ABS light on after wheel bearing replaced
Why is my ABS light on after I replaced the wheel bearing
If you have an ABS light on after wheel bearing replaced, you may have to also replace the other wheel bearing hub. Car makers sometimes install the toothed tone ring inside the wheel bearing hub and mount the wheel speed sensor on the outside of the hub. Rust buildup under the sensor can move it, causing a wider than normal air gap between the sensor and the toothed tone ring. This rusting process is called rust jacking.
Wheel bearing hub assembly
Sometimes you can remove the sensor, sand off the rust, and re-install the sensor. But other times you must install a new wheel bearing hub. After installation, you may think you’ve solved the problem. But once you start driving, you get another ABS light on after wheel bearing replaced.
What’s happening is that the ABS computer is seeing a different in signal strength between the new and old wheel speed sensors. It determines that the weaker signal is indicating a wheel lockup, so it falsely activates the ABS on that wheel. Or, it determines that the weak signal indicates a bad sensor, so it lights up the ABS light. You can try removing the sensor from the old wheel bearing hub and cleaning off the rust. However, if that doesn’t work, you’ll have to replace that wheel bearing hub too to eliminate the ABS light on after wheel bearing replaced problem.
If you own a GM vehicle, read this article on ABS light on
©, 2014 Rick Muscoplat
Posted on by Rick Muscoplat