Remove speed sensor when replacing wheel hub assembly?

Is it necessary to remove the wheel speed sensor when replacing the wheel hub assembly.
Some people do in the videos I’ve watched, other never mention it?

I’m thinking it’s probably a good idea, just to avoid any potential damage to the sensor.

Thanks in advance.

 

It's not required, but easy enough to remove if you want. There is an o-ring on it that's probably supposed to be replaced if you remove it- see the factory manual, but typically O-rings are replaced upon removal

 

Any idea where to find that O-ring?
Can’t find it on any parts diagram.
Not interested in buying a new sensor just to get the o ring. Lol
I’ll take my chances first.

 

I'm sure it's a dealer only part. I've done 5 of these and only removed it once and I reused the o-ring. I cleaned everything up and added some RTV to the flat mating surface of the speed sensor- where it contacts the knuckle.

I also add a thin coating of RTV to the knuckle and the mounting surface for the bearing on the rotor shield- basically seal both sides to the rotor shield. There's an o-ring on the bearing but it's obvious that water reaches the outside of that o-ring as there is corrosion on those mating surfaces. This will make more sense when you take it apart.

Even if you add some RTV, you should change the o-ring on the bearing and it's a dealer only part. Water reaches it and the machined bare metal transfers rust to it and craps it up.

edit for pics. You can see the rust on the spindle where it mates to the rotor shield in the second pic. The o-ring is on the bearing housing and seals to the chamfer on that bore in the knuckle. You can see the rust here. O-ring is shown in the first pic installed on the bearing.

 

So most of the time you just leave the sensor in when doing the assembly.
I know, leaving it in, is the best advice. And is not standard procedure.

I was actually in the shop while the mechanic did my last set.
I honestly don’t recall him removing the sensor.
He did however show me a trick to in stalling the rear knuckle seal.
You can use the cover for the axle nut as a seal driver.
It fits the seal perfect to tap it into the rear of the spindle.
Hopefully I won’t need to replace that seal this time.

Thanks for all your help.

 

You can remove the sensor if it makes you feel safer, but it's ok to leave it in IMO. I removed it to pull the axle to replace the LH diff output bearing. Someone here also posted the knuckle seal install tip- that's a good one. It's also easy to install with a short piece of 2x4- it installs real easy. When you remove the hub/bearings, just don't go crazy and start whacking around the axle shaft and you'll have no issues with the sensor. I've only changed one of the knuckle seals, and only because I had the knuckle out.