The phrase ABS sensor refers to your Cavalier's wheel-speed sensors. During typical vehicle operation, the wheel-speed sensors monitor the movement of a rotary gear called the toothed-ring. The information collected by the sensors goes to the power control module. Depending on road conditions, the PCM uses the information to adjust the braking pressure. This helps you avoid spin-outs and stops one or more of the brake calipers from locking up. You can locate your 2001 Cavalier's ABS sensors with a few tools right at home. Replacing any one of the four sensors should take less than 50 minutes.
Open the driver’s door on your 2001 Cavalier and apply the emergency brakes. Turn the ignition into the "Off" position and remove the key from the lock cylinder.
Loosen the lug nuts on your Cavalier’s driver-side front tire a quarter-turn with a lug wrench. Raise the car with a hydraulic jack until the bottom of the tire visibly measures 6 inches from the ground. Place a jack stand under the frame rail near the hydraulic jack to help support your Cavalier.
Remove the lug nuts from their studs completely and take off the tire. Put all of the lug nuts in your pocket or within your Cavalier’s interior for safekeeping.
Locate your Cavalier’s outer ball joint and tie rod arm. Both sit directly behind the rotor and hub assembly on the right. The tie rod looks like a large screw that twists into the ball joint. On the immediate left of the ball joint, against the back of the hub assembly, you should see an L-shaped component with wires plugged into its bottom. This is one of the four ABS sensors for your 2001 Cavalier. Each of your tires has a sensor located in the same position. Unplug the wiring harness at the bottom of the sensor and remove its securing bolt with a socket wrench to replace it.
