Brakes

[ferrelscent]

Here is probably the dumbest question of the week.

How do you know if your breaks are wearing down ? is there some sort of warning light ? I have to assume you don't just press the brake pedal one day and nothing happens !

It's a real question. I've never actually had the brake pads on a car changed, ..I must have either sold or written off all my previous cars in time

 

[cj10jeeper]

Well BMW have thought about you and fitted wear sensors that when the pads get too low a warnng light comes on the dash.

Worn disks really need a micrometer to see if they are in tolerence but a big lip on the edge is often an indicator their time is coming to an end

...and of course there's annual MOT where they are inspected and tested for wear. Well worn get an advisory.

 

[ferrelscent]

Well BMW have thought about you and fitted wear sensors that when the pads get too low a warnng light comes on the dash.

Worn disks really need a micrometer to see if they are in tolerence but a big lip on the edge is often an indicator their time is coming to an end

...and of course there's annual MOT where they are inspected and tested for wear. Well worn get an advisory.

Great answer thanks. Had MOT in May and no word on worn brakes then so I can rest easy. I'll dig my manual out too and look up that warning light.

 

[AlanJ]

Well BMW have thought about you and fitted wear sensors that when the pads get too low a warnng light comes on the dash.

Worn disks really need a micrometer to see if they are in tolerence but a big lip on the edge is often an indicator their time is coming to an end

...and of course there's annual MOT where they are inspected and tested for wear. Well worn get an advisory.

Great answer thanks. Had MOT in May and no word on worn brakes then so I can rest easy. I'll dig my manual out too and look up that warning light.

MOT is only as good as the day its done so you brakes could have been just on the limit......and you have another 4 months wear on them now!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Well BMW have thought about you and fitted wear sensors that when the pads get too low a warnng light comes on the dash.

Worn disks really need a micrometer to see if they are in tolerence but a big lip on the edge is often an indicator their time is coming to an end

...and of course there's annual MOT where they are inspected and tested for wear. Well worn get an advisory.

Great answer thanks. Had MOT in May and no word on worn brakes then so I can rest easy. I'll dig my manual out too and look up that warning light.

MOT is only as good as the day its done so you brakes could have been just on the limit......and you have another 4 months wear on them now!

Alan - in my experience if the brakes are too low it gets a 'fail' and if they are looking in any way approaching worn out they give an 'advisory'.

I do however agree that reliance on MOTS for mechanical safeness, quality of car for sale, etc. is not a good idea.