420A Camshaft Magnet Wearing Against Camshaft Sensor.

[BLACK'98DSM]

So I just replaced my camshaft position sensor for the 2nd time (1st time since rebuild). While it was off I noticed 4 lines of wear on the cam magnet and a small section on the sensor where the magnet was rubbing against it. The last time I replaced the sensor I did not notice any of this, and I also didn't when I did the rebuild.

Is this somehow normal? My educated assumption is that the camshaft magnet is not supposed to contact the sensor, but is supposed to ride very close. The only thing I could see causing this now is the Crane cams. Maybe somehow they're built slightly differently than the stock cams, not enough to visually notice but enough to ride on the sensor? Or maybe the cam caps are worn? The cam gears still line up with each other and both sit flush on a straight edge while installed.

I might be thinking too hard about it, maybe it's just a poorly shaped sensor. But when holding it next to both the new and old one, they all 3 look almost identical besides this one having wear on it.

I'll have to pull the new sensor in a few months to see if it picked up the wear too ( I rarely drive the car).

Excuse the dust etc. She sat all winter and hasn't been detailed yet.

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It's hard to see the wear on the sensor in the picture, it looks sort of like cracks but in person you can tell it's where material is missing from the cam magnet rubbing against it.

 

[1995TalonMT]

I am wondering if adding gasket material as a small spacer might help.. provided it does not leak? I replaced the sensor on my 420a and never had these issues, but I have the stock Cams.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

I checked the new sensor and it has no visual damage on it after a few hundred miles of use. I suppose the other sensor was shaped odd from a poor plastic casting.