How To: Wheel Speed Sensor Replacement (1 Viewer)

[elk]

I just had to do this procedure on my 2006 after the VSC, ABS, and TRAC lights went off. I had my mechanic check the codes and the right front sensor registered an error. You can check the Ohm's for the sensor, apparently they should read around 1.0, in my case, nothing, so new sensor it was. You can find the OE Denso sensor harness for around $180 shipped.

Banana Rating: (as long as you are comfortable with pulling hubs and rotors.)

Tools Required:
(54mm socket, brass drift, torque wrench, and 17mm socket for caliper and hub removal, follow the excellent how to's already on mud for this step)

-10 & 12mm sockets
-12mm box wrench
-hammer
-sandpaper or file
-zip ties or support for brake caliper
-patience

Obviously the most difficult and technical step is the hub R&R.

Step One: using a 12mm socket, remove the brake dust shield. There is a fiber gasket that can rip if you are not careful. Mine did not. Remove shield.

The problematic sensor will now be visible.

Step Two: use a 10mm socket to remove the bolt for the sensor from the inboard side.

Then follow with a 12mm wrench at the three brackets.

 

[elk]

Then use the 12mm box end to remove the highest bolt.

Followed by releasing the grey clip located on the passenger side inner fender, in front of the AHC pump if you should have one. The clip has one toggle.

 

[elk]

Don't break out the victory dance yet...

You wish. The sensor is in a high temperature location. As others have stated, it will not come out simply. Make sure you have ordered the correct part, you WILL destroy the old one.

The hole will be corroded and likely have fine layers of leftover aged plastic from the sensor.

Take your screwdriver, file, or sandpaper and go to town.

The remaining reinstall steps are the reverse of what you see above. Test fit the new sensor, taking care to not get metal or rust fragments onto the magnetic sensor.

Using never seize or another lubricant will help the mounting bolts reinstall easily. Start at the upper mount and work downward, reinstalling the brackets.

Before buttoning the hub up, make sure to clean off the spindle and threads to avoid bearing contamination.

Reference the steps for properly preloading the hub, and you are finished.

Your dash lights will not immediately turn off. The truck must be driven a short distance at speed while the ABS computer verifies functionality. My light shut off after 1000 feet or so.

Return to park, open favorite beverage and celebrate saving $600, while repackaging a hub at the same time.

 

[Mike6158]

Ohhhh... that's way different than my 2008 Duramax... waiting for more pics... this is something that I think is in my future

 

[2003lx470]

Excellent write up with pictures.

 

[Skidoo]

Before pulling brakes and hub, try removing just the sensor. In areas with less rust it may just pull out, worked for mine.
On "Using never seize or another lubricant will help the mounting bolts" torque spec is for dry threads so can end up overtorqued. Some never seize is a good idea on barrel of sensor to keep moisture out and prevent rust.

 

[rvariverguy]

Found this while searching for sensor replacement for 1996 LX450 driver front wheel. Thanks for the write up. Shop quoted me $800 for the kit alone.

 

[LBridges]

Bringing back a slightly old thread.

Today I switched out the DS front ABS sensor. Replaced as I screwed up what I believe to be the original OEM sensor last weekend while replacing the axle and flange due to a bit of carelessness on my part.

In looking through MUD, I found this thread and liked it because of the pics, etc. Anyway, thought I would update what I did to make this work. Part didn't come in until Friday's mail, so today, Saturday, was fix-it day.

Since the truck isn't my daily driver I was able to hit it each afternoon with a good shot of PB Blaster and let it sit and do its thing, Monday-Friday. First I removed the bolt holding the sensor to the hub. Then using a scrapper I tapped long the long axis of the sensor where it goes into the hub in such a way that the sensor would twist in the bore. It moved a tiny bit, so I tapped it back to approximately it's original position. I repeated this back and forth motion, getting a little more movement each time, until I was able to both pull and twist it out by hand. To clean out the opening I used a wire brush like one would use on the inside of a brass plumbing tee before soldering it up - also had a magnet there to catch any loose bits - the PB Blaster helped the rust clean up by penetrating and doing it's thing on the rust inside the bore that holds the sensor. A swipe or two with a microfiber to dry it all out, a touch of anti-seize on the body of the sensor (the part that sits in the bore, not on the actual sensor part), then put it all back following the pics and discussion above to complete the job. Started it up and the lights went out almost immediately (thankfully).

