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Automotive vocabulary · Brakes, Suspension, Steering and Tires

ABS

Meaning in automotive, with examples

/ˌeɪ biː ˈɛs/abbreviationCore term

In automotive, ABS means: Short for anti-lock braking system: it stops the wheels from locking under hard braking, so the driver can still steer. Wheel speed sensors tell the ABS unit when a wheel is about to lock.

In Turkish: ABS, kilitlenme önleyici fren sistemi

How it is used

Drivers notice ABS as a pulsing brake pedal and a buzzing noise in an emergency stop. Technicians deal with the ABS warning light, the ABS module (pump and valve unit) and faulty wheel speed sensors. Stability control (ESC) builds on ABS.

Example sentences

  1. The ABS light came on after the car went through deep water.

  2. A pulsing pedal during an emergency stop is normal; it means the ABS is working.

Common collocations

  • ABS warning light
  • ABS module
  • ABS sensor
  • ABS pump
  • brakeA device that slows or stops a vehicle by pressing a friction material against a rotating disc or drum. Most cars have hydraulic disc brakes at the front.
  • sensorA component that measures something, such as temperature, pressure, speed or position, and sends it as an electrical signal to a control unit.
  • brake discThe metal disc that turns with the wheel and is squeezed by the brake pads to slow the car. Its minimum thickness is usually stamped on the disc itself.
  • ADASShort for advanced driver assistance systems: features that use cameras, radar and other sensors to help the driver, such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping and blind spot warning.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Brakes, Suspension, Steering and Tires

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