Brake sensors & pad thickness

[Gazhyde]

The brake warning light came on about 5 days ago, and a quick visual inspection showed the rears to be very low on pad. Got some new pads and got on with changing them today along with the rear pads on my MINI Cooper. However, I wasn't quite ready for what was left of the pad on the Z4.

Optimistically I would say about 1mm left, which seems pretty iffy. Is this standard for Z4 brakes sensors to let the pads get this low?



Compare that with the rears on my MINI which I reckon are just over 50% worn. Seems a ridiculous con to have to replace them so soon, and I reckon at least 10k left on them...

 

[Adamski]

Could be a faulty sensor on the mini?

Agree it has plenty left!


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[Gazhyde]

Oh, and while I'm having a rant... what a stupid place to put the connector for the sensor!

Could be a faulty sensor on the mini?

The sensor had worn through and was making contact with the disc. Seems from Google, this is fairly common for MINI...

 

[mr wilks]

Had my 330 in to my indy , front brake pads were mentioned on the MOT last month & when i picked the car up he said they were well shot & he would have expected the wear sensor to have triggered before they got so bad :wink:
all done now though with new sensors fitted as well

 

[Oakandacorns]

Hm, just thinking about when I had a Z4 and I had to change the brake pads. Had the warning light come one? I'm pretty sure it had. I remembering getting quotes and enquiring about what the cost of the sensor would be with one or two of the garages. Interestingly, not all the garages said they would change the sensor wire, leading me to think will it be able to sense brake pad wear again. The specialist I did take my car to to get new brake pads did not change the sensor. Oh, the garage didn't say the pads were well shot. I've no idea what % of pad was left.

 

[itguy]

Well the brake pad sensor is a wearable part - single use if triggered. They are cheap-as anyway, but yes agree, my MINI triggered the light when the pads had loads left on the front. Rears need doing soon but light hasn't trigger. Odd.