do i have to buy them from MINI? i need to change the pads all around ASAP on my 04 mcs

 

As long as the sensors have not gone off you just reuse them.

 

my brake pad light is on currently lol.

 

I know Aaron at Outmotoring carries them.

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...sories/brakes/

 

If someone is selling pads andcan't get the sensor...I'd move on

MiniMania has 'em
http://new.minimania.com/web/SUBTYPE..._Inventory.cfm

 

i need locally, doing the brakes tomorow lol.

can you leave the sensors off and just somehow de-activate the light on the dash?

 

I'd put the pads on & ignore the light until you can get the sensor.

 

You should just be able to short the wires together to shut off the sensor. Then either check for brake wear, or know when to change pads the old fashioned way - when you hear the grinding of the backing on the rotor.

 

i thought when the wires touch, it turns ON the light?

wouldnt i separate the wires, making the line turn off?

 

No. As the brake pads wear, the sensor gets closer to the rotor until it finally touches the rotor; the rotation of the rotor then wears through the thin plastic coating on the sensor, then wears through the metallic conductor in the sensor until it interrupts the circuit. When the circuit is interrupted is when the light comes on.

 

Yep - that's how they're supposed to work

which is why just cutting them off or removing them doesn't work. You need the sensor in the curcuit but if you use pads that don't have the slot you just zip-tie the sensor out of the way. (Meaning the sensor won't indicate brake wear obviously)

A worn sensor could be opened up and the two wire's spliced together, in theory, but I've never actually done it myself as I've changed pads b4 the senor went off in all cases, or it was an 02 "that don't need no stinkin sensors"

 

ahh, gotcha. im gonna do that, i dont need a little light to tell me when to change the pads, lol

 

.

 

You can reset the sensor light after you replace the pads by simply turning the key to on without starting the engine and let it sit for 30 seconds. This is the way the Bentley manual says to reset the light. It shouldn't come back on until it makes contact with the rotor. Of course since water conducts it might come back on when you get some water between the sensor and the rotor.

 

hmmm does every mini have this brake sensor light? I bought my mini used at a mazda dealer (a real steal) and I never knew about the brake sensors till now.

 

i believe so.

 

I've left my dash light on for a year and half now. My new pads didnt' have a place for the sensor, so I just left it hanging (out of the way). A tire shop pulled it out to see what it was and left it in the wheel and wore the sesor down. I just got used to the light being on.

 

$10 on ebay 2 days for shipping