I've replaced the front brake pads, now I need to replace the sensor. I had a go, but couldn't work out how to access the socket to plug the sensor into. It disappears behind the wheel arch liner. I removed a couple of screws to try and access back there, but I didn't want to damage the liner.

Both the Bentley manual and the TIS make no mention of what you're supposed to do there. They both show photos where the area is clear. Are you supposed to remove the liner? I can't find any instructions for that either, I'm worried about damaging the liner or gettting it off and not being able to get it back again.

 

Found in a thread in the HOW TO SECTION about changing brake pads.

There is a reason we have a HOW TO SECTION here.

http://r56mini.com/cooper/diydiscsandpads/

 

I looked in the How To, I didn't find anything. That's from a posting on rear brakes. Its not very specific about removing the liner.

 

look in the section about replacing the sensor and it tells you the following

If my memory serves me correctly there are 4 plastic clips that need to be removed. and then the liner "just rotates out". Fronts and back work exactly the same way.

 

Carefully!





No but on a serious note. Find it attached to the pad and trace it back to the connector. After you have done that disconnect it and replace it with a new one. It is about a 5 minute job.

 

I think his problem is he cant see it because it is behind the liner and he does not want to damage the liner. I can understand that but if he cant figure it out then he probably should not be working on his brakes either.

 

I know the instructions say you need to pull the liner back, but I'm pretty sure that when I did mine I figured out after I had done it that I did not really need to pull it(the liner) back. iirc though, you pretty much have to do it by feel. I do know I had more trouble with the rear brake sensor wire. Unfortunately, it has been close to a couple years since I did my brakes, so can't be of more help.

 

I don't remember pulling the liner back when I did mine. I just remember tracing the sensor back to the connector.

 

On BMWs, I've always cut the wire between the sensor and connector, twisted both ends together to close the circuit, and taped it up out of the way. Someone beat me to it on my Cooper.

 

The brakes were easy, this liner seems design to be annoying. The brakes are the most ambitious maintenance job I've tackled so far. It'd be realy helpful if step by step instuctions actually gave all the steps.

I found the Bentley manual has instructions for removing the liner, I should have look in there. Even that doesn't tell the whole story. The screws aren't screws, they two part fasteners, they don't unscrew, you have to lever then out a bit before they'll unscrew. Once I undid them, the liner didn't swing "up out of the way". Also the top fastener was different, it looked like a torx screw, metal not plastic.

I managed to get the liner out of the way enough to change the sensor.