How can you tell if your ABS is working?

[ross85]

I've been wondering about this, as on two occasions I've skidded. The first was when I was going relatively slow in car park, the other was on sunday on the motorway when someone pulled out right in front of me. Not too sure how its supposed to work - do the brakes actually lock and then the ABS releases them, or does the ABS detect when they are about to lock and prevent you from actually skidding? When I start the car the ABS light comes on for about 3 or 4 seconds the goes out which I assume is normal? The previous owner also fitted larger discs, but not sure as to whether that would affect anything. Thanks for any suggestions.

[kev208]

set off in first and accelerate upto about 30/40mph dip the clutch and stamp on the brakes hard. you will feel like the pedal is breaking under neath your foot cos the abs is releasing the brakes with you stood on it. Mine do very small skids like that but nothing compared to doing it without abs.

[gran]

mine locks up quite well now coz i have no abs.

then again i do have 330mm 2 stop me [img]/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Andy SE9 V6]

As you say the ABS light comes on for a couple of seconds then goes out if all is OK, yet it does sound like yours doesn't work........ if you do as suggested above, when you hit the brakes, as soon as a sensor detects a wheel not turning (skidding), the ABS should release the brake fluid pressure to that wheel for a fraction of a second, so the sensor detects the wheel turning again, then re-apply it, if the wheel stops turning, it'll do it again, until the car stops. You can't fail to hear and feel this, if it's not happening are you sure your brakes work correctly before blaming the ABS???

[ross85]

Thanks for the replies peeps, I think its working fine now. It might just have been something on the road, you never know. And it's just passed its MOT [img]/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Tim2001]

You will know when it does work [img]/smile.gif[/img]

[LancerV6]

Just to bring this one back to the top...

... When i'm braking normally the ABS kicks in. The pedal pushes back up against my foot like it would when braking heavily and i can hear the ABS motor starts to work. I've checked all the wiring to and from the motor etc and cleaned all the surface rust from around the sensors (inbetween the rachets) on each wheel and its still doing it... ANY IDEAS??

Cheers

[j4mes]

this is the same situation as me

[LancerV6]

Have you had anyone look at it mate?

[WillsToy]

Regarding the sensors there is a set distance between the sensor and sender, this may need setting up..

Will

[LancerV6]

cheers mate, i'll have another look tonight, am gunna have to get this sorted proper startin to get on me t**s... if not its off to vauxhall to have me eyes clawed out [img]/sad.gif[/img]