The anti-lock brake system (ABS) has become an integral part of modern vehicle safety. From the aero kits and monstrous carbon brakes of today’s high-horsepower race cars to the traction control systems that help keep your blown-out Corolla cruising down the freeway, today’s ABS is one of the best ways to avoid a serious collision.

To make the brakes work properly, your car needs a braking assembly that can handle a lot of torque and be strong enough to hold up under the stress of heavy braking. It also needs to accommodate an ABS component, such as an exciter or tone ring.

If you’re wondering how to tell if your ABS is working correctly, the first step is to plug a diagnostic code reader into your engine and look for a trouble code stored in the ABS controller. You’ll probably have to pay a service fee for this, but you might find that it gives you some insight into what is going on in your vehicle.

The next step is to unplug the main wiring harness from your ABS controller. Then, you can check the voltage and resistance values on the ABS-related pins and sensors to see if they are OK.

Most automotive applications utilize a hypoid gear system, meaning the pinion and ring gears are spiral-hand with below-center offset. This type of design has the advantage of allowing the propshaft and rear axle shafts to be located lower in the vehicle relative to the axle housing. The downside, however, is that it has a negative side effect of sliding friction at the tooth interface that generates heat and extreme wear without correct lubrication.