Help - Fooking ABS sensors...

[S2central.net]

The new ones slid in a treat - ably assisted by a smidgin of copper grease. The annoying part was discovering that the 2-pin connector on the sensor loom is different from that on the car. **** - so you have to splice the wires with insulated bullet connectors. Just something to note for anyone else.


Paul

[Christophski]

Oh im not looking forward to removing these abs sensors so I can get the subframe out and into the other workshop... Seems I have some fiddly work coming my way! Seems in my quest for information on the abs sensor removal subject i have come across a post where Mr Nugent is removing them from the very same car that is now in my ownership! Paul i hope you used grease when refitting them lol. Would make my life easier haha.

Any body able to help with any suggestions so I might not absolutely obliterate these sensors so I might not need to replace them?

[GazzaG60]

from recent experience they either pull out or they dont.

on the 16v they just pulled out. tiny twists like a few degrees and pull. hitting them aint no good and if you hit from inside the hub they dent.

if they are stuch then snap um off and drill through them. a little get a punch and hit it right through. twist it out then. usually the inside copper/metal sheath is rusted or seized them in. good clean jobs a good'n. when putting them back in be very carful not to pusgh them too far. if you do you will get seated type pattern on them off the abs ring on the shaft. btdt

[AndyP]

In my experience they either come out fairly easily or not at all!

[Christophski]

Ahhh... damn! Im assuming if I get them out by mullering them then I can still get these to replace them? If i do end up replacing them, do I just splice the wiring into the loom or is there any plugs anywhere i can disconnect? (remember its an avant)

[macspring]

I heard of this in the past and posted it on here, I don't know if it is correct, but if you find out that it is, you could post, but truck artic trailers use these ABS sensors, so are much cheaper than buying the sensors from Audi, assuming it is not NLA.

Absolutely worth running a stiff wire pipe cleaning brush, ideally in a drill, up and down the hole, assuming the driveshaft is out of the way, and then use a fresh copper insert with copper grease. The copper insert is very expensive from the dealer for what it is, iirc.

The cleaning and the grease makes it a joy, rather than a pita, to revisit this area in the future. BTDT.

HTH.

Regards.

[A1QSHIP]

The last time I had to cut one out I drilled out the inner pieces of the stuck sensor. Then I used a hi-speed die grinder to cut away the stainless steel shell & pulled out the pieces. Used a small brake cylinder hone to clean out the sensor bore, refitted a new holder & sensor with plenty of copperslip. I always assume that the sensor is not going to come out easily & start in that frame of mind.
Chris

[GazzaG60]

cant comment on avant but plugs are under rear seat on saloon

[Christophski]

Cool thanks for all the suggestions and tips guys. I will try getting a few more bits undone tonight so im that little bit closer to dropping the subframe...

[Christophski]

So after trying to loosen these for a little bit this evening I think I can safely say they ain't budging....

Anyone know where the plug for these are so I can undo them plug end and leaving them in the hub? It's an avant... Under the rear seat I'm guessing but is it more under the backrest for the rear seat or do I need to remove the cover under the rear seat and then find the plugs or are they under the footwell carpets?

[newsh]

Pretty sure they're under the rear bench

[quattrodave]

So after many times buying 2nd hand abs sensors and seeing this thread I find they are the same as truck/trailor and some land rovers and audi a6, and available from about £15 upwards new via land rover specialists complete with sleeves !, also just bought 10 x sleeves from ebay for £22.45 delivered so £2.25 each !

search wabco abs sensor !

No need to worry about destroying them when refurbing hubs next time.

[Christophski]

Cool, thanks for the heads up Dave.

Are the plugs under the cover that's under the bench john? I tried to have a look earlier but was messy from laying under the car and didn't want to scuff the paint against the garage walls

[andy10v]

ABS plugs are under the rear seat, tape a bit of string on to them when you pull the out to make it easy to get them back in. (I just left the ABS sensor in when changing wheel bearings as I did not want to disturb them) If you are doing an overhaul now is the time to remove them, you will be pissed if a sensor fails and you have to rip it all apart in a couple of months.

I got landrover ABS collets from tonks4x4 for a couple of pounds (or £15 from Audi).

I got an ebay B5 quattro rear abs sensor, £30 ish. ABS ring is available on ebay for about £10 as well.

I drilled out the sensor core, then chiseld out the sleeve with a screwdriver. Scrape all the rust flakes out so the bore is the correct size, wire wheel in a drill to finish.

[GazzaG60]

should be on each side. they look like the front ones under the bonnet. the one on the passenger side next to turret for reference. small black round connectors