ABS sensor removal without damage

[pejohnson]

Has anyone had success removing the ABS sensors on the knuckles without damaging? If so, what's your secret. I have a 95 SHO and my ABS light is on. I believe I damaged a couple of the sensor when installing new struts. I replaced one with a new sensor but they aren't cheap. The other day at the junk yard and I found a Sable with the same set up. I tried removing all of the sensors, but failed by damaging everyone. Yes I am from the rust belt, so that's probably the major issue. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Just trying to save a few bucks if possible.

 

[jelloslug]

Lots pf penetrating fluid.

 

[Ishodu]

I don't think you will ever remove one with out damaging it in the rust belt. The rust builds up around the plastic and compresses it in permanently.

 

[kevinspann]

Expensive but it's not worth the hassle of trying to get 20 of them out, just to possibly get 2. I've never been able to...

 

[rubydist]

I have never gotten one out that was rusty at all - similar to above. I have gotten 'clean' ones out, but still a lot of work.

edit:
btw, the Gen3 ones will work, although shaped slightly different, and they are sometimes easier to get out.

 

[sdpatt]

I am so thankful I do not live in the rust belt. I cannot imagine having to deal with the component corrosion you guys are challenged with.

 

[SHOVNST]

Be VERY thankful. Dealing with rust on a daily basis is a big reason I no longer work in auto repair.....

 

[pjtoledo]

I am so thankful I do not live in the rust belt. I cannot imagine having to deal with the component corrosion you guys are challenged with.

ahh, you ain't seen nothing yet,,,,,er I mean nothing is exactly what you see where some of our parts used to be.

there is a fun side to it, we get to smash and bash with really big hammers alot.



Perry

 

[JRA2000TL]

I have a difficult enough time working on rust free cars; I couldn't imagine dealing with rust everywhere either.

My 95 seems to have a little more than average corrosion underneath. It was always a TN and north AL car where they get little snow, but it picked up corrosion somewhere. I recall the shop calling me about my ABS sensor when changing the wheel bearing. They told me it could possibly get damaged, but they just unplugged it rather than removed it (removal wasn't necessary to replace the bearing). My ABS doesn't work anyway.

 

[AREA 91]

OK guys and gals, here's MY secret to removing the front ABS sensor.
I use a cut off wheel and cut a wedge or "V" shape out of the knuckle.
You make the 2 cuts towards the sensor, about a 1/2 inch apart.
You have to be careful not to cut into the sensor itself, as this will junk it.
You may need a chisel/flat head and a hammer to remove the small wedge that you just cut.
Now remove the bolt that holds the sensor. This can be a real *****!
You have now taken the tension off the sensor, making it much easier to remove.
The abs sensor retaining bolt will now do it's job at holding the new sensor in.
A liberal ammount of anti-sieze is recomended on the bolt and outter diameter of the sensor.
I have done this many times with no negative effects.
It also makes swapping sensors in the future a piece of cake!

 

[pejohnson]

Knuckle damage

Didn't you just ruin the knuckle? I guess if you are at a junk yard, it's fair game. Would a saw-saw work with a metal blade? I can't bring a cut off wheel to the junk yard.

OK guys and gals, here's MY secret to removing the front ABS sensor.
I use a cut off wheel and cut a wedge or "V" shape out of the knuckle.
You make the 2 cuts towards the sensor, about a 1/2 inch apart.
You have to be careful not to cut into the sensor itself, as this will junk it.
You may need a chisel/flat head and a hammer to remove the small wedge that you just cut.
Now remove the bolt that holds the sensor. This can be a real *****!
You have now taken the tension off the sensor, making it much easier to remove.
The abs sensor retaining bolt will now do it's job at holding the new sensor in.
A liberal ammount of anti-sieze is recomended on the bolt and outter diameter of the sensor.
I have done this many times with no negative effects.
It also makes swapping sensors in the future a piece of cake!

 

[rubydist]

if you do that trick correctly, the retaining bolt will still hold the 'new' sensor in place.

 

[pejohnson]

Cutting the V

You wouldn't have a picture to help visually understand what you are describing it? I crawled under the car today and am not sure where to cut the V and how deep.

if you do that trick correctly, the retaining bolt will still hold the 'new' sensor in place.

 

[waffles]

I'm dealing with this same issue. If I twisted the top part of the sensor around a few times, without seeing the metal round part that faces the toothed wheel turn, did I break it?

 

[itwonder]

I like Area91's V cut idea; good thinking

When I did my '96 brake upgrade last year, there was one sensor that I couldn't remove without damage. I bought a new one. It was not that expensive as I recall, so take that into consideration when planning how much effort to put into saving one.

 

[waffles]

I just said screw it and hammered the thing out. I figure if i'm doing an upgrade It wouln't be a bad time to throw some new sensors in. I think each one is like $45