reference speed sensors

[moalaska]

Ok so when doing a clutch, can you pull the bell housing with the sensors still in?

[944 Ecology]

No, unless the bell housing has been notched for this purpose... (Not a factory modification).

[dgcantrell]

Definitely no. I broke my sensor holder like a big dummy when I did my clutch. I was able to weld it back together though. That was almost 20 years ago.

[hoorah]

Add me to the list of people that broke the bracket taking off the bellhousing.

Supposedly, if you run a late starter and notch the bellhousing, you increase the risk of interference from the starter during startup. I think if you use the later bracket with the sleeve, you're okay, but in rare instances it may still be a problem. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on that.

When I did my clutch, I chose not to notch the bellhousing, but I was on the fence for awhile.

[moalaska]

All right that answers that, time to get a super long set of needle nose to twist those sensors out. I know my bell housing hasn't been modified the safety wire was still on the shift linkage so this will be the first clutch job on this car unless they replaced it with a rubber clutch 20 years ago and put safety wire back on the nut.

[mytrplseven]

A pair of vise grips are the best tool for pulling the ref sensors. Grip the top of the actual sensor and twist while pulling. Make sure all openings on top of the bell housing are taped over. Also, be aware there may be a spacer on top of the speed sensor (one nearest the firewall). If there's one there, don't lose it. It has a screw hole in it as well as the hole for the sensor. If you lose it and try to reinstall sensors, here's what may happen:

[moalaska]

It doesn't even lon like I have room for vice grips unless I dismantle the engine compartment

[mytrplseven]

You go straight down on the sensor, not from the side and then start to twist them while you're pulling. If it doesn't start to come up put a crescent wrench on the knob of the vise grip and lever it up. This approach even works on turbo cars where there's precious little room to do anything back there.