Plug ABS Sensor Hole In Knuckle

I'll put the long story below, but after a spiral of failures when doing the LH axle seal, I ended up replacing my LH steering knuckle with the Doorman part. But, it only comes with the hole for the ABS sensor and my truck does not have ABS.

Seems like my options are:

1. Find a rubber plug to put in the hole.
2. Buy a sensor, cut off the wire and put it in the hole. (There are sensors on Amazon for ~$20)
3. Get a used, even failed, sensor.

Has anyone else had to plug this hole? If so, how did you do it?

 

I would contact a company like Yotamasters, who sells delete plugs for T4Rs and Tacos. See if this is compatible for the 1st Gen tundra and let us know. b/c it's been asked before and I don't recall an answer. But I also can't imagine the sensor is radically different for these years. And if it is, maybe they have a part for it.

https://www.yotamasters.com/shop/ax...e-toyota-rear-axle-abs-sensor-block-off-caps/

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Nice, but at $16 plus tax and shipping, it's more than an Amazon sensor. I'll reach out to them to see if they have a solution.

 

It's true, but I feel like it's a cleaner solution! There may be cheaper products out there searching for "ABS sensor caps" on fleabay or scamazon.

 

Eh, it's a 320K mile work horse. I'll trim the wires at the sensor and call it a day.

 

OK, so here's the long story of how I got here.

I've got the East Coast Gear Supply bushing and seal to fix the play in the LH half shaft and leaking seal. Went to pull the 4 lower ball joint bolts so I could swing the knuckle and pull the half shaft out of the diff and 2 of the 4 LBJ bolts broke, 1 with 12-15mm of thread showing, the other sub-flush. After trying to extract the exposed one on the truck, I pulled the knuckle to work on the bench. I applied a bunch of heat and grabbed it with vice grips and with much effort it turned 1/4 of a turn, with a lot of groaning. Decided to throw in the towel and buy the Dorman knuckle.

Of course, that meant pressing the wheel bearing in and out, so I bought a bearing too. And a press, as I didn't have one, but have been thinking about one for a while.

Pressed the old hub out of the old bearing and, of course, the bearing separated leaving half of the inner race on the hub. So I bought a new hub.

$600 in extra parts and tools later, and now I'm reading the LBJ threads and thinking I should be doing them too. But the thought of pulling the RH side apart has me spooked. Another broken bolt and I'm heading down the same path. Zero play in either wheel, but 320K on the truck. I bought it at 290K, unclear history before that. Frame was replaced in 2010 at 161K, maybe ball joints done then, but not explicitly mentioned on the repair order I was able to download.

 

Found an Amazon sensor for under $15 shipped with Prime. Done.

$19 BOXI Front Left Driver Side ABS Wheel Speed Sensor Compatible for Toyota Sequoia 2001-2007 / for Toyota Tundra 2000-2006 | 895430C010 89543-0C010 970-328

https://www.amazon.com/BOXI-Compatible-2001-2007-895430C010-89543-0C010/dp/B08L63VM83

 

Going through my (new to me) truck and I'm in the same boat. Knuckle has the hole for the sensor but truck doesn't have ABS (at least I'm assuming cause there's no sensor there, haven't locked the brakes up yet...)

My question is, is there an issue with leaving it open? I don't mind a few bucks to plug it, but I'm happier saving those bucks if it doesn't matter. Aesthetically it's no worry...

 

To know whether or not you should have something wired there, look in your engine bay, passenger side, between the firewall and airbox. If you see a big 6”x6”x6” metal block with multiple hard lines coming out of the top, like a square squid or octopus, you have ABS and you need to get a sensor in there. You probably also have your ABS light on unless someone removed the fuse and/or dash bulb. You may have ABS-related codes to set, and you should scan the truck for codes anyway since they maybe burned out or removed the check engine bulb too!

Theoretically, you can plug it with anything. Hell, if you have a digital caliper, measure the inside diameter of the hole and find a solid rubber plug on scAmazon that is 1mm larger than that diameter. It’ll do the job nicely. Safe enough buying rubber plugs on there, just make sure you never order auto parts from them.

As I see you saying you are a new owner, did you read the new-owner sticky thread, “So you just bought a 1st gen?” It has a maintenance plan for your new-to-you truck. And hopefully it doesn’t help you uncover a major problem. Sadly, a lot of people do…

This thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

 

Gotcha, confirmed no ABS, poor me

Can any damage be done by leaving the hole open? Is that a path to the wheel bearing or anything? Wheels are spinning smooth. Its already got PLENTY of dust and grime in there. Otherwise I like your plug idea, but just more time and bucks if it's unnecessary.

I have seen that thread, and will be referring back to it. Still developing a plan, but (you replied in my other thread) suspension is my first priority because the front of my truck is sitting stupid low on some $60 coilovers. Timing belt and water pump will happen for sure.

 

As I recall, it's a path for water to get to the wheel bearing. That seems like a recipe for early bearing failure, that's why I plugged mine.

I considered a rubber plug, but the cheapo sensor fit properly and was held in by a bolt, so I knew it wasn't going to fall out.

 

Sounds like a better safe than sorry situation. I'll plug it

 

4WD, direct access to tone ring etc. Need to plug the hole.

You could literally take a metal slug from an electrical conduit box and glue it over the hole, but you definitely want to cover it up. Just make sure it's sealed fully.

 

I just ran into this problem today while installing a new (to me) rear axle on my 2000. My fix was two of these guys. Just tap it into the hole with a mallet and grab a 13mm wrench/socket, and problem solved!
You'll probably have to go to two auto part stores, they seem to only carry one of these at a given location. NAPA, AutoZone, O'Reilly's, doesn't matter.

 

There are many options to plug the ABS hole. There is also quite a price range for those options as well. Each option i would say is just as reliable as the next, but if there’s an empty hole, it’s critical to seal it up! You can buy the super fancy $100+ billet plugs, you can weld the hole shut, or if you want to go budget, push a yellow foam earplug about 1/2” down into the hole. Then fill the last 1/2” full of black colored RTV. Done and done, and super reliable.