I was in *some* thread with someone this week -- I believe on this board -- and we were speculating about whether ABS wheel sensors were user-replaceable.

I had occasion to be reading the RAVE, ahead of a brake job this weekend, and it says that they are *not*; that they're part of the hub (and implies strongly that if your sensor fails, you have to replace the whole hub.

If that's not really true, no doubt Spike or Mike will tell us; if so, hopefully the OP from that thread will see this.

 

I'm not sure why it is was even being argued. It is simple. They are NOT part of the hub and they ARE replaceable. There are 2 little bolts that connect them to the hub maybe that is why he was confused.

 

No that is NOT true.
ABS sensors are a common wear item and can be replaced on their own.

http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/STC1749.cfm

http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/SSW500020.cfm

They also sell it as a kit, hub with ABS sensor.
http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/TAY100060.cfm

On a DI when the wheel bearings go bad you replace the wheel bearings, when they go bad on a DII, you have to replace the whole hub.

 

Page 70-48 of the workshop manual appears to say otherwise.

They're quite explicit about it.

What am I missing?

 

Who you gonna believe us or that lying manual?

Get your hands dirty and find out for yourself if you don't believe those who have actually replaced the sensor themselves.

 

Why are you wanting to replace one, have you checked for codes, what were they, are your brake rotors warped, are your brakes squeaking?
With the new style replaceable speed sensor, if you are not pretty mechanical, you may not want to replace it your self since they now must be direct wired into the Slabbs.

 

Well, lip, Mike's immediately following comment, about the "new style replaceable sensor" suggests that in fact, the manual's *not* lying, no? :-)

 

Not necessarily, you can do it, but since this is a revision that require rerouting wires and connecting straight to the Slabbs, instead of plug and play with the shorter old stile wiring, it is more technical.

 

So what models years have hubs with non replaceable abs sensors?

 

Non.
They are all replaceable, but there are upgraded ABS sensors that do not have connectors on them, instead they hard wire directly to the SLABS unit.
LR had a problem with the old style ABS sensors, the connectors would get dirty/corroded/loose/whatever and set off the 3 amigos.
So to solve this problem they skipped the connector and included a longer wire to be soldered directly to the circuit board on the SLABS unit.
A new hub will come with this type of ABS sensor, I think you can still buy the old style brand new but it is old stock.

If you had to replace the whole hub everytime a ABS sensor went bad nobody would have ABS anymore, it would cost to much.