Replaced the factory pads with Mintex red box pads yesterday but a mysterious wire with a copper contact was on the factory pad but doesn't fit into the new mintex pads. The car appears to function normally, anybody know what this wire and contact is for?

 

My wife's Passat had the same thing and it was a low brake pad sensor which triggered a light on the dash. The point of the wire is to break the contact, pad gets low, and to trigger a warning light on the dash. I replaced her factory brake pads with aftermarket and the dash light was never an issue.

Jason