ABS sensor broken bolt

[brukshut]

Hey folks,

I snapped the head off the bolt for the ABS sensor on my rear wheel. To make matters worse, it's a bitch to get a drill in there, though I suppose an angle headed drill will work. The ABS sensor is pretty stuck in there, but I'm concerned it may work itself out.

If I tear down the wheel, can you get to the bolt on the other side for better access?

Sorry if this has been answered before, I looked but could not find the answer to this question.

Thanks in advance --

 

[brukshut]

An update, first off, the bolt that holds the rear ABS sensor goes not go into the rear axle, but into the rear backing plate. The rear backing plate bolts to the end of the rear axle with four main bolts, which may be welded directly to the plate. You can tear down the wheel, pull the hub off and the parking brake and get to the backing plate which you should then be able to remove but getting off the four retaining nuts. I actually have the wheel torn down right now doing a full brake job, rotors, pads, parking brake pads and all springs, cables, etc.

Removing the backing plate will give you a better angle to remove the broken bolt. This can be done at a machine shop and should be pretty simple once the backing plate is off. It's ludicrous that Toyota charges $450 for a new backing plate (for the rear axle of a 1996 80), but the calipers bolt to the plate, so they obviously need to be pretty hefty. Still, the price is unreasonable.

I'm seen spacers to replace the backing plates on the front wheels, but not the rear ones. I'd like to see some one fabricate some smaller spacers for the back wheels (replacement for OEM backing plates) that have caliper mounts and holes for ABS sensors? It seems like enough people are asking for them.

Right now my ABS sensor is glued in there, so I'm not going to be able to remove it until I get the backing plate off anyway, which I'd like to try soon.

 

[landtank]

The bolt hole for that bolt is not in the backing plate but in the axle housing.

But once the backing plate is removed you can drill and tsp the hole easily from the outside of the axle

 

[Stevesnj]

I had the same issue and just put on steel epoxy on it, called 'Steel Stix' 2 part epoxy. Been holding in there 2 years now

 

[brukshut]

Thanks for the information Land Tank, I'll have a look at it when I pull the backing plate. I wonder if you can push the ABS sensor out from that side while you have the plate removed? Mine seems pretty jammed in there. This might have to wait until I remove/rebuild/repaint the rear axle.

Good to know, hopefully my backing plates are in good shape and can be cleaned up when I decide to tackle this.

I also answered my own question about the replacing the backing plates in the rear -- they are part of the parking brakes (duh!), which are just drum brakes on the inside of your rotors. That's the reason why no one fabs these up for sale, unless you decide you don't need a parking brake.

Thanks folks!

 

[landtank]

it's common for me to see these sensors stuck on there home and I use a small rubber headed hammer to tap them out. Remember you are hitting the sensor side of things and there is a chance you will damage the sensor.