Elle wrote:
> "Steven L." > wrote
>> I have an old 1995 Honda Civic and the ABS light started
>> coming on. I took it to a mechanic who diagnosed it as a
>> faulty left rear wheel sensor. OK, fine, replace the
>> sensor; sounds simple enough.
>>
>> Then I get another call from my mechanic some time later:
>> He rattled off some gobbledygook that "the sensor runs
>> down where the rear control arms are"
>
> There are indeed lines, going to each rear wheel's ABS
> sensor, that run along the rear control arms. Small bolts (6
> mm nominal diameter) and brackets attach the lines to the
> control arm. This appears on the bottom drawing on the first
> page at
> http://media.honda.co.uk/car/owner/m...pdf/19-144.pdf .
>
> The control arm is the member that extends from inboard at
> the wheel hub to outboard, with the coil spring attaching
> in between.
>
> I would be surprised if the mechanic had any serious
> problems with those small bolts connecting sensor lines to
> the control arm. Worst case, maybe they have to be drilled
> out IF they need replacement. If he's only doing the sensor,
> I am doubtful the lines have to be unbolted at all.
>
> The control arm bolts with bushings around them are the much
> larger ones (10 mm diameter) that take an enormous load and
> so tend to freeze to the inner sleeves of the bushings.
>
>> and that the control arms had become frozen by rust or
>
> He means the control arm bolts are likely frozen to their
> respective bushings, meaning they typically have to be cut
> out or torched out. This is very common not only in Hondas,
> but many other makes of cars. Frozen control arm bolts have
> received a lot of attention at this newsgroup over the
> years, mostly described in four-letter words.
>
>> corrosion over the years, would not come off, and needed
>> to be replaced too. And something about bushings needing
>> replacement too.
>
> The bushings of a Honda over 10 years/100k miles very likely
> could stand replacement. Doing so will likely improve
> handling. OTOH, if you're not having tire wear problems, and
> do not have a lot of money, and are fine with the way the
> car currently handles, you can put this off, IMO. To have a
> shop do all the suspension bushings would probably run
> around $700 to $1000.
>
> The bolts being seized to the bushing sleeves is also not
> per design, of course. They're supposed to rotate somewhat
> within the bushings.
>
>> I have absolutely no idea what he's talking about, so I
>> could use a sanity check. Does any of this make any sense
>> at all? Why would replacing an ABS rear wheel sensor have
>> anything to do with control arms, bushings, etc.?
>
> I suspect he's saying that, while diagnosing the wheel
> sensor problem, he noticed the control arm bushings looked
> very worn and also suspects frozen control arm bolts. If he
> did not mention this, I think he would be remiss. He may be
> trying to make more money off you, but it's more than likely
> a legitimate recommendation.
>
> Ask him to clarify whether he feels he has to remove the
> control arms to replace the wheel sensor. My take so far
> from the drawing and working extensively on my (non-ABS)
> Civic's rear control arms is that this should not be
> necessary.

Now that I was armed (no pun intended) with your description, I was able
to get more clarification. The mechanic said the control arms don't
have to be replaced; it's the bolts and bushings that have gotten worn
and rusted frozen in place. And he's only going to service those bolts
and bushings on the control arm for the wheel sensor that needs
replacement; not any other control arms. Finally, he assured me that
the rest of the suspension is in good shape.

So it does sound like he knows what he's talking about.

But based on what you said, I will ask him if at some future point it
might be worthwhile to inspect and service the bushings on the other
control arms too.

Thank you, and thanks also to everyone else who responded!



--
Steven D. Litvintchouk
Email:
Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.