Expert: Jim Holsbeck - 9/5/2007

Question
will a failing wheelbearing on a gm truck cause the  abs to be activated ?

Answer
Jim,
   Well, If you are talking about the ABS light, I suppose if it got hot or something like that, it could damage the sensor and turn the light on, but in and of it's self, I don't think the wheel bearing going out would turn on the light. I would first check the sensor and see if it is good. If you are talking about actual braking, it could be trying to lock up that wheel when the brakes are applied and be pulsing the ABS because the sensor reads a slower speed or lock on that wheel. For that to be the case though, I think the wheel bearing would have to be pretty far gone, but it could do it. I'd fix the wheel bearing and see if that helps the problem, then if not, I would start looking at the sensors and the sensor rings on the hubs to see if they are caked with stuff or have missing teeth.