ABS Light on after 21" Wheel Install

kendog2 · 05-01-2016, 10:14 PM

2015 Vaquero. Installed 21" wheel on Tuesday and now ABS light comes on anytime I exceed 50 mile per hour. Anyone else experience the same issue?

Snake Ranch · 05-02-2016, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kendog2

2015 Vaquero. Installed 21" wheel on Tuesday and now ABS light comes on anytime I exceed 50 mile per hour. Anyone else experience the same issue?

Check your sensor at the wheels, its located at the part where there is a bunch of holes. If the sensor gets dirty or is too far away from the holes it won't register the magnetic pulses correctly.

Peg · 05-02-2016, 03:45 AM

You do have the ABS sensor on the new wheel... Right?

gv550 · 05-02-2016, 08:03 AM

The abs logic is looking for corrresponding number of sensor pulses that indicates the front wheel rpm compared to the rear wheel. With a larger front wheel it will be turning slower (fewer pulses) than it should be and sets the light, indicating the abs is no longer working. You may need to have a custom made tone wheel with more slots to fool the computer into thinking the big tire is rotating just as fast as the stock tire would have.

Snake Ranch · 05-02-2016, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gv550

The abs logic is looking for corrresponding number of sensor pulses that indicates the front wheel rpm compared to the rear wheel. With a larger front wheel it will be turning slower (fewer pulses) than it should be and sets the light, indicating the abs is no longer working. You may need to have a custom made tone wheel with more slots to fool the computer into thinking the big tire is rotating just as fast as the stock tire would have.

Not trying to be a wise guy but how does that work if a stock tire is replaced with a taller tire? Is there a + or - factor that is used when the tire wears or the tire is not OEM diameter?

My son has a 2013 Triumph Thunderbird. We resealed the rear brakes, and had to order a program to put on his laptop to open the solenoids in the ABS system so the brake system could be properly purged of air.

My skoot doesn't have ABS but I had wondered if the Kawasaki ABS system needed the same approach to properly bleed the system of air?

Lumberjack · 05-02-2016, 12:44 PM

The guy went with a 21" tire vs 16" and the diameter and circumference will be considerably bigger. I see the logic in the ABS throwing an error the speedo will be throw off too. Simply going to a different size tire (same rim size) will not have as much effect as what this guy did.

UNCLE WILLIE · 05-02-2016, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumberjack

The guy went with a 21" tire vs 16" and the diameter and circumference will be considerably bigger. I see the logic in the ABS throwing an error the speedo will be throw off too. Simply going to a different size tire (same rim size) will not have as much effect as what this guy did.

agree with this -- saw this in the car biz a few times with an odd size tire or two - there are limits that the ecu will accept even with the proper rim size

Gypsy Dragon · 05-03-2016, 09:35 AM

Is it a wheel that was made for the Vaquero or was a retro fit from a different bike? If it was made for the bike, have you contacted the manufacturer?

notmighty · 08-23-2016, 01:41 PM

I'm having the same issue as well, my wheel was built for the vaquero, i'll have to pay attention to my speeds but the light only comes on at higher speeds as well. I will have to reach out to the company I purchased mine thru. I wonder if Ivan could make an adjustment in the ECU to read the correct tire size.

captj3 · 08-24-2016, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notmighty

I'm having the same issue as well, my wheel was built for the vaquero, i'll have to pay attention to my speeds but the light only comes on at higher speeds as well. I will have to reach out to the company I purchased mine thru. I wonder if Ivan could make an adjustment in the ECU to read the correct tire size.

I doubt Ivan will touch that part of the ecu as it would be to much liability if something were to happen.

Lumberjack · 08-24-2016, 10:58 AM

The issue is the ABS sensor is thrown off as you have approx 1.31 increase in wheel diameter. The disc sensor should also be changed/compensated for or re-calibrated. You wouldn't put a 16" tire on your 21" rim...

Quote:

Originally Posted by notmighty

I'm having the same issue as well, my wheel was built for the vaquero, i'll have to pay attention to my speeds but the light only comes on at higher speeds as well. I will have to reach out to the company I purchased mine thru. I wonder if Ivan could make an adjustment in the ECU to read the correct tire size.

bladenbullet · 08-24-2016, 03:39 PM

the abs module compares wheel speeds to determine if wheel lock up is imminent....at any given time both wheels on the bike are turning at the same speed<give or take>....as others have stated the added circumference of the new tire/wheel combination has changed the rpms of the wheel at any given speed....it must be near the threshold parameter for it to not kick in until 50 mph....there are allowances for tire wear and different tire brand sizing....

notmighty · 08-25-2016, 09:19 PM

Well since the abs light is going to be on that's even more of a reason to jump to a 23.

Puckman77 · 08-30-2016, 04:23 PM

Well, the diameter of the stock wheel/tire is 25.2". To keep that same diameter with a 21" wheel and assuming the stock130mm width, you'd need a 130/40/21 tire and I'm not sure they make that size as it would leave very little sidewall.

Cartman_tp · 11-05-2017, 05:14 AM

I have been thinking about this, couldn't you make a new abs sensor with more slots in it (correct ratio). 16" rim circumference 50 1/4" the abs has 30 slots (just an example I haven't counted. 21" rim circumference 66". Rim is 1.31% larger so taking the original abs sensor of 30 slots (notional) and multiplying that by 1.31 (30*1.31)=39. So the new sensor plate would need 39 slots to read true...am I off in my theory here? These are rim figures, not tire so the mat would need to be done based on tire circumference...

05-01-2016, 10:14 PM	#1
kendog2 Jr. Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 8	ABS Light on after 21" Wheel Install 2015 Vaquero. Installed 21" wheel on Tuesday and now ABS light comes on anytime I exceed 50 mile per hour. Anyone else experience the same issue? Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by kendog2; 05-01-2016 at 11:17 PM.
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05-02-2016, 08:03 AM	#4
gv550 Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Listowel, Ontario Posts: 642	The abs logic is looking for corrresponding number of sensor pulses that indicates the front wheel rpm compared to the rear wheel. With a larger front wheel it will be turning slower (fewer pulses) than it should be and sets the light, indicating the abs is no longer working. You may need to have a custom made tone wheel with more slots to fool the computer into thinking the big tire is rotating just as fast as the stock tire would have. __________________ Garry 2009 1700 Voyager KACT, sold at 679,465 kms 2011 1700 Nomad Improve handling, suspension and tire life with Garry's Fork Brace. PM for details.
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05-03-2016, 09:35 AM	#8
Gypsy Dragon Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Round Rock, Tx. Posts: 493	Is it a wheel that was made for the Vaquero or was a retro fit from a different bike? If it was made for the bike, have you contacted the manufacturer? __________________ 1997 KZ1000 Police 2003 Kawasaki Z1000 w/ 149k mi (sold) (un-sold!) 2013 Vaquero in Green (the fastest color) Thunder Mfg Prototype Hi Performance Kit Rev 2 109 cid Klockwerks Windshield Corbin Young Gun Throttle Mod Freedom Performance 2-1 Roarin Toyz Intake PCV with AutoTune Ivanized ECU
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08-23-2016, 01:41 PM	#9
notmighty Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 202	I'm having the same issue as well, my wheel was built for the vaquero, i'll have to pay attention to my speeds but the light only comes on at higher speeds as well. I will have to reach out to the company I purchased mine thru. I wonder if Ivan could make an adjustment in the ECU to read the correct tire size. __________________ 2016 Icy White Roaring Toyz BAK Ivanized ECU Vance & Hines Twin Slash Kury Iso Grips Passenger Boards Rotation Industries 26" Juno BadDad 26" Wrap Fender BVD Raked Triple Trees Rear Loweing Kit
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08-25-2016, 09:19 PM	#13
notmighty Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 202	Well since the abs light is going to be on that's even more of a reason to jump to a 23. __________________ 2016 Icy White Roaring Toyz BAK Ivanized ECU Vance & Hines Twin Slash Kury Iso Grips Passenger Boards Rotation Industries 26" Juno BadDad 26" Wrap Fender BVD Raked Triple Trees Rear Loweing Kit
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05-02-2016, 12:44 PM	#6
Lumberjack Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 542	The guy went with a 21" tire vs 16" and the diameter and circumference will be considerably bigger. I see the logic in the ABS throwing an error the speedo will be throw off too. Simply going to a different size tire (same rim size) will not have as much effect as what this guy did.
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08-24-2016, 03:39 PM	#12
bladenbullet Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Southwestern Florida Posts: 115	the abs module compares wheel speeds to determine if wheel lock up is imminent....at any given time both wheels on the bike are turning at the same speed<give or take>....as others have stated the added circumference of the new tire/wheel combination has changed the rpms of the wheel at any given speed....it must be near the threshold parameter for it to not kick in until 50 mph....there are allowances for tire wear and different tire brand sizing....
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08-30-2016, 04:23 PM	#14
Puckman77 Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: NJ Posts: 62	Well, the diameter of the stock wheel/tire is 25.2". To keep that same diameter with a 21" wheel and assuming the stock130mm width, you'd need a 130/40/21 tire and I'm not sure they make that size as it would leave very little sidewall.
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11-05-2017, 05:14 AM	#15
Cartman_tp Jr. Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 39	I have been thinking about this, couldn't you make a new abs sensor with more slots in it (correct ratio). 16" rim circumference 50 1/4" the abs has 30 slots (just an example I haven't counted. 21" rim circumference 66". Rim is 1.31% larger so taking the original abs sensor of 30 slots (notional) and multiplying that by 1.31 (30*1.31)=39. So the new sensor plate would need 39 slots to read true...am I off in my theory here? These are rim figures, not tire so the mat would need to be done based on tire circumference...
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