This new switch is a different style that has a metal follower that should make it last longer, compared to the old plastic arms.
The metal piece sticking out of the switch needs to ride on the cam wheel, so that the switch can turn on and off as the cam wheel turns. This slight move forward, in the unit, causes the metal tab to properly track in the rotating guide.
When your water softener experiences error 1 or error 3, and the rotor at the top of the softener keeps rotating, making a loud whining sound, then your position switch should be faulty.