Driveshaft /ABS

I’ve changed the near side drive shaft on my 2003 TD4 and I’ve now got three warning lights on….unbeknown to me there’s different types and mine should have been the type of shaft without the abs ring ….I just took the ring off and fitted it as per the motor factors advice ….apparently on my car the abs sensor takes a reading from the wheel bearing….
Just wondering if the new shaft is causing the ABS problem or whether I’ve damaged the abs sensor in fitting it??
I’m no mechanic so any advice would be greatly appreciated ….cheers

If you fitted the drive shaft before removing the ABS ring, then it may have damaged the ABS sensor. The motor factors should have pointed out that there are 2 different types of shaft on that year, as it would be in the their book.

Pritch70 said:

I’ve changed the near side drive shaft on my 2003 TD4 and I’ve now got three warning lights on….unbeknown to me there’s different types and mine should have been the type of shaft without the abs ring ….I just took the ring off and fitted it as per the motor factors advice ….apparently on my car the abs sensor takes a reading from the wheel bearing….
Just wondering if the new shaft is causing the ABS problem or whether I’ve damaged the abs sensor in fitting it??
I’m no mechanic so any advice would be greatly appreciated ….cheers

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There are a number of things that may have gone wrong here. As nodge suggested if the ring was still on the shaft when first fitted it may have hit and damaged the abs sensor.
Another possibility is there may be a difference in the cv joint outer diameter between the two shafts, a bigger joint could easily rub the abs sensor down.
Another possibility is, if you removed the ring before fitting the shaft then you may have damaged the bearings magnetic ring whilst installing the cv joint back into the hub or even dislodged a load of rust that’s now stuck to the abs ring on the bearing.

At this point you need to remove the shaft again and inspect the abs sensor and bearing abs magnetic ring. It’s gonna be one of these that is damaged most likely.

Ross Tait said:

There are a number of things that may have gone wrong here. As nodge suggested if the ring was still on the shaft when first fitted it may have hit and damaged the abs sensor.
Another possibility is there may be a difference in the cv joint outer diameter between the two shafts, a bigger joint could easily rub the abs sensor down.
Another possibility is, if you removed the ring before fitting the shaft then you may have damaged the bearings magnetic ring whilst installing the cv joint back into the hub or even dislodged a load of rust that’s now stuck to the abs ring on the bearing.

At this point you need to remove the shaft again and inspect the abs sensor and bearing abs magnetic ring. It’s gonna be one of these that is damaged most likely.

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Thank you much appreciate the advice cheers

Did you unplug ABS sensor when you pulled the hub forward to fit driveshaft?
If so may be plug not fully in or pins bent.
If not then may be broken sensor wire internally so may not be seen.

Nodge68 said:

If you fitted the drive shaft before removing the ABS ring, then it may have damaged the ABS sensor. The motor factors should have pointed out that there are 2 different types of shaft on that year, as it would be in the their book.

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Many thanks

andyfreelandy said:

Did you unplug ABS sensor when you pulled the hub forward to fit driveshaft?
If so may be plug not fully in or pins bent.
If not then may be broken sensor wire internally so may not be seen.

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No I didn’t remove the sensor and yes I did stretch it whilst fitting the new shaft… think I’ll just buy a new abs sensor …you live and learn thank you

Can anyone confirm that the different shafts are interchangeable and that simply removing the abs ring is appropriate?? or will doing this inevitably bring up abs fault codes?? TIA

Pritch70 said:

Can anyone confirm that the different shafts are interchangeable and that simply removing the abs ring is appropriate?? or will doing this inevitably bring up abs fault codes?? TIA

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I don’t know for sure but if you still have the old one and a set of callipers then you could measure? Or look up a good car parts website and see if the outer diameters are the same? Good sites usually have the basic technical info. I had looked at this before and did notice slight differences in the actual hubs between the different shaft types.

I have fitted an abs reluctance ring type on a magnetic bearing vehicle. Just remove the ring and all is well.

andyfreelandy said:

I have fitted an abs reluctance ring type on a magnetic bearing vehicle. Just remove the ring and all is well.

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many thanks