[HMeeder]

Since you should only have to do this once in a blue moon, why destroy a tool to do it?

I take the lead and wrap it tightly around a screw driver, making a pig tail. I then take a 13mm deep socket and slide the pigtail with the connector on the inside, into the socket, then the sensor. I have removed and replaced the sensor a dozen times using this method, no problems.

BTW the sensor is canted at about 20 degrees off of perpendicular (towards the rear of the car) That may be contributing to your frustration.

Good luck!