Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems ABS OPERATORS MANUAL ESP 4/11 - Manual (Page 5)

5
Important Safety Information About
Bendix ® Antilock Braking Systems (ABS)
Braking With ABS
• Do not pump your brakes. Use steady, even brake applications. Apply
the brake pedal with the same pressure as you would without ABS. If you
are towing a vehicle that is not equipped with ABS, you may need to adjust
your braking applications in some instances. See below.
• Do not attempt to modulate your brake applications to prevent
wheel lock.
The system controls braking pressure automatically and
independently at each wheel end to prevent wheel lock-up.
Limitations Of ABS
• ABS does not apply the brakes automatically. It’s still up to you to apply
the brakes at the right time and with the right amount of pedal force. A
basic ABS system only starts to do its job after you apply the brake pedal.
Note:
The Bendix
® ESP ®
stability system (if equipped on your vehicle) can
reduce the throttle and may
apply some or all of the brakes selectively to
maintain vehicle stability. See page 7.
• ABS is not a substitute for safe driving. Even with ABS, you must
remain alert, react appropriately and in a timely manner, and drive
defensively. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Cautious driving practices,
such as maintaining an adequate distance away from the vehicle ahead,
not speeding, anticipating obstacles and adjusting your vehicle’s speed
for traffic, weather and road conditions, are essential for safe operation.
Towed Vehicles Without ABS
Some towed vehicles, especially older trailers built before 2001, may not
be equipped with their own ABS systems. Use extra care when towing a
vehicle that is not equipped with its own ABS system.
During emergency
braking or braking on slippery surfaces, a non-ABS equipped trailer could
lose its lateral stability and swing out if its wheels lock up. Use your mirrors
to watch carefully and adjust your brake applications as necessary to keep
your tractor and the non-ABS equipped towed vehicle in line with each other.
Tractor ABS helps reduce the tendency to jackknife, but it cannot prevent a
non-ABS equipped trailer from swinging out.