I think the PB Blaster, and a bit of luck, made this a 1 banana job. Offered this tidbit so others might try this method before resorting to hammers and drills etc.

 

[auh]

Bumping this, wish I would have seen it before today. Went to change a rear sensor, harder to take everything apart bc of the ebrake so I thought I'd try my luck with PB blaster. Sensor disintegrated so now I'm going to have to do the drilling and hammering, but anti seize when the new one goes in sounds like a great idea!

 

[dnp]

To revive this thread once again, I'm looking at all of the different brands of sensors available for a 100. Truly, the range of prices are $20 to $200! That being said, whenever I can, I buy Denso replacement parts, but I've not been able to find a Denso-brand in all my searching. Can anyone tell me where I can locate one (and a part number, if you have it?) Thanks.

 

[motorsargeT]

To revive this thread once again, I'm looking at all of the different brands of sensors available for a 100. Truly, the range of prices are $20 to $200! That being said, whenever I can, I buy Denso replacement parts, but I've not been able to find a Denso-brand in all my searching. Can anyone tell me where I can locate one (and a part number, if you have it?) Thanks.

I ordered the Airtex/wells brand sensors off of rock auto for mine and the sensors that were in the box were denso sensors with a toyota part number on them. I have also ordered several other Airtex/wells brand parts from rock auto for my wife's Audi and they were factory Audi parts with the Audi stamp on them in a different box. I can't guarantee it but my experience with that brand has been pretty good so far.

 

[vcheng]

Bringing back a slightly old thread.

Today I switched out the DS front ABS sensor. Replaced as I screwed up what I believe to be the original OEM sensor last weekend while replacing the axle and flange due to a bit of carelessness on my part.

In looking through MUD, I found this thread and liked it because of the pics, etc. Anyway, thought I would update what I did to make this work. Part didn't come in until Friday's mail, so today, Saturday, was fix-it day.

Since the truck isn't my daily driver I was able to hit it each afternoon with a good shot of PB Blaster and let it sit and do its thing, Monday-Friday. First I removed the bolt holding the sensor to the hub. Then using a scrapper I tapped long the long axis of the sensor where it goes into the hub in such a way that the sensor would twist in the bore. It moved a tiny bit, so I tapped it back to approximately it's original position. I repeated this back and forth motion, getting a little more movement each time, until I was able to both pull and twist it out by hand. To clean out the opening I used a wire brush like one would use on the inside of a brass plumbing tee before soldering it up - also had a magnet there to catch any loose bits - the PB Blaster helped the rust clean up by penetrating and doing it's thing on the rust inside the bore that holds the sensor. A swipe or two with a microfiber to dry it all out, a touch of anti-seize on the body of the sensor (the part that sits in the bore, not on the actual sensor part), then put it all back following the pics and discussion above to complete the job. Started it up and the lights went out almost immediately (thankfully).

I think the PB Blaster, and a bit of luck, made this a 1 banana job. Offered this tidbit so others might try this method before resorting to hammers and drills etc.

I will be following your instructions above to replace the left front sensor soon, hoping that opening up the whole bearing side will not be needed.

 

[dubyahard]

About to swap the speed sensor on my left front. Before dropping $132 for an OEM, I was going to give this cheapo on a whirl since it's $24.
https://www.carparts.com/details/To...tpzTB395z8d_g4AAVq8aAtnaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I've already removed the sensor easily from the rear of the hub and tried cleaning, then clearing my codes and driving which did not help.
I'm still throwing C0205 (Front Speed Sensor LH Circuit) and C1223 (ABS Control System Malfunction).
Unless someone else has another recommendation, I'm ordering it.

