Who Makes Your ABS? A Profile of Bosch

Where did Bosch start and how did it get into brakes?

Robert Bosch founded the company in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1886 as a workshop for precision mechanics and electrical engineering. Early on, the business became known for electrical components for engines, and it grew into a broad supplier of automotive technology.

Braking came later, as electronics became practical in cars. Brake control is a natural fit for a company with an electrical and electronics background: sensors measure wheel speed, a control unit interprets the data, and a hydraulic unit adjusts brake pressure.

What was the first series-production ABS?

Anti-lock braking keeps the wheels from locking under hard braking so the driver can keep steering. In 1978, Mercedes-Benz began offering an electronically controlled anti-lock system in its S-Class that was developed together with Bosch. Bosch describes this as the start of series-production ABS.

Electronic stability control followed. According to Mercedes-Benz, it introduced the Electronic Stability Program in 1995 as a joint development with Bosch. That system uses the same wheel-speed sensing and brake hydraulics as ABS, and it can apply braking at individual wheels to help the vehicle follow the driver's intended path.

What does Bosch make for brakes today?

The company's current brake-related lines include:

• ABS and stability control systems: the sensors, control units and hydraulic modulators that manage braking at each wheel.
• Electromechanical brake boosters: Bosch markets a product called iBooster, which uses an electric motor in place of a vacuum-assisted booster. The company says it supports features such as regenerative braking in hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Aftermarket parts: replacement brake components, including pads and rotors, sold for repair use.

Which supplier's parts a given vehicle uses depends on the manufacturer and model, so the brand on your original equipment may differ from car to car.

What does the amber ABS light on your dash actually mean?

The ABS light comes on briefly when you start the car, then goes out. If it stays on while driving, the system has detected a fault and has typically turned off its anti-lock function. In most vehicles, the regular brakes continue to work, but the car will not prevent wheel lock-up in a hard stop, so allow extra distance and have it checked.

Common causes include a wheel-speed sensor or its wiring, but the light alone does not tell a technician which part is at fault. A scan of the stored codes and an inspection are needed to find out. If the red BRAKE light is on as well, treat it more seriously and have the car looked at promptly.

When parts are needed, the shop installs parts appropriate to the vehicle and the customer's quote.