brakes!!!

paddy wright

paddy wright

Elite
 south yorkshire
Site Supporter
Dealer recomended taht I had about 100-200 miles left on my pads about 500 miles ago! I still dont have the light on the dash but do have sum big drives planned. Should I just go get them done? How long after the light comes on can u drive in reality?
 
It really depends on the type of mileage. Motorway miles obviously use the brakes left. I'd say easily 500-1000 miles after the light comes on before you really want to change them before you start making contact between the backing plate and the disc...!
 
sixspeed said:
It really depends on the type of mileage. Motorway miles obviously use the brakes left. I'd say easily 500-1000 miles after the light comes on before you really want to change them before you start making contact between the backing plate and the disc...!
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I agree
 
My brake pad wear indicator light came on around mid-october last year. While waiting for new pads/rotors to arrive, I had to try and go easy on the brakes. It took about 800 miles for the backing plates to start contacting the rotors. Finally parts arrived and were installed - Brake pad wear sensors replaced as well.

So if you plan on mostly cruising highway, I think you should be good for at least another 1000 miles if your wear indicator light hasn't even come on. Visual inspection will tell you if the pads/rotors are worn down and really need replacing.
 
Of course assuming the wear indicators are fitted and working !! (2 on diagonally opposite corners)

I would take a quick visual check through the wheel at the pad and see how much pad is left.

Sounds a bit alarmist for a mechanic to report 100 to 200 miles unless they were totally worn out.

Get it wrong and you have poor braking then quickly damage to the discs
 
I think if you wait until the brake light comes up, you may have to replace the discs as well.
 
ksher said:
I think if you wait until the brake light comes up, you may have to replace the discs as well.
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I don't think that's correct as the wear indicator is designed to watrn the pads are coming to the end of their life before any damage is done. However if they discs are worn or deeply crored it's the best time to replace them
 
Do the discs have a noticable lip around then edge, you only get ~1mm of wear before they are spent and may wish to replace these at the same time.

On some cars the inner pad wears quicker too but that depends upon the caliper design somewhat. The inner pad will usually have the wear sensor and low pad marker (bit of metal that will hit the disc and make a squeal when the pads are completely toast).
 
Yeah my OEM rotors (disks) had a noticable lip around the edge....made me rather nervous about the whole setup. Now I have new rotors and no lip :D
 
Brake Disc's are now considered a wear item inthe same as Pads, min thickness of disc's is 22mm IIRC.

If you are just changing OEM for OEM do it, it really isn't worth the worry or the risk.
 
RichardG said:
Brake Disc's are now considered a wear item inthe same as Pads, min thickness of disc's is 22mm IIRC.

If you are just changing OEM for OEM do it, it really isn't worth the worry or the risk.
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yes in my experience discs had to be replaced when pads were changed, even when BMW were paying for it. :D , new pads and discs all round in less then 22k on my old 3 series coupe.
 
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