2025
Think of how many times you put your foot on your vehicles brake pedal every day. And think of how much you rely on your brakes to slow down and stop your momentum. When it comes to safety systems, your brakes are at the top of the list, and thats why its so important to keep them in top condit... More
April 13, 2025
There's lots of good information to read in books and online. You might not know that you can also "read" your tires and learn a lot about what shape they're in and if they are in need of attention. It's important to know how your tires are doing because a tire failure can be very dangerous to y... More
