Electric vehicles (EVs) have undeniably gained notable popularity in recent years as more and more people look for ways to reduce emissions. Still, certain parts and components continue to be shared among different types of vehicles, including conventional combustion engine cars, hybrids, and EVs. These include steering components, brakes, suspension systems, wheels, and tires.
In modern cars, several crucial aspects, including the above-mentioned components, rely on advanced onboard computers. These sophisticated systems constantly monitor real-time driving conditions and communicate with multiple car components to ascertain swift and precise responses. A good example is the electronic stability control system (ESC), which utilizes complex technology to prevent vehicle skidding.
But what causes a car to skid?
Skidding is a situation that happens when a car surpasses its traction limits, typically because of excessive speed given the current road conditions. There are two common forms of skids: understeer and oversteer. The latter happens when the rear of the car loses traction, causing it to spin around. Conversely, the former occurs when the front tires fail to grip the road properly, causing the car to continue moving straight regardless of the driver’s attempt to turn.
Skidding incidents can be extremely dangerous and often lead to severe accidents. If you are a car hobbyist, I would highly recommend you check out Tuning 4 Performance.
What is the Role of the Electronic Control System?
The ECS is an advanced safety feature that plays a crucial role in alleviating skidding incidents by as much as 80%. It works by continuously monitoring your car’s behavior, including factors such as leaning or rolling angle and detecting instances when the tires lose grip with the road. When the system detects a potential skid, it promptly adjusts the engine speed and applies braking to specific wheels as necessary, ensuring you regain control and prevent the car from spinning out of control. Nevertheless, bear in mind that the ECS efficacy is influenced by the vehicle’s tires and suspension condition.
This system works under the assumption that the tires and suspension are in optimal condition, just like when the car was brand new. It uses this information to figure out the appropriate corrective actions needed to prevent skidding. If the tires are worn, however, and the system sends a signal to apply the brake on a given wheel, the car may not have sufficient grip to properly execute the corrective measure and avoid a hazardous skid. This stresses the significance of having your tires monitored and maintained on a regular basis.
How do Shock Absorbers Operate?
Apart from ensuring well-maintained tires, shock absorbers also have a crucial role in maintaining an ideal connection between the tires and the road surface. These components function by enabling the car’s coil springs to compress and absorb impacts generated from bumps, smoothly returning the springs to their initial ride height. This mechanism ascertains that the tire maintains continuous contact with the road, thus maximizing traction for both steering and braking. When the shock absorbers are in optimal condition and the tires are well-maintained, a bigger surface area of the tire stays in contact with the road surface, leading to improved traction and enhanced overall car performance.
Just as with worn tires, if the ESC system signals the application of brakes to the rear left wheel but the shock absorbers are worn, the car may not have sufficient traction to prevent skidding. Similar to other components in a car, shock absorbers undergo deterioration over time, taking a toll on their performance. This can be attributed to the hydraulic fluid passing through the metal valves inside the absorber during compression and extension, leading to wear and tear.