Replaced LF Wheel Speed sensor, now traction control light but no codes

[khnitz]

On 9/7/2022 at 12:41 PM, khnitz said:

So, after confirming with their VIN, the Mopar PN for their FL CV axle is 68079565AB.  I'll be going with a Duralast 14293N as the replacement.  But, again, it will be a little bit before I am in IL again and can replace it.  While the axle is out, I'll make sure to clear any debris out of the inside of the hub where the wheel speed sensor pokes through, too.

Well, we're back in IL soo er than expected, but I ha e the replacement axle to install.  The original one came out easily enough.

So, I'm more confused.  There really doesn't seem to be a tone ring anywhere that is a part of the CV axle.  At the back of the wheel hub/bearing, there were signs of a rubber dust shield or something that spins with the hub - that seems to be the only thing close enough to the wheel speed sensor to have provided a means to count.  It was all rusted and falling apart.

The CV axle meets the hub/bearing too far back from the sensor to be the source of the count.

I'll be going to Autozone in a bit to inspect a new wheel hub in person.

 

As found:

 

Old vs new CV axle:

 

After clearing out the extra "seal" and rust:

[2late4u]

well wouldn't hurt to put in a new wheel bearing hub as well since you have it tore apart, they are some lucky relatives to have you helping them,,good luck

[2late4u]

i am just watching a youtube video on the replacement and i do believe the hub is where the tone ring must be as it is in the same spot as the abs wire  they mention the 118 foot lbs front and 181 ft lbs rear,, for the axle nut torque i am not sure if thoes are correct tho....

Edited September 24, 2022 by 2late4u

[khnitz]

The tech at AZ indicated that the dark ring (pointed to with my small screwdriver in the photo below) is magnetized and provides the timing for the sensor.  Based on the sensor position in the hub, it makes sense.  And, that ring was decayed on the original hub.

Now on to the hardware store to get a big-ass-chisel to seperate the hub from the spindle.  The rotor hasn't broken loose yet, either (rustbelt repairs are such fun ?).

 

[khnitz]

Everything is back together.  Turning the hub by hand and having my son watch the wheel speed readings on the diag tool, it seems to be tracking fine and not jumping around.

We had my in-laws driveway sealcoated while I was finishing up the repair, so I'll get a test drive done in the morning and will post up the final results then.

 

Here is a picture of the old and new wheel hub:

 

And this is an image of the new wheel hub installed.  The sensor tracks nice and close to the black timing/reluctance ring:

 

And another shot of the reluctance/timing ABS "tone ring" and sensor:

 

I noticed the little bit of rust flakes there, and took a q-tip and some rubbing alchohol to clean out the rest of the flakes before reassembling everything.

[5rebel9]

MY APOLOGIES to the wrong responses I gave. MY memory must be failing on mr. Could have sworn that when I did a fast hub bearing replacement for GROWLING noise on our '11, that I glanced toothed ring for ABS. I WAS WRONG!

I will admit that on seeing your pic's that I'm surprised NOISE was NOT part of the original complaint

THANKS for sharing!

Edited September 25, 2022 by 5rebel9

[5rebel9]

Further explanation..... I did not remove the CV joint/axle shaft to replace the hub bearing, so the joint was kind of "hidden" in the steering knuckle yet.

[khnitz]

I'll post a more detailed wrap-up/summary when I get back home tomorrow.

 

But, as a quick update: this is FIXED!  That is the timing / reluctance / tone ring at the back of the front wheel hub, and everything is working correctly.  I put about 10 miles on it this morning: all warning lights are off and all the wheels are reporting correct speeds.

 

So, we all know the wheel speed sensor installs into the spindle on the fronts, but it is clearly understood now that the tone ring is part of the wheel hub assembly as a reluctance ring at the back of the bearing.  It is integral to the wheel hub/bearing, and is not a separate part.  It is also NOT part of the CV axle, so you DO NOT need to replace the CV axle to fix a wheel speed issue on our Journeys.

 

Somehow, this info should be part of the part descriptions at RA, AZ, and elsewhere, but it's not...yet.

Edited September 25, 2022 by khnitz

[khnitz]

So, just a few more images to close this out...

 

Here is the picture of the old vs. new wheel hub, but trying to explain what was broken.  The picture shows the back of the wheel hub/bearing.  The "reluctance ring" used for the wheel speed timing was decayed and broken off in pieces (the remaining pieces are shown in the inset image, but I had cleared away those parts in the larger image of the old hub on the left).  I'm trying to highlight that in the picture below.  The green arrow is pointing to the timing ring on the new wheel hub.  It looks like the seal for the wheel bearing, but it's actually the reluctance ring and it is not a seperately available part - it is press fit to the back of the wheel hub bearing.

 

And here is a chart of how the four wheel speeds tracked over a test drive I made.  They all tracked essentially together, with slight differences related to the timing of the measurements by the diagnostic tool as I was changing vehicle speed, or while going through curves in the road.

 

Thank-you for all the help offered here in the forum as I worked this repair to completion for my in-laws.  Hopefully this thread will help a next person trying to diagnose and accomplish a similar repair!

Edited September 26, 2022 by khnitz

[2late4u]

thanks for the write up and the pictures as well, as  i said,  before your folks are really lucky to have you helping them like this ,,,take care 

[khnitz]

1 minute ago, 2late4u said:

thanks for the write up and the pictures as well, as  i said,  before your folks are really lucky to have you helping them like this ,,,take care 

Thank-you.  I try to help them where I can    

At least this wasn't as bad a repair as the 2 engine replacements I did on my son's Chevy Equinox