Bad Wheel Bearing Causing ABS Problem?

pdudley42 · **Joined:** Thu May 19, 2011 6:15 pm **Posts:** 16

I thought this was interesting.
My 06 CRD does a lot of towing of my crappy race cars (and every once in a while, a nice one). The braking has been sub-par for a while, partially because the trailer brakes have been sub-par.
Recently the ABS has been pulsing on dry pavement even though I'm not using the brakes nearly hard enough to warrant that. On occasion it even disables the system temporarily, including illuminating the ESP light, the traction control icon light, and the ABS light. When those lights are on I have decent brakes, at least they are what they are.
So I had assumed it was a failing wheel speed sensor or the associated wiring.
Last night I search lostjeeps forums and discovered the speed sensor in the rear diff that plagues 05 Liberty owners. But my speedo and odo work flawlessly...and mine is an 06.
So today I finally had time to take a look at it. I began with the front end because it was closer to the jack. My passenger side wheel bearing has a lot of play in it. As I look closer at the design it occurs to me that the tone ring for the wheel speed sensor may be reading wrong because of the misalignment caused by the bad bearing as the wheel goes down the road.When you apply your brakes you kinda take up the slack of a shot bearing, or at least change the way the sensor sees it.
Now I am close to convinced that this is causing my problem, but I won't know until tomorrow when I get my rotors back from being turned.
So I searched the forums again for the exact words in my title above, and got no results.
Can anyone confirm or disconfirm this theory?
If I'm barking up the wrong tree, any other ideas?
I'll get back here after I've tested it.
Thanks

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 30, 2013 11:05 pm

Yes play in a hub bearing can and will cause ABS issues,see it everyday at work.Only way to correct it is to replace teh hub bearing,make sure it comes with a new ABS sensor also.

Hexus · **Posted:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 6:40 am

They're integrated in ours, the ABS sensor is built into the assembly.

pdudley42 · **Joined:** Thu May 19, 2011 6:15 pm **Posts:** 16

I got my Jeep put back together today with new hub/bearing and took it for a quick spin. I braked pretty hard a couple of times and the ABS remained quiet. I'm not going to sway I "solved" the problem just yet, but I have a good feeling that was. Neat.
Thanks for the input.

TennesseeCRD · **Joined:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:01 am **Posts:** 181

I've ran across the same thing reciently. While towing occasionally especially in a turn the abs would activate with out even being on the brakes. I get an occasional abs light and it will stay on for a while (sometimes a day or 2) then it goes off. It came on yesterday heading down I40 and stayed on for a couple hours then went off. Does this sound familliar to your problem?
Steve

dritchie · **Posted:** Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:38 am

Hmmmmmm,,,. very interesting. I have the EXACT same symptoms. I first replaced the rear speed sensors...they were cheap. Didn't fix it. So I replaced the front ones, still didn't fix it. So maybe front wheel bearings? I guess I could give it a shot. Shot gunning it still cheaper than the dealer!

Hexus · **Posted:** Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:34 pm

I believe AM Autoparts still has the pair for around $100, hard to beat that price, easy to do in your driveway in a couple hours.

Worth your time.

dritchie · **Posted:** Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:23 pm

Thanks, I'll check them out.

Bad Wheel Bearing Causing ABS Problem?

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