How does a service break assist impact your driving? Many accidents have been prevented throughout the years as a result of brake assist. We have carried out a good amount of research to deliver solid details about the service brake assist system.

Service brake assist is a sophisticated safety technology becoming more popular in modern automobile models, particularly family cars. Brake assist systems, in essence, aid in reducing stopping distance when an emergency brake is applied in a vehicle. 

But how exactly does a service brake assist work? We will be going into detail on this shortly. This function is intelligent enough to identify panic braking, which is likely in a circumstance when the driver is attempting to avoid colliding with anything and responds by applying maximum pressure to the brakes. 

What does Service brake assist mean?

Let’s dive right into the facts…

Service brake assist (SBA) or emergency brake assist (EBA) is a name for an automotive braking system that enhances braking pressure in an emergency. Service brake assist or emergency brake assist are some terms used to describe this technology. Its name is determined by the sort of braking system it serves. However, in every braking system, it performs the same role.

According to research done in 1992 at the Mercedes-Benz driving simulator in Berlin, more than 90% of drivers fail to brake with adequate power when confronted with a motor accident.

Your vehicle’s brake assist and anti-lock braking system work together to improve braking efficiency. This combination not only provides emergency braking assistance but also keeps your wheels from locking up. This is useful in several different emergencies.

How important is brake assist?

Now, you might be thinking, is brake assist required? Or why would a driver desire a system brake assist? With all of the other braking systems currently available on an average car, they should be satisfied. What if the system that powers it becomes way too sensitive?

We will be addressing that in this and more in this section. 

According to studies, service brake assist saves hundreds of lives each year, making it a worthwhile investment. Brake assist is successful because it analyzes your regular driving behaviors and understands when you aren’t paying attention to the road ahead.

Without a doubt, service brake assist has proven to be so efficient in reducing accidents that it is now required for all cars in Europe. 

With 3,000 deaths per year due to a driver’s inability to stop in time, brake assist may soon become obligatory in North America. If you’re sleepy or distracted, chances are you’re not paying full attention to the road ahead, increasing your chances of getting into an accident.

Is Brake Assist The Same As ABS?

No, they are not the same, but rather, they work together to improve your driving experience. For example, ABS is made to ensure that traction is not lost. Compared to slamming on the brakes and sliding to a halt, this gives the lowest stopping distance. 

However, by allowing the wheels to rotate slowly when stopping, traction is maintained, and stopping time is reduced. In addition, the collaboration of the Service break assist and the ABS gives more control if something unexpected occurs during your heroic halt.

Brake Assist is a technology that may be used in conjunction with ABS. Brake Assist engages as you begin slamming on the brakes, assisting you in braking rapidly. It learns how you brake and will engage if it detects an emergency based on how quickly you brake.

The disadvantage of Brake Assist is that it is useless if you are late in slamming on the brakes. However, brake Assist will assist you if you press the brakes hard enough.

What are the two types of brake assist systems?

Service brake assist systems are classified into two categories. The mechanical brake assist is the older kind, while the electronic brake assist is the newer version.

What is mechanical brake assist?

The service brake assist system was originally mechanical rather than electrical. This implies no electrical sensors to monitor the force and speed with which the brake pedal is pressed. Mechanical brake assist, on the other hand, has mechanical thresholds established in place. 

When a motorist presses the brake pedal, the brake assist must reach a specific position before engaging. When this happens, a locking mechanism engages, directing braking force to the brake booster rather than the brake piston valve. 

How does electronic brake assist work?

The electronic brake assist system makes use of an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit detects an emergency when the driver applies the brake pedal with a specific speed and power.

As a result, the unit boosts braking power to slow the car down even further. Another cool feature of this brake assist system is remembering and adjusting to the driver’s braking patterns.

This may cause the system’s preprogrammed thresholds to be adjusted to meet the driver’s usual force and pace of foot pressing. As a result, it performs a better job of triggering the brake assist when needed in an emergency manner.

What does it mean when your service brake assist light comes on?

This typically indicates that the brake sensor has failed. A brake service light is seen on almost every automobile. It’s a wired circuit that links a sensor to the brain or computer of the vehicle. Suppose the sensor fails or detects a failure or broken component of the braking system. In that case, the car’s computer will alert you, and your brake service light will illuminate, indicating that you should have your brakes checked by a professional. The good news is that you can generally use a code reader to identify the problem quickly.

How to Reset Anti-Lock Brakes

The ABS light might be on for a variety of reasons. The technique for resetting the ABS is the same regardless of what caused the light to come on in the first place. More importantly, if your brakes are seriously damaged, you should get them replaced or fixed before carrying out resetting. When your vehicle’s Anti-Lock Braking System needs a reset, here’s what you need to do. 

• Step-One: Your car’s central computer should be reset. Disconnect your car’s positive battery cable and keep the brake pedal down until the car’s electrical system is depleted. The car’s computer will reset, and the indicator light will turn off without stored power. To get power back on your automobile, reconnect the positive cable on the battery. It’s been reset if the light remains off. However, as a countermeasure, move on to the next step if the light turns back on.
• Step Two: Your anti-lock brakes’ ABS sensor has to be replaced. Sensors wear out over time and may provide erroneous results. They’re inexpensive and straightforward to replace, fortunately. The anti-lock brakes sensor is housed in a sensor housing that is screwed to the wheel hub. Remove the housing and disconnect the sensor wire before replacing it with a new device. The indication light should turn back on after that.
• Step Three: An OBD code reader can come in handy with this step. It will help in identifying the issue that caused your anti-lock brakes to activate the indicator light. The OBD reader connects directly to your vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics system. 

If you don’t want to buy a code reader, you can take your car to a local auto parts store. They will read the codes for you. These codes will inform you which parts of your brakes need to be changed for the indicator light to cease flashing. Repair or replace these components, and you’re done.

Video tutorial on How to Reset ABS

Watch this free tutorial to reset your ABS in a few simple steps.

Can you disable brake assist?

No. You cannot deactivate your service brake assist in most vehicles. It can be challenging to manage in some driving circumstances, but overall, vehicle makers adore Brake Assist, and they do not allow drivers to stop it without voiding the warranty. Therefore, it is not advised since it can result in a slew of additional issues. Mainly including an accident. I strongly advise against doing so. However, certain automobiles have a fuse that may disable brake assist, and removing the brake assist fuse would disable it.

Is it safe to drive with abs and traction light on?

Yes and no, although we are leaning more towards a “no.” You can drive somewhat securely with the ABS and traction lights on. However, I strongly advise against it. When the ABS light is glowing, it signifies that your ABS needs to be inspected and may not be operating correctly. When braking forcefully, your brake system may jam up. This can lead to many unfortunate incidents. When you find the ABS light on, I recommend having your anti-lock brake system checked out right away.