Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Speed Sensor Removal Tip

[EdK]

I recently had the speed sensor (rear axle mounted) on my '99 go bad. After carefully wiping the area down and removing the old sensor, I found that the lower half was still in the axle housing. This plastic cased half would spin freely in the housing, so trying to grab it with a tap didn't work. Grabbing an edge with small needle nose pliers only broke off small pieces of plastic. :-laf Finally I tried grinding down a small diameter allen wrench until it fit into the plastic case. Then I heated it red hot and quickly stuck it down into the side of the plastic case lodged in the axle housing. With a little tug, out popped the broken half of the sensor case. Hope this saves frustration for someone else with a broken sensor case.



Ed K

 

[Joe Mc]

Sweet!!!!!

 

[T-Bone]

I’m really hoping this works for me!!!



I fought with a few dealers and got the price down from $58 to $45 and went and got the new speed sensor. The bolt came loose and I was able to gently wiggle the old sensor. I was prying ever so gently all the while keeping this post in mind. Don’t break it. Don’t break it. Snap!



I’ll let you know if this works for me. If it does not, am I left to pull the gears to get to the speed sensor from the inside?



Thanks,

T-Bone

 

[JoshPeters]

T-Bone... while that's the LAST thing you want to do... . I understand... .



What I've done... I'll still pull the back cover... and get a rag stuffed up in there the best I can. Then, since there is room... I'll drill a small hole all the way through it, and try to stay centered. I then take a self tapping screw, and run it in there as far as I comfortably can. I then use a vicegrips or pliars on the screw to extract it. Sometimes, the screw will be slightly higher than the case. . and you can get a prying devise under the screw head and pry it up.



Generally once the O-ring finally releases it's easy to get out.



JP

 

[T-Bone]

JP,



Thanks for the additional tip. There isn’t much room to work in there above the gear housing. If I can get a drill above there, do I still need to pull the cover if I do not drill all the way through? I hate to pull the cover if I do not have to.



T-Bone

 

[JoshPeters]

I forget... . most people don't have a 90* drill.



You don't have to pull the cover if you don't drill all the way through. When I had to mess with mine... it was due for a fluid change anyway.



JP

 

[MACHINEST]

Been there done that... . when you put the new one in put some never sieze on it... ...

 

[T-Bone]

Well I’ll be tackling this one at noon today with the help of a friend. I do have a right angle drill and am thinking I can jack up the rear of the truck to extend the suspension. This should give us a little more room to work above the axel.



Thanks for all the tips. I’ll let you know how it turns out.



T-Bone

 

[T-Bone]

Well, it’s fixed. Thanks for all the tips guys.



I tried to drill a hole for a self tapping screw and didn’t get very far. I think it’s a magnet in the center of the sensor and my drill bits were no match.



I worked on the plastic edge for a bit with a pliers and then with a screw and it just crumbles.



I did not get up the nerve to heat anything and try sticking it in there.



Long story short, I was in need of a rear end service and decided to let them worry about it. The shop said no problem and took care of things – no extra charge. He did say that the sensor had rubbed some on the ring gear and was worn down. He had seen one come totally through and get eaten up by the rear end killing the rear end in the process. Not good. Mine ended up no problem and no now more ABS light.



Thanks again for all the tips. Be careful when pulling that thing. Go slow and be gentle.



T-Bone