Community Forums

ClassicMe · 06-03-2022, 03:37 PM

Hello everyone,
I have a 2000 36' Damon Intruder on an F-53 chassis. My drivers side front wheel speed sensor has corroded to the point that it no longer works. The previous owner appears to have driven in a lot of salt over the years. I have searched all over online as well as talked to the local auto parts suppliers and Ford dealership. They all say that Ford has discontinued making this sensor and they cannot find an aftermarket replacement. The Ford dealership says my only option is to try to find one used at an auto salvage yard or consider that the serviceable life of the motorhome is over and to junk it. Living in Minnesota the chances of finding a used one that is not corroded is going to be extremely hard and obviously my motorhome is in great shape and will not be junked. Have any of you located a source or supplier for this sensor?

HarryStone · 06-03-2022, 03:42 PM

https://rvexteriorbodypanels.visoner...orhomeparts.pl

They list several 2000 Ford chassis under Damon. I'm sure there are more F53 chassis' in that year group

tiffy2000 · 06-05-2022, 07:07 AM

most salvage yards are tied into a national database of salvage yards and can look for used parts nationally

Craig1960 · 06-05-2022, 12:23 PM

Is one of these what you're looking for?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ed+sensor,1912

ClassicMe · 06-06-2022, 03:56 PM

Craig1960, all of the ones listed in stock are for the rear. You'll notice that the front left is out of stock. I have checked every aftermarket parts house I can think of including RockAuto, Googled it, and checked with two dealers now.

Everyone else, I'll have to go through a junkyard like you mention. Thank you for the help! I was hoping someone had found a different source or a sensor off of a different vehicle that would work.

GypsyR · 06-07-2022, 08:46 AM

Try looking up the sensors as a 2000 F550 instead. Like online at Advance Auto Parts for example. A lot of parts on my F53 I have found to be identical to F550 stuff.

ClassicMe · 06-07-2022, 03:05 PM

So as a follow-up to what I have found so far. Ford used the same front wheel speed sensors for the F-53 chassis up to year 2012. So it appears to affect a lot of motorhomes. I am still striking out finding a new sensor for the front left. Front right sensors are still available in some places. There are 11 total in the US direct through Ford Dealerships. The sensor was previously made by several companies, although appears to be out of production or just out of supply by all of them for the front left. Part numbers are as follows:

Front Left:
Ford - F81Z2C205AB
Standard Motor Products - ALS1844
Carquest - 72-5653
Wells - SU7559
Airtex (WVE) - 5S6026
BWD - ABS1937
NTK - AB1436

Front Right:
Ford - F81Z2C204AB
Standard Motor Products - ALS1651
Carquest - 72-5649
Wells - SU7555
Airtex (WVE) - 5S6022
NTK - AB1433

Craig1960 · 06-07-2022, 03:38 PM

Don't know if this will help you or not but here is another link that cross's over to the NTK AB1436.
https://www.delcoribo.com/p/abs1750-...l-speed-sensor

ClassicMe · 07-07-2022, 10:24 AM

Sorry for the delay in posting the resolution. I immediately left on several trips after getting this solved. So as I mentioned, the driver's side sensor is unavailable anywhere new. As such, I ordered two passenger side sensors in the hopes of making it work before my trips.

The answer, yes you can use a passenger side sensor on the driver side as long as your wiring harness has enough slack. The only difference between the two is the orientation that the wire comes out at and the fact that the passenger side wire is one half of an inch shorter than the driver's side. I was able to create a loop in the wire and still use the factory hold downs to secure it. The sensor itself remains orientated correctly in relation to it's pickup points and works correctly. My harness had more than enough slack to allow for this.

In case anyone is troubleshooting the same issue, the symptoms are as follows. The brakes on the motorhome work perfectly at high speed slowing the unit down. However, at low speed like under 5 mph the brake pedal would have a very slight vibration or surging in it (not a full anti-lock feeling) and the brakes would release allowing the motorhome to continue moving. In other words from 60 mph the motorhome would slow like normal all the way to under 5 mph when all of a sudden the brakes would release and the motorhome would stop slowing at the same rate. You could force it to a stop with extremely hard pedal pressure, but it was sketchy.
This happens when one of the front wheel speed sensors has a slightly intermittent reading. The ABS activates, but not fully allowing pressure to bypass. I put the motorhome on my SnapOn scanner and watched the sensors while driving. It is almost not visible, but it is there. The only reason I knew to look there was I had the exact same problem on a 1999 Tahoe.

Now that the wheel speed sensor has been replaced the motorhome stops perfectly with no issues.