Axle removal help!!

[l.groves]

I went to change out the differential to limited slip today and C clamps will not come out. When I push the Axles in they don't go far enough. Stopped for tonight but thought about it and looked at the other end of the axle and the ABS plate hits the ABS sensor. I unscrewed the bolt on the sensor to pull it out but it will not come out. Can these things be tapped out some towards the differential so I can push the axles in a little more?

 

[1105]

The sensor should come out... I've heard stories about shops breaking that sensor when they are changing the gears in the rearend. I just changed an ABS sensor on a 94 explorer at work, there was a 10mm bolt holding it on and it was a PITA to get out but it does come out. I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say ford has the same setup on our cars.

what part of FL are you from?

 

[SlowGT]

Spray it...and then spray it some more. I usually give it a little assistance with a small pin punch and some light tapping. Tap on the plastic, working your way full circle. I wouldn't recommend striking the pin. Mine worked fine when I removed them. If you break one, let me know and I can send you one.

 

[mo_dingo]

Seriously, you need to spray them down with some really good penetrating oil.

When I did my gears, I sprayed them down the night before, and then again in the morning when I had it on the lift.

They came out like butter (dead serious, like butter with no complications). I would recommend that you spray them down now; before you start to take them out, and again, right before you pull them. They are very expensive ($60 new I think).

Don't get impatient. Take your time, and be careful. Don't use anything to pry them out. It's like using drill bits. If you drill a hole, and then stick the bit in at an angle, you will break the bit every time. Except new bits are cheap. Prying will not pull it out evenly, so don't.
Scott

 

[l.groves]

Hey, thanks for the quick replys. I already cleaned them earlier and shot some penetrating fluid on them. I thought that was how to do it but I didn't know for sure. Thanks again

 

[TMC]

Don't bother taking it out if it's been in there for a while. They are pretty easy to break which is why some shops break them. Leave it where it's at and go grab a die grinder...then slightly grind the ABS ring until the sensor clears the ring when you push the axle in.

 

[Killercanary]

That's a good idea Troy! Moving it away doesn't interfer with the magnetic field it uses though does it?

One of mine broke last time I had gears installed... it cost like $70 for a new sensor! I was sure to sand the hole down real well, and I put just a tiny bit of anti-sieze in there to help prevent it from happening again.

 

[TMC]

I have not seen any problems with the ABS after doing this. The sensor body doesn't stick out as far as the pickup does so you just need to clear the body and it should be enough to be able to get the C-clip out.