 

[vcheng]

About to swap the speed sensor on my left front. Before dropping $132 for an OEM, I was going to give this cheapo on a whirl since it's $24.
https://www.carparts.com/details/To...tpzTB395z8d_g4AAVq8aAtnaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
I've already removed the sensor easily from the rear of the hub and tried cleaning, then clearing my codes and driving which did not help.
I'm still throwing C0205 (Front Speed Sensor LH Circuit) and C1223 (ABS Control System Malfunction).
Unless someone else has another recommendation, I'm ordering it.

Worth looking into if it saves a hunnert bucks. Definitely!

 

[dubyahard]

Worth looking into if it saves a hunnert bucks. Definitely!

$26 delivered and it worked. We'll see how long it lasts. But no more lights for now and I was able to activate ABS on some dirt.

 

[vcheng]

After two weeks of twice daily shots of PB Blaster, I felt it was time to go ahead with the left front wheel speed sensor replacement. Well, wouldn't you know it, 14 years of upstate NY weathering had corroded the sensor in place very tightly indeed, far beyond what PB Blaster could help with.

Hoping to avoid opening up the hub, I started to pick at the sensor head with a small screwdriver, needle-nosed pliers and and a small pick. It took me a good while, but I was able to retract the bits and pieces of the sensor from the back. Remove the 10 mm bolt and start digging. The cover comes off, then two wires. Then comes are small square magnet, which fits a 10 mm wrench to help twist it off. Then comes about 57.3 miles of very fine copper wire wound around a small round metal piece. Keep digging. It all comes out with some patience.

A couple of shots of compressed air to clean up the debris and the new sensor is ready to go in after cleaning the mounting hole with some sandpaper.

The sensor wiring is held in place with three 12 mm bolts and brackets, simple to figure out.

The OEM sensor cost me about $180 online. Driving with the Christmas lights on the dash finally off: priceless.

 

[FlammableFishie]

Another thread revival: I had the ABS, VSC Trac, and VSC Off lights come on last weekend while driving through the mountains (scary having ATRAC engage at speed). Tried to pull the codes with a cheap bluetooth OBDII scanner but only had P0171 returned (hopefully O2 sensor, but that's another story). I managed to get someone to pull the ABS codes for me, which returned way more codes than I was expecting:

So I'm wondering if replacing both front wheel speed sensors will fix these codes or if it will be something slightly more involved. I'm going to try to remove the sensors and clean them first, before purchasing and replacing both with new sensors. Any thoughts on what might have caused these codes to appear under normal driving conditions?

Also, are the wheel speed sensors interchangeable between 98-02 and 03-07?

 

[divejoe]

Another thread revival: I had the ABS, VSC Trac, and VSC Off lights come on last weekend while driving through the mountains (scary having ATRAC engage at speed). Tried to pull the codes with a cheap bluetooth OBDII scanner but only had P0171 returned (hopefully O2 sensor, but that's another story). I managed to get someone to pull the ABS codes for me, which returned way more codes than I was expecting:

So I'm wondering if replacing both front wheel speed sensors will fix these codes or if it will be something slightly more involved. I'm going to try to remove the sensors and clean them first, before purchasing and replacing both with new sensors. Any thoughts on what might have caused these codes to appear under normal driving conditions?

Also, are the wheel speed sensors interchangeable between 98-02 and 03-07?

So my VSC, ABS, and TRAC lights went off. Checked all the resistance for the sensors and got 1 ohm for the front and 1.3 for the rear so I think the sensors are fine. Before taking to the mechanic I’d like to know what else should I checked so I have a better understanding of the problem so don’t get ripped off. Do you have any recommendations? 2001 LC w/ 160K miles. Thanks for all the help!

 

[sje1124]

About to swap the speed sensor on my left front. Before dropping $132 for an OEM, I was going to give this cheapo on a whirl since it's $24.
Replacement Speed Sensor REPT310826 | CarParts.com
I've already removed the sensor easily from the rear of the hub and tried cleaning, then clearing my codes and driving which did not help.
I'm still throwing C0205 (Front Speed Sensor LH Circuit) and C1223 (ABS Control System Malfunction).
Unless someone else has another recommendation, I'm ordering it.

Hey man, how is this holding up? Just ordered one tonight.

 

[dubyahard]

It was still running strong when I sold the truck in July.