There are plenty of parts of anti-lock brakes that are novel mechanical devices, like fast acting solenoids or pumps. The software running on a general purpose device is not novel or unique. Patenting "anti-lock brakes" is a great example of an overreaching patent, as you can't lay claim to every implementation of "anti lock brakes". Patenting individual parts that are novel and unique is applicable.

This practice didn't even come into play until the mid-late 1990s when lawyers realized they could put "may use cd-rom" or "electronic" in their patents to cover a wide swath of things they didn't invent.