"Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount
of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc.
Often coupled with anti-lock braking systems, EBD can apply more or less braking pressure to each wheel in order to
maximize stopping power.

In a hydraulic brake system not equipped with EBD, there is a fixed front-to-rear brake force bias which is determined by
the hydraulic components (for example, calliper piston diameter). This bias may be shifted under heavy braking, by means
of a mechanical proportioning valve, to prevent rear-wheel lockup. EBD instead applies brake force precisely through
electronic control. It recognizes that driving conditions, braking situations and vehicle weight distributions are unique
and constantly changing. Working together with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), EBD uses sensors to determine which
wheels would provide maximum braking for the conditions – whether that's the front or rear wheels, the left or right.
The final result is more precise and effective braking under all conditions, and also makes the car much more stable
under heavy braking, reducing front end dive." - Wikipedia.

For many years, we've always used a rule of thumb that says that front brakes will wear out at twice the rate of rear brakes.

In other words, we've always said that you are going to need two front brake jobs and one rear brake job over 70,000 Km or so.
Drum brakes last longer (as long as you don't leave the handbrake on) because they are nowhere near as badly effected by salt
corrosion as disc brakes, particularly in the rear.

For many years now, if you wanted to register a car in the USA when moving from one State to another, a standard feature of
the safety check has been a Brake force distribution (BFD) test to make sure that the car was using all four brakes equally.
In Canada we've never had such a test, but now the USA has taken the the BFD technique one step further and installed a
computer to do the job.

So that we have been facing up to clients who don't believe that their rear brakes are worn out, but that they still have 60%
(typically) left in the front ones. This is understandable, because, as I have stated, everyone has always assumed the
" two in the front and one in the rear" principle holds true.

Not any more.

Now, EBD is working to keep the car stable by applying more force in the rear brakes. Any sail boat captain will tell you
that in heavy weather a sea anchor helps keep the boat pointed into the waves. Usually a sea anchor consists of a canvas
bucket on a rope thrown over the stern to act as a constant drag on the boat.

Rear brakes don't provide constant drag, but apparently they do apply themselves a macro second sooner than front brakes
to keep the back end of the car straight and avoid the dreaded sideways skid, since most people don't even know what
opposite lock means, let alone how to apply it.

So the next time your friendly local garage tells you that the rear brakes are gone beyond repair and if your car was made since
2004, or so, don't be at all surprised.

And when the EBD system fails, as it will, eventually, don't be surprised if the computer replacement puts you back another
$300 or so.

ABS (anti-lock) brake systems seem so obviously a safety feature of the modern car, but safety doesn't come cheaply and
an ABS system has a component value well into the $3000 region.

The more stuff you have, the more stuff you have that will eventually go wrong.