The brake pad service light has gone on in my 04 MCS. My first question is, how sensitive is this? Do I have some time to go before I need to worry about pads into rotor or do I need to worry right now? I plan on replacing all four wheels with ceramic pads and slotted rotors. Any suggestions on which ones are best? When you replace the pads, must you also replace the sensors? Can you back flush the fluid (compressing the piston in the caliper) back to the master or do you need to do anything special with the ABS unit?

 

1- You have a little time but not too much. Look at doing it within the next 1-3 weeks prolly before you hit any problems.

2-Don't go with slotted rotors. They are not worth the extra $$$ over standard rotors. Go with the Brembo's. Just make sure to paint the hat so they don't rust. A few coats of black high temp engine paint did me fine.
Also, the EBC Green Stuff is good for a street bound car. If you drive fairly hard or want to do some track time, look at Hawk's.

3-I believe its recommended that the sensors be replaced.

4- I back flushed my fluid and have done it many times in the past and had no problems at all. Oh, and be forewarned. The rear caliper pistons can be a b1tch to push in. They have to spin/rotate as they are depressed.

 

The sensors are 'consumed' when they activate. The sensor actually sits in a slot in the pad and when the pad gets so thin the sensor tip contacts the rotor too and the rotor wears the tip of the sensor off breaking a wire which makes the light come on. You need to replace the sensor to get the light to go back off.

Note than many aftermarket pads don't have slots for the sensors but you'll still need to keep the sensor in the circuit (replace it) but zip-tie it out of the way cuz it won't be in the pad...... If you leave it worn or snip it off the circuit is open meaning "new pads now"

There are only 2 sensors - one front and one rear and in all probability you only hit the front one but you'll need to check it.


Yep - you need to do it pretty soon tho....better thing is to notice wear b4 the sensor goes off...it saves a couple of bucks. Sensor is about $25

http://new.minimania.com/web/SUBTYPE..._Inventory.cfm

 

I have gathered up the needed parts to do the brake service and will do the service this weekend. Can anyone tell me where the best jack points are to lift the front end and rear end to do the job.

 

Just curious, how many miles on your '04?

My pad sensor has come on at just 20.5K miles. From what I can see through the wheel spokes (haven't yet taken the wheels off) there is quite alot of pad material left. I don't drive it that hard and am thinking the sensor may have failed prematurely.

 

The car had about 26K on it when the light came on. That was about a week and a half ago and I put about 500 miles a week on the car (mostly highway). I have an appointment for Friday at the dealer so I may save my parts I ordered (if the service is covered by the warranty) and have them do it.

 

Good info above. The pad sensor comes on when the face of the sensor meets the rotor. Once it's tripped, it will need replaced. You can to see if it's just tripped and you don't need pad by putting the key in the 2nd position and depressing the brake peddle for a few seconds. The light should go off. Now if you need new pads, the light will come back on after just a bit of driving. You can search NAM on this as it's been talked about many times before

 

Well, I took the car to the dealer today for the first time. They informed me that the brakes would cost me over 1 grand! Luckly I ordered the parts to do the job myself before I took the car in. Anyway, I have two questions. First, Hemiheaded 18 mentioned that the rear calipers need to spin as they are pushed in. Do you need a special tool for this. Years ago I had a Pontiac 6000 STE that you had to do this to the rear disc also and you needed a special tool to turn them in (which I still have). Second, I ordered a Bentley manual, but I may need to do the service before I get it. I need to know where the jack points are at to lift the car.

Thanks for the help so far!

 

I just changed my pads out a month ago. Any universal brake piston set will work on the rear calipers. If you buy pads from autozone or advanced auto, you can get rent the brake piston set with a refundable deposit. As for the sensors, there is one on the driver's side front, and one on the passenger side rear. Personally, I think its easy enough to check the pad wear by sight. I snipped off the sensors and spliced the leads together. I think mini charges about $20 per sensor so thats another $40 I saved. For the pads, I just used duralast ceramics. They're quiet, stop well, and have almost no dust compared to the factory pads. If I remember correctly, they were only $25-$30 per set, so... $60 total for the pads.