What Size Wrench or Socket for Knock Sensor?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 5
What Size Wrench or Socket for Knock Sensor?
Hey everyone. Well, the storm has finally passed in San Francisco so tomorrow I get a chance to replace my thermostat and flush my coolant system. I want to do it the right way by removing the 2 knock sensor. Does anyone know what tool is best to remove them? I also understand that some of the knock sensor is plastic and I don't want to break them. What's also the easiest way to get to them and do I need any type of thread sealant when I put them back in? Thanks in advance, Ed.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 61
From: New Jersey
Should be 7/8 socket. Squeeze the sides of the wire connector to remove the connectors. You have a metal shield covering each sensor - IIRC should be a 10mm socket to remove those nuts. Don't use sealant to reinstall - it will affect how the sensor works. You need to use a torque wrench to reinstall them. They are to be tightened to 14 ft. lbs. If you overtighten them it could cause false knock and negatively affect performance. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
You need to use a sealant on the knock sensor that's "Sensor Safe", it can be used on most sensors and doesn't cause you to loose ground..Most new sensors come with a hardend sealant already on them.....WW
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Last edited by WW7; Dec 14, 2014 at 09:55 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
If your KS is original, the likelihood of you getting it out without damage is minimal I would say. The inner parts of the KS will spin and the threaded portion will not. Go ahead and get another KS to replace your old one. As mentioned it will come with sealant already on the threads.
You will probly end up using a pipe wrench or something like it to grip the outside of the KS to get it out. I used a plumbing tool called a basin wrench to grip the outside and still be able to get in there to turn it. I already own a basin wrench as I am a plumber by trade. They are available at HD or Lowes.
You will probly end up using a pipe wrench or something like it to grip the outside of the KS to get it out. I used a plumbing tool called a basin wrench to grip the outside and still be able to get in there to turn it. I already own a basin wrench as I am a plumber by trade. They are available at HD or Lowes.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 265
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix AZ
My advice, and I think I just might start doing this myself, is to take your wrench, before you even touch that thing with it, to a priest and have him bless it. I swear, everything that touches my car causes something to break. Then something else breaks while trying to fix it, which causes something else to break. And so on. And so on...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 5
My advice, and I think I just might start doing this myself, is to take your wrench, before you even touch that thing with it, to a priest and have him bless it. I swear, everything that touches my car causes something to break. Then something else breaks while trying to fix it, which causes something else to break. And so on. And so on...
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 468
Likes: 26
From: Middle Tennessee
If your KS is original, the likelihood of you getting it out without damage is minimal I would say. The inner parts of the KS will spin and the threaded portion will not. Go ahead and get another KS to replace your old one. As mentioned it will come with sealant already on the threads.
You will probly end up using a pipe wrench or something like it to grip the outside of the KS to get it out. I used a plumbing tool called a basin wrench to grip the outside and still be able to get in there to turn it. I already own a basin wrench as I am a plumber by trade. They are available at HD or Lowes.
You will probly end up using a pipe wrench or something like it to grip the outside of the KS to get it out. I used a plumbing tool called a basin wrench to grip the outside and still be able to get in there to turn it. I already own a basin wrench as I am a plumber by trade. They are available at HD or Lowes.
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Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,374
Likes: 2,736
when i removed my 85
i sprayed penetrating oil on the thread to block joint area...where it threads into the block...and then used a deep 7/8th socket on it. came out with some pressure but it wasn't an issue. perhaps the penestrating oil helped.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Sensor should come with thread sealant applied:
Take heed to what Silver96ce suggests about torque to 14 ft lbs.
VERY IMPORTANT.
Jack the vette to a level position....stay clear of the sensor holes as the liquid flowing out is nasty. Advisable to back flush through the
sensor holes several times to clear the area of sediment.
Take heed to what Silver96ce suggests about torque to 14 ft lbs.
VERY IMPORTANT.
Jack the vette to a level position....stay clear of the sensor holes as the liquid flowing out is nasty. Advisable to back flush through the
sensor holes several times to clear the area of sediment.
Last edited by don hall; Dec 19, 2014 at 09:55 PM.