05, 3500, Front wheel bearing/sensor woes

[bikeshedtodd]

So the usual ABS/Parking brake light issue with code showing Left front wheel speed sensor circuit broken. I went to install new wheel bearing with sensor included, New Carquest brand (Canadian), not machined right, not even close to sliding in, returned and went and bought Timken unit, the spline wasn't even close, the hub wouldn't even star sliding on. Went back to the shop, new Timken and cheap World Parts version, Timken slides halfway on and stops on the spline, wedged on and had to use puller to remove. Cheap World Parts hub, slid right in, perfect fit! WTF, (06 hub slides in but sensor is different). Frustration to the extreme today. Any ideas of why this would have happened, worn spline? Poor machining? either way, code is still coming up, looks like I am now chasing wires into the ABS sensor. I'll start with connectors and see what they look like under the hood. Any other ideas? The wire from module to harness measured about 4.5 volts when tested, the sensor had resistance that matched the other side, 1030 it read if I remember correctly. I have been googling this like crazy, most stuff I find points to either corrosion in the ABS module connections, my speedometer does work BTW.
thanks

 

[Yo Hoot]

Weird. I've replaced my 2500 unit bearings twice with no issue

 

[bikeshedtodd]

Weird. I've replaced my 2500 unit bearings twice with no issue

Me too, on my 1500 Eco diesels and an old 06' 2500 I had, I'm wondering if the previous owner had some aftermarket axle shaft installed.

 

[Ozymandias]

That's what I think, or replaced the whole axle with a newer one.

If I remember correctly it was in 2010 when AAM changed the whole assembly to a beefier design that can be retrofitted as a whole into older model years.

Front axles are well known to bend on the older models, AAM upgraded the housing several times during the build period.

You can recognize the upgraded axle it by the larger steering knuckles.


I went through that whole topic when I bent my axle and had to replace it.

 

[Ozymandias]

Speedo picks up from the rear axle.

 

[Grumpy8811]

Speedo picks up from the rear axle.

most vehicles use the output speed sensor on the transmission. if they pickup speed on the rear axle it is usually for 3 channel ABS systems.
Not saying an older Ram doesn't do it exactly like you say but it sounds unusual to pick vehicle speed for gage package off the rear axle.