brake pad wear sensors?

**marwen** · 7th December 2009, 19:28

Have tracked my steering wheel vibration during braking to the front off-side disc being warped.
Am gutted really cause the discs and pads have only done 5000 miles so are like new but hey there you go!!
Question is, am looking at replacement discs and pads and notice none of the pads come with wear indicators fitted so are the indicators fitted on the car and just plug into the pads or am i missing something?
Thanks for your help, again.

Mark.

**Handyandy-UK** · 7th December 2009, 19:36

The wear sensors can be bought from your friendly local Vx stealer and actually aren't expensive from what I hear.
If they are undamaged, you can just 'unplug' them from the old pad and refit to the new.

**marwen** · 7th December 2009, 19:43

Cheers mate.
The pads on at the mo are like new so im sure the wear indicator will be fine i just wasnt sure if the wear indicators were on the car and just plugged into the pads. On previous cars they have all had wear indicators on the pads that you plug into the car. Does that make sense?
Where abouts in Shrewsbury are you?
What you driving?
Ive a Vectra 2.0T SRi Edition 100, will have to look out for you.

Cheers, Mark.

**Ruperts Trooper** · 7th December 2009, 19:43

As well as electronic pad wear sensors fitted to some models, Vauxhall brake pads also have "acoustic brake pad wear warning devices" - a piece of "L" shaped metal attached to one pad on each wheel - it makes a humming noise when the pad wears and the metal touches the disk.

**Handyandy-UK** · 7th December 2009, 19:49

Originally Posted by marwen

Cheers mate.
The pads on at the mo are like new so im sure the wear indicator will be fine i just wasnt sure if the wear indicators were on the car and just plugged into the pads. On previous cars they have all had wear indicators on the pads that you plug into the car. Does that make sense?
Where abouts in Shrewsbury are you?
What you driving?
Ive a Vectra 2.0T SRi Edition 100, will have to look out for you.

Cheers, Mark.

North side.... near all the flying stuff. Mine's the Moonland 3.2 GSi in my avatar. I do hope yours wasn't the black Vec backwards in the ditch on the A49 last week ?

**gtr1000** · 7th December 2009, 19:51

Originally Posted by marwen

Have tracked my steering wheel vibration during braking to the front off-side disc being warped.
Am gutted really cause the discs and pads have only done 5000 miles so are like new but hey there you go!!
Question is, am looking at replacement discs and pads and notice none of the pads come with wear indicators fitted so are the indicators fitted on the car and just plug into the pads or am i missing something?
Thanks for your help, again.

Mark.

A few questions before you dive in to new discs and pads which might save you some cash

1) What make of discs are they?

2) Did you establish the disc was warped by measuring the disc run-out off the car?

3) How many miles have the discs done?

4) Is it definately the disc or the way it's been mounted?

Food for thought......

4)

**marwen** · 7th December 2009, 20:44

Yeah am on the north-side too.
And no it wasnt my