Hi Everyone,


My wife's 07' cabrio is in need of brake pads, as the yellow warning light has been on for about 2 weeks. So, I've ordered a set of Hawk ceramic pads, and checked all 4 rotors for groves. So far - no groves.


My question is simple...
I know what the dealership would say regarding the "replacement" of the brake pad wear sensors, but I can't help but wonder - if these $22 (each) sensors really need to be replaced every time the pads are replaced. There are cheaper alternatives out there, and if they "really" do need to be replaced, I'll probably look further into other options.


That said, I wanted to get those of you who do your own brakes, what your opinion on these wear sensors is. Should they be replaced, or not?


Thanks in advance!

 

In the case of your wife's car, yes, they need to be replaced. If the sensors haven't been worn down, sometimes they can be carefully extracted from the pad and re-inserted into the new pad but, in doing so, they can fracture and would need to be replaced. Dealers just replace them and charge the customer for parts and labor. Many of us who do our own work and watch brake pad wear closely just tie the sensors up out of the way before they get worn in two or tie the two wires together. One other thing...Don't wait until the current pads wear down to the backing plates or you'll have to replace the rotors as well.

 

Sometimes the sensor can be reused IF NOT TRIPPED...but it is tripped...so it is junk..often it breaks when folks pull it out....
It is just a wire the goes into the slot in the pad...gets cut/ground down by the rotor...turning the light on...
There is ONE sensor on the front...one on the rear..so 2 pads are monitored on the car out of 8...not foolproof...

 

Thanks for the replies gents!

I kind of figured that was the case. So I'll check on a set of replacement sensors with RockAuto.com.

As for the comment about not waiting until the pads are completely gone, and then having to replace the rotors as well... been there and done that! Drove my 4x4 Tacoma truck until I could literally "hear" metal on metal, before I replaced the pads. And with the age of the truck (1995.5), I knew it was about time to replace the rotors anyway. That's why I've gone ahead and ordered the pads. Just have to add the sensors to that now.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

some of us believe the sensors are not needed cuz we know how to watch for wear

I just 'jumpered' the sensor. You can't just remove them because they work by creating an OPEN circuit .. breaking a wire in the sensor means the pad is done ...

so I cut off the used sensor end and soldered the wires together (remembering to insert some heat shrink tube for wx seal. Zip tie the wire out of the way and reset the sensor system. It sees a complete circuit and all is well. Just remember you are now resp' for watching your wear .. .

 

That's actually not bad idea Capt_bj! Not a bad idea at all!

I'm on the fence with purchasing these sensors, because this "is" my wife's car. And that little yellow light "helps" her to realize that she needs to drive with a little more care, until I can replace the pads. Otherwise - she'll think everything is fine until she starts "hearing" metal on metal, or the whole car jumps when she puts on the brakes! ;-)

I can easily keep a "check" on things, but as I mentioned, that little yellow light is a "help" in slowing her down until I can replace the pads.

Either way - it's a simple, and smart solution to spending "extra" money when you buy brake pads. (thumbs up)

 

for $45 you may as well just get the new sensors for sake of safety and to save the rotors in the future. i did. it was a minor cost compared to getting the new brake stuff installed.

chances are you wont have to replace either pads or sensors for a very long time anyway after they are changed.

 

There is a front left and a rear right , not too hard to replace. Just make sure you snap the new ones in all the way to make sure the bake light turns off, on the female to male long end terminal and the pins line up.

Different length and they have little hook connections in different section to hold in place. One for the front left and one for the rear right.


Fronts :

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/34356778175/




Rears:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/34356761448/




Thanks

 

well, if you are going to use them I don't think there's any alternative to buying the OE part ... different vendors sell 'em for different prices but in the end it is a part unique to MINI so far I've seen. Some folks I do work for want me to replace 'em and no matter where we buy 'em from, it has always been a MINI part package.

In the early days I was often able to pull a 'not tripped' sensor for re-use, but more recently they all seem to crumble when I try to get them loose of the pad slot . . .

 

Thanks for the advice gents! Looks like I'll be replacing the sensors then!

 

Does my '05 R52 have these sensors? 9 months ago, the dealer told me it needed brakes; since I wasn't going to be driving it much during the winter, I put it off. This spring, I took it to a local garage who said I'd be wasting money to change the pads this early, that there was at least 30% life left. If there are sensors, I'll wait for the light, as I only put about 8K miles/year on the car.

 

Yes,

They are linked above , one for the front and one for the rear. Again if you have the light on and the heads of the brake sensor and the front or rear pads are not worn down to have the rotor touch the head of the sensor or past it, check you connection of the plug sensors.

Thanks and goodluck.

 

ECSTuning is right. If your sensor light isn't on, then have them both checked. The main purpose behind the use of these sensors - from what I understand - is to give you ample warning to replace the pads "before" they get worn down enough that you end up having metal on metal contact, which will definitely cause groves in the rotors. Once that happens, not only will you need pads, but you'll need to have the rotors turned (machined)! And that's certainly going to increase the total cost of a brake job! And depending on just how "thick" the rotors actually are, they may actually have be replaced as well!

It's actually a nice little convenience,but the trade off is the aggrevation of the light on the dash. Some of the more mechanically inclined folks here, override the sensors, and prefer to keep a "watchful" eye on the pad wear, as Capt_bj does (see above post) With a very wide-open 7-year-old little boy in my house, I prefer the convenience of the sensors. It's quite a bit cheaper in the long run. ESPECIALLY if you do the work yourself!! ;-)