Note on ABS or wheel speed sensors

[96wWindstar180K]

Hi

I have used quite a bit of information from this forum Thanks to all.

I just recentley had a issue with my ABS wheel sensor. I had the sway bar brake and take out the CV boot on the drivers half shalf. I brought it to Sears as they have done the CV shaft on the other side a year earlier. They replaced the sway bar and a reman half shaft. About 3 months later my ABS light started going on and off but not always. Finally about 2 weeks ago I was reading on the forum and decided to take a look at the sensors. Pulled the rear disks first. Cleaned the sensors. Re-packed the wheel bearings. Went to the front wheels and noticed the gear on the half shaft was shiney. Sprayed the ABS sensor with rust remover and was finally able to remove it. To my surprise the sensor had been rubbing on the gear and wore a 1/8" hole the the casing of the sensor. I replaced it but had to shim between the sensor to give clearance for the new sensor. (No Adjustment in or out?) Went back to Sears and told them the problem and that I wanted them to replace the half shalf as the teeth were damaged. They did but not without an argument from the mechanic. Im still trying to collect for the ABS sensor. After they replaced the half shaft the abs light went out completly except once and ahwile the ABS goes on. Sensor maybe to far away?

Sorry for the long post.

[Blue Bowtie]

Is that a 12mm sensor? The sensing distance (range) of that is about 4mm, so it needs to be at that range or closer in order to produce adequate signal switching.

Good luck with Sears. The good thing is that they already all but admitted their mistake in replacing the half-shaft at their expense. That same evidence should be enough to convince the store manager (go right past the auto service manager and speak with the store manager) that they should pay for the replacement sensor. Provided you have a reciept, there should be little argument. My big question is whether Sears has some mechanism to pay miscellaneous costs like that - The accountants are going to want to know where every penny went. They may try to make up the difference in in-store credit or something like that.

[96wWindstar180K]

I talked to the service manger first and he took the reciept and said he would get back to me. He didnt so I stopped in and asked for him. He wouldnt even come out but had the service writer issue me a credit to my credit card. Listed it as car damage. I may have to adjust the sensor a little closer by grinding down the washer used as a spacer to give closer tollerance as the ABS is activating every once and ahwile. No light on

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by 96wWindstar180K

I talked to the service manger first and he took the reciept and said he would get back to me. He didnt so I stopped in and asked for him. He wouldnt even come out but had the service writer issue me a credit to my credit card. Listed it as car damage. I may have to adjust the sensor a little closer by grinding down the washer used as a spacer to give closer tollerance as the ABS is activating every once and ahwile. No light on

Hay 96

Have you measured the "gear" the sensors uses? Was it reduced in size when it ate away the sensor? If this is smaller, it "may" cause an ABS issue because the computer is reading this wheel at a different speed.

Just a thought.

Dan

[96wWindstar180K]

Dan,
That was my first concern when I found the sensor was rubbing the first time. I thought that maybe they put in the wrong half shaft. Possibly different year different size gear. They said they were all the same orderd 2 and meausred the gear size on all three. All the same. I just dont understand short of shimming how there could be no factory adjustment. Never heard of shimming or even an actual measurement. Ill try and thin out the washer this weekend. Mike