PartsBlue carries a complete range of ABS wheel speed sensors — OEM-quality replacements and verified aftermarket fitments for cars, trucks, and SUVs across all major makes and models. Whether your ABS warning light just came on or you’re dealing with erratic traction control on icy Canadian roads, you’ll find the right sensor here, confirmed by year, make, model, and trim, priced in CAD, and shipped from our Etobicoke warehouse with no import fees or cross-border delays.
An ABS wheel speed sensor — also called an anti-lock brake sensor or wheel speed sensor — is an electronic component mounted at each wheel that monitors how fast that wheel is rotating and sends that data continuously to the ABS control module. The module uses this information to detect when a wheel is about to lock up during hard braking and releases brake pressure to that wheel in rapid pulses, preventing a skid and keeping the driver in control.
Modern vehicles typically have four ABS sensors — one per wheel — and the same sensor data also feeds the traction control system and electronic stability control. On many vehicles, the wheel speed sensor contributes to speedometer readings as well.
There are two types of ABS wheel speed sensors:
Always confirm which type your vehicle uses before ordering a replacement — the two are not interchangeable.
A faulty ABS wheel speed sensor typically disables the ABS system entirely, because the control module cannot safely operate with unreliable wheel speed data. Watch for these warning signs:
Road salt and freeze-thaw cycles accelerate corrosion on wheel speed sensor wiring and connector housings, making sensor failures more common on Canadian vehicles with higher mileage. If you notice any of the symptoms above, have the fault codes scanned with a diagnostic tool to confirm which sensor has failed before ordering a replacement.
The distinction between active and passive ABS sensors matters because they are electrically and mechanically different — installing the wrong type will result in a sensor that either produces no signal or an incompatible signal.
Passive sensors use a two-wire connector and produce an analogue AC voltage. Active (Hall-effect) sensors use a three-wire connector — power, ground, and signal — and produce a digital output. Most vehicles manufactured since the mid-2000s use active sensors. Your vehicle’s repair manual or a fitment search by year, make, model, and trim on PartsBlue will confirm which type is correct for your application.
Some ABS sensors are also integrated into the wheel bearing hub assembly and cannot be replaced separately — the entire hub unit must be replaced. This is common on many front-wheel-drive platforms and should be confirmed before ordering.
ABS wheel speed sensor replacement costs in Canada vary by vehicle and whether you’re doing the work yourself or taking it to a shop. Typical CAD price ranges:
ABS sensor replacement is one of the more accessible DIY brake jobs — most sensors are secured by a single bolt and one electrical connector. However, on high-mileage vehicles or those exposed to road salt, corroded sensor bolts and seized sensor bodies are common complications. Ordering your replacement ABS wheel speed sensors directly from PartsBlue in CAD means no currency conversion and no import duties, reducing your total repair cost compared to sourcing from US-based retailers.
PartsBlue is a Canadian auto parts retailer with over 2.5 million parts in catalogue, including ABS wheel speed sensors for domestic and import vehicles across all major makes. Every sensor listed on PartsBlue.ca comes from a verified manufacturer or authorised distributor and is catalogued with confirmed year, make, model, and trim fitment data — so you order with confidence.
Browse our full range of brake parts and suspension components alongside your ABS sensor order to cover the complete repair in a single shipment.
An ABS wheel speed sensor monitors the rotational speed of each wheel and sends that data to the ABS control module. The module uses this information to prevent wheel lockup during hard braking by pulsing brake pressure, helping the driver maintain steering control and reducing stopping distances on slippery surfaces.
The most common symptoms are an illuminated ABS warning light on the dashboard, loss of anti-lock braking, and disabled traction or stability control. Some drivers also experience a pulsating brake pedal during normal stops or an erratic speedometer reading. All of these symptoms typically appear together because the ABS module disables the entire system when it detects a faulty sensor.
You can drive with a faulty ABS sensor, but your anti-lock braking, traction control, and stability control systems will be disabled. Normal braking still works, but you lose the safety systems that prevent skidding on wet or icy roads. In Canadian winter driving conditions, this is a meaningful safety risk and the sensor should be replaced promptly.
The fastest way is to scan the ABS control module with a diagnostic scan tool. The module stores a fault code that identifies the specific wheel location (front left, front right, rear left, rear right) where the signal is missing or out of range. Without a scan, it is not reliable to guess which sensor has failed based on symptoms alone.
Not always. On many vehicles, front and rear sensors differ in connector type, cable length, or mounting configuration. On some vehicles, left and right sensors also differ. Always confirm fitment by vehicle year, make, model, trim, and wheel position before ordering.
ABS wheel speed sensors generally last 100,000–150,000 km under normal conditions, but Canadian vehicles exposed to road salt and freeze-thaw cycles often see earlier failures due to wiring corrosion and connector damage. The sensor body itself rarely fails — most failures are caused by a damaged wiring harness or corroded connector.
Yes, most ABS sensor replacements are within reach of a competent DIYer. The sensor is typically held by one bolt and one electrical connector. The most common complication is a corroded or seized mounting bolt, particularly on older Canadian vehicles. Penetrating oil applied in advance and a quality socket set are usually enough to handle the job.
Parts typically cost CAD $30–$250 depending on the vehicle and sensor type. Adding shop labour of CAD $80–$200, the total replacement cost per sensor generally ranges from CAD $150 to $450. Ordering the part directly from PartsBlue in CAD eliminates import fees and reduces the overall cost of the repair.