98 legacy GT sedan. it had codes 22 and 24 (front left and right ABS sensor codes). i pulled them and both had tons of metal flakes all over them. cleaned them up, cleared the ABS light and the ABS light is no longer on but the ABS will activate under light braking some times.

 

when cleaning, i noticed the front passengers side ABS sensor seemed corroded or damaged at the tip, just didn't seem nice and machined, though i don't know what a brand new one looks like. could this be causing the problem?

Yes.

 

 

nipper

I have a broken tone ring and it causes the abs to come on every time you touch the breaks...I pulled the fuse for the abs since I dont like it anyway.

how did you know the tone ring was bad?

are these sensors available aftermarket or dealer only?

thanks kids, i'll replace it.

I know the tone ring is bad b/c the monkey replacing my wheel stud at les schwabs broke a quarter section out of it when he hit it with a hammer...needless to say i didn't pay them anything that day...but it seems they are weak b/c I just had a look at the right rear one and it has a crack in it.

I know the tone ring is bad b/c the monkey replacing my wheel stud at les schwabs broke a quarter section out of it when he hit it with a hammer...needless to say i didn't pay them anything that day...but it seems they are weak b/c I just had a look at the right rear one and it has a crack in it.

 

now now be fair, 1998 and 150,000 miles, not everyhting lasts for ever. Its in some very harsh enviorments. I wonder if the monkey hit the other one too?

 

nipper

no he didnt...but by miracle he replaced a stretched stud on the other side and didnt break that tone ring....hmmm monkeys learn fast. BTW les schwabs will never see my roo again...BigO is much better.

[...]

when cleaning, i noticed the front passengers side ABS sensor seemed corroded or damaged at the tip, just didn't seem nice and machined, though i don't know what a brand new one looks like.

In very rough terms: The tip projects beyond the portion of the pole piece that's fully round by about 1/8"; it's the same width as the diameter of the rest of the pole piece, and about 1/16" in thickness from flat to flat.

 

 

could this be causing the problem?

As Nipper succinctly put it, "Yes".

In very rough terms: The tip projects beyond the portion of the pole piece that's fully round by about 1/8"; it's the same width as the diameter of the rest of the pole piece, and about 1/16" in thickness from flat to flat.

 

 

As Nipper succinctly put it, "Yes".

 

It's so rare that i get to give a one word answer

 

:-p

 

nipper

In very rough terms: The tip projects beyond the portion of the pole piece that's fully round by about 1/8"; it's the same width as the diameter of the rest of the pole piece, and about 1/16" in thickness from flat to flat

that makes perfect sense, seems like what it shoudl have looked like, but didn't. how does it get so chipped up on the end?

that makes perfect sense, seems like what it shoudl have looked like, but didn't. how does it get so chipped up on the end?

 

wear and tear, erosion from the elements, the odd rock.

 

It happens.

 

Thats an awfully harsh place to be for a electronic car part. I am impressed that more of them dont fail this way.

 

nipper

Thats an awfully harsh place to be for a electronic car part. I am impressed that more of them dont fail this way.

nipper

for real, i was thinking the same thing. particularly in the snow/rust/salt/coal areas. i'm surprised i haven't had to replace them in my OBS yet.

 

part number note:

1990-1999 Legacy (except 99 GT and Outback)

26740AA001

 

The wagon and sedan sensors are different, showing a different part number. that's bizarre.

well they're annoying since they are rather expensive and seems like subaru dropped the ball on mass production by making each model/style different...but those ABS sensors are really easy to replace. don't even have to jack the car up. turn the wheel all the way to one side such that you can access behind the wheel from the front, so turn the wheel all the way towards the side you're working on. sensor comes with a bundle of wires/brackets attached, but it's easy. 4 12mm bolts and you're done without even jacking the car up. super easy.