Brake job screwup, ABS activation issues

Hello everyone,
Brand new member making my first post. I tried to search, but couldn't find anything.
I bought my 1998 Tacoma Limited TRD back in August, and immediately set about replacing all the fluids and replacing the brakes since there was signs of disc warpage. I took the brakes apart, replaced the discs and pads, and managed to put the new pads in backwards. I tightened everything down way tighter than I should have before realizing the pads were flipped, with the inside pad on the outside. I got everything set up right, and had no trouble until the next day when the ABS activated while stopping normally at a red light on straight flat road, and the light came on. The system would reset when the truck was turned off and would activate randomly.

I checked the OMDB port and got the code that indicated my front driver speed sensor was malfunctioning. I figure I screwed something up when I tightened everything in the wrong configuration.

My question is whether I should just start replacing things, starting with the sensor, or if there is a way to troubleshoot and see which components I screwed up? Thanks.

 

You might have pinched the sensor when you did the pads wrong. I would suggest that you replace the sensor.

 

ck sensor first

 

My guess is with the brake pads in backwards the piston was forced off center, & isn't true in the bore. Pull off the caliper. Take a "C" clamp with a brake pad against the piston. Compress the piston ALL the way into the caliper. Reinstall everything and drive it to see if the light goes out. Check for leaks around that caliper seal too. It may have been damaged.

 

Could just be a bad sensor. And you said back in August, so this has been an issue for 5 months now?

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the ABS sensor on the inside hub portion of the spindle?

Also for my '04 the pads are identical. Just the low wear indicator is on different sides (2 on left, 2 on right) that are on the forward rolling side of the caliper.