Brakes Braking Systems Emergency Braking Model 3 has an anti-lock braking system (ABS) In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal that prevents the wheels from locking when and maintain firm pressure, even on low you apply maximum brake pressure. This traction surfaces. The ABS varies the braking improves steering control during heavy pressure to each wheel according to the braking in most road conditions. amount of traction available. This prevents wheels from locking and ensures that you stop During emergency braking conditions, the as safely as possible. ABS constantly monitors the speed of each Warning: Do not pump the brake pedal. wheel and varies the brake pressure according Doing so interrupts operation of the ABS to the grip available. and can increase braking distance. The alteration of brake pressure can be felt as Warning: Always maintain a safe distance a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal. from the vehicle in front of you and be This demonstrates that the ABS is operating aware of hazardous driving conditions. and is not a cause for concern. Keep firm and While the ABS can improve stopping steady pressure on the brake pedal while distance, it cannot overcome the laws of experiencing the pulsing. physics. It also does not prevent the The ABS indicator flashes briefly on danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of the touchscreen when you first start water prevents direct contact between Model 3. If this indicator lights up at the tires and the road). any other time, an ABS fault has Automatic Emergency Braking automatically occurred and the ABS is not applies full braking in situations where a operating. Contact Tesla. The braking collision is considered imminent (see system remains fully operational and Automatic Emergency Braking on page 76). is not affected by an ABS failure. Warning: Automatic Emergency Braking However, braking distances may is not designed to prevent a collision. At increase. best, it can minimize the impact of a frontal collision by attempting to reduce If the touchscreen displays this your driving speed. Depending on indicator at any time other than Automatic Emergency Braking to avoid a displaying briefly when you first start collision can result in serious injury or Model 3, a brake system fault is death. detected or the brake fluid level is low. Contact Tesla immediately. Brake Wear Model 3 brake pads are equipped with wear indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal strip attached to the brake pad that squeals as it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears down. This squealing sound indicates that the brake pads have reached the end of their service life and require replacement. To replace the brake pads, contact Tesla Service. Warning: Neglecting to replace worn brake pads results in damage to the braking system and can create a braking hazard. 46 Model 3 Owner's Manual