Brake pad sensor broke. Ordered new one. Installed it. But, its almost like there is nothing really holding it in place. Does this seem correct? I pushed it in, no 'click', i tapped it gently with a screwdriver into place which seemed to tighten up its seating but I am just unsure if thats it.... Any insight?

 

mine does the same thing...just make sure it doesnt pull out of place easily

 

yep ... just a 'friction' fit

 

thanks all, what a poor design

 

where did you order it from and how much?

also any photo, etc. as to where exactly it is?

 

this photo is looking down at the top of a front pad from a GEN1 (slightly used), the white flash is applied to the backing plate and on one side of a notch in the plate and the pad material. The sensor presses down into this notch, the bottom is curved and matches the shape of the sensor. The wire would be running out of the plate to the left


The other end of the wire meets a connector near or behind the wheel well liner depending on axle and model/year.

How it works is that when the pad material gets worn down enuf, the rotor will contact the tip of the sensor and wear that off until a fine wire is exposed and eventually broken. This open circuit tells the computer the pad needs to be replaced. Once this wire is broken, the sensor must be replaced to clear the signal (or cut it apart and tie the ends together and don't bother to reinstall)

Remember that there will be only one sensor per axle - left front and right rear, and the sensor will only be on the inner pad (total of two sensors, one front and one rear). GEN1 and GEN2 are essentially the same arrangement, but the part IS different due to length of the wires. And note that early GEN1 did not have brake sensors at all

all the vendors I use that sell pads carry this part - OEM & knockoff available $20 to $40. If you replace pads b4 the sensor end is worn off, the sensor is OK for re-use. Just press it up & out of the old pad, carefully.
http://new.minimania.com/SI/SearchText/brake%20sensor

For reference the seat of the pants test for worn pads is when the material is thinner than the backing plate. In this picture note that will ALSO be about the time you no longer see any bevel on the ends of the material . . .

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180899879319...#ht_1287wt_953