Anti-Lock Brakes Denver CO

Anything that can be exposed to impact may be in need of repairs after a wreck - including the antilock brake system. Error!

By Keith Combs
5/1/2004

I've noticed technicians who shy away when they see a warning lamp illuminated on the vehicle's dash after a collision repair. But with a little understanding, you don't have to flee a flashing ABS light. Make friends with it instead.

We all dread the unknown. And to many of us in the collision industry, ABS is as foreign to us as bravery is to a Frenchman. Pardon the stereotype. I'm sure there are plenty of brave Frenchmen, just as I'm sure there are plenty of autobody technicians who are willing and able to troubleshoot antilock brake system problems.

On the other hand, there are plenty of techs who aren't. I've actually had technicians tell me, "It's not my job. I'm a bodyman, not a mechanic."

To me, that's a cop out. A collision repair technician today has to be one of the most versatile technicians ever. Let's face it. We're faced with damage to any and every conceivable part on a vehicle. Anything that can be exposed to impact (and everything is exposed) may be in need of repairs after a collision - including ABS.

I can't teach you everything you'll ever need to know about ABS in one article, but I am going to go through the ABS basics here - and hopefully take away some of that fear of the unknown.

Three Types of ABS

There are basically three types of ABS that I'm going to mention here. First, we...