I'm doing a front-end job on my 1998 Q45t and am almost ready to pull the strut assemblys out for replacement. I've removed the ABS sensor bolts but the sensors seem to be frozen in place on the hub end of the struts. I've tried to loosen them up with penetrating oil but have had no luck and I do not want to take the chance of trashing them by doing something stupid, although "stupid" is generally how I roll.
Do any of you savvy guys have a secret trick that might help me?
(I searched but only found a guy who tried to force the issue and had to buy new sensors.)
Help! Y33 Front ABS Sensors Refuse to Play Nice
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tfvesquire
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:56 am
- Car: 1998 Q45
Re: Help! Y33 Front ABS Sensors Refuse to Play Nice (KingKarl)
STOP RIGHT THERE!!
I ruined my passenger side sensor doing what you are doing because the sensors get stuck in place from years of exposure. If they don't slide out after removing the 10mm bolt, then simply put the bolt back in and snug it down. I assume you did not try and pry it off yet? What happens is the plastic housing starts to move and you think the sensor is also moving, but what happens is the wires break and the sensor is no good. $128.00 for a new sensor IIRC.
What you can do is actually disconnect both front sensors and remove the strut assemblies carefully along with the sensors and harnesses attached. All you have to do is trace the sensor wire to the splash shield and pop the rubber grommet out towards the wheel well, (not in towards the engine) and from inside the engine bay, locate the plug on the inner part of the wheel well. Carefully unplug each sensor and thread it through the opening.
Then either compress the springs yourself or have a shop do them. Because our springs are heavy duty, unless you have a heavy duty air gun with about 600 lbs of torque or more, you will most likely have to the shop to have the strut cartridges swapped out. I was lucky to purchase a shop wall mounted strut compressor and did mine myself. My gun crappped out on my first try and wouldn't comress the springs far enough to install the nut (MAC 585 lbs of torque!).
Hope I caught you before you tried to remove the sensors!!
Good luck and let us know how it turned out.
Ted
I ruined my passenger side sensor doing what you are doing because the sensors get stuck in place from years of exposure. If they don't slide out after removing the 10mm bolt, then simply put the bolt back in and snug it down. I assume you did not try and pry it off yet? What happens is the plastic housing starts to move and you think the sensor is also moving, but what happens is the wires break and the sensor is no good. $128.00 for a new sensor IIRC.
What you can do is actually disconnect both front sensors and remove the strut assemblies carefully along with the sensors and harnesses attached. All you have to do is trace the sensor wire to the splash shield and pop the rubber grommet out towards the wheel well, (not in towards the engine) and from inside the engine bay, locate the plug on the inner part of the wheel well. Carefully unplug each sensor and thread it through the opening.
Then either compress the springs yourself or have a shop do them. Because our springs are heavy duty, unless you have a heavy duty air gun with about 600 lbs of torque or more, you will most likely have to the shop to have the strut cartridges swapped out. I was lucky to purchase a shop wall mounted strut compressor and did mine myself. My gun crappped out on my first try and wouldn't comress the springs far enough to install the nut (MAC 585 lbs of torque!).
Hope I caught you before you tried to remove the sensors!!
Good luck and let us know how it turned out.
Ted
Re: Help! Y33 Front ABS Sensors Refuse to Play Nice (tfvesquire)
Thanks, tfvesquire.
Ahhhh, life is indeed a box of chocolates. I spent the extra bucks to buy whole strut assemblys as I thought Nissan could do a better job with the installing the strut oil and packing and sealing the whole unit than me. I still believe this.
So, considering your info, if there is no way to get impacted ABS sensors out without busting them, bust I must. I have the hubs removed from the spindles so perhaps I'll try to tap the sensors out from the brake-side using a suitably sized deep well socket as a drift.
OMG, I'm so scared! I sense that applying this technique to a plastic sensor has "get out your wallet" written all over it. Also, after checking online with IOS, I find the sensors now go for $135 each. My wife, the Iron Swede is preparing what she calls her "Gender Reassignment" kit as I type this reply.
As for compressing the coil springs, your warning is well-taken. (Does anyone know if there are any homes for recovering eunochs close to T3 in Atlanta?)
Ahhhh, life is indeed a box of chocolates. I spent the extra bucks to buy whole strut assemblys as I thought Nissan could do a better job with the installing the strut oil and packing and sealing the whole unit than me. I still believe this.
So, considering your info, if there is no way to get impacted ABS sensors out without busting them, bust I must. I have the hubs removed from the spindles so perhaps I'll try to tap the sensors out from the brake-side using a suitably sized deep well socket as a drift.
OMG, I'm so scared! I sense that applying this technique to a plastic sensor has "get out your wallet" written all over it. Also, after checking online with IOS, I find the sensors now go for $135 each. My wife, the Iron Swede is preparing what she calls her "Gender Reassignment" kit as I type this reply.
As for compressing the coil springs, your warning is well-taken. (Does anyone know if there are any homes for recovering eunochs close to T3 in Atlanta?)
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tfvesquire
- Posts: 290
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:56 am
- Car: 1998 Q45
Re: Help! Y33 Front ABS Sensors Refuse to Play Nice (KingKarl)
Well, i can tell you for sure, if they don't budge once you remove the 10mm bolt, then tapping on the only accessible part inside the ABS ring (the magnet) will result in you having to purchase two new sensors.
Since you went ahead and purchased the entire strut assembly unit, you might as well got to town on your old ones. If you have an air compressor and a cut off tool with a couple of cut off discs, you could try and cut the old sensors out by carefully cutting the metal housing they slide into. Just have someone hold a chisel or some other metal tool over the sensor as you cut the housing and be careful not to cut too much at a time.
Worse case senario, if you mess up the sensor, then you will have to purchase two new ones anyways.
Best of luck to you.
Ted
Since you went ahead and purchased the entire strut assembly unit, you might as well got to town on your old ones. If you have an air compressor and a cut off tool with a couple of cut off discs, you could try and cut the old sensors out by carefully cutting the metal housing they slide into. Just have someone hold a chisel or some other metal tool over the sensor as you cut the housing and be careful not to cut too much at a time.
Worse case senario, if you mess up the sensor, then you will have to purchase two new ones anyways.
Best of luck to you.
Ted