4 Signs that your ABS Relay Ring is Broken or Failing
As automotive technology advances, safety systems are also improved and enhanced to provide a better user experience. Today, anti-lock braking systems are found in almost every modern vehicle. They are specifically designed to adjust the vehicle’s braking performance in an emergency.
When you notice signs of a problem with your braking system, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Don’t wait for a repair. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of a faulty ABS relay ring, its location, its function, and the cost of replacing it if it needs replacing.
Symptoms of a Failed ABS Relay Ring
The most common symptom of a faulty ABS ring is the ABS light coming on on the dashboard. You may also notice other signs such as a pulsating brake pedal when braking at low speeds. If you are driving on a slippery road, your ABS may not function properly.
When one of your ABS rings starts to fail, you may notice a variety of strange symptoms. Here is a detailed list of signs to look out for that indicate your ABS reluctor ring is broken or failing:
1. The ABS light comes on
The most obvious sign that there is a problem with your ABS system is when the ABS light on your car’s dashboard comes on. In cars that don’t have a separate ABS warning light, the ABS light is sometimes called the check engine light.
The moment the light comes on is usually the main sign that there may be a problem with your car’s ABS. There could be an issue with one of the sensors or the rings in the system.
2. Brake pedal vibrates at low speeds
Your car’s brake pedal may pulsate or make a popping noise at low speeds, like when driving on ice. This means that the ABS activates unnecessarily at low speeds. This is a clear sign that the ABS ring is defective.
Since a defective ABS ring is not considered a failure by the system, the ABS warning light will not come on initially, but only when the system is completely turned off. In some cases, it may cycle on and off multiple times. A defective ABS ring will give off a false signal, causing the vehicle’s electronic control unit to activate the anti-lock braking system just before the vehicle comes to a stop, or to turn it off completely. This results in less control of the vehicle and longer stopping distances.
In most cases, only the ABS ring needs to be replaced, not the drive shaft or joints.
3. No ABS Function
During critical braking maneuvers, the ABS usually activates to slow the vehicle down. At the same time, loss of traction and slippage should be eliminated or reduced to negligible levels.
If your car takes a long time to stop when you apply the brakes hard, or if it starts to skid and lose traction, it’s an indication that your ABS is faulty. This could be caused by excessively corroded or cracked ABS rings, which send erroneous impulses to the ABS control unit and interrupt the ABS braking process.
However, this most often occurs when the ABS light on the dashboard comes on, so make sure you fix the problem as soon as you notice it.
4. Sudden hard braking out of nowhere
Some cars, especially BMWs, have the braking function in the ABS control unit. In such braking systems, if the ABS friction ring breaks, the car may think it is skidding. This may cause the car to correct the skid, which is dangerous if the car brakes suddenly out of nowhere.
What is an ABS friction ring?
Anti-lock braking system consists of a control unit, a speed sensor, a valve, and an ABS speed sensor friction ring. This system maintains the tire’s grip on the road and significantly improves braking performance when driving at high speeds.
The ABS speed sensor ring is a key component of the whole system. It closely monitors the wheel speed and sends important signals that can electronically warn the system.
When you apply the brakes hard, the extra force can lock the wheels through the brake discs and cause the car to skid on the road. This is very dangerous, but it is mitigated by the ABS ring function. The ring is used to detect the speed difference with other wheels and send a signal to the controller. If the ABS ring fails, the controlled ABS will receive an incorrect reading.
ABS Ring Location
The ABS ring is usually located around the drive shaft or wheel hub on most vehicle models.
For front-wheel drive vehicles, the front ring is often attached to the drive shaft. Otherwise, it is more likely to be found around the wheel bearing or wheel hub. The rear ring is often located on the rear drive shaft on rear-wheel drive vehicles, otherwise it is located around the wheel bearing/hub. Some rear-wheel drive vehicles may also have one ring inside the differential instead of two separate rings.
Additionally, the quality is not much better than the front rings, making them more vulnerable. Four-wheel drive vehicles are more likely to have ABS rings on all drive shafts.
How do I check my ABS rings? On most vehicles, you can visually inspect the ABS friction ring. Remove the steering wheel and look at the ABS ring while turning the steering wheel. Look for cracks in the ring. If it is badly rusted, carefully remove the rust with a wire brush, but be careful not to scratch the ring.
How long do ABS rings last?
There is no fixed mileage or age for how long an ABS ring will last. ABS reluctor rings are made of metal and are placed in an area exposed to dirt, dust and water and this can cause them to go bad. Therefore, the lifespan of an ABS ring depends entirely on where you live and the roads where you drive your car.
Can I replace an ABS tone ring myself?
Replacing an ABS tone ring can be a challenge for many car models. You may need to remove the drive shaft to replace the ABS ring and this job can be quite tricky, if you are not used to working on cars. Use a repair manual to learn how to do it, but be prepared that it can be a challenge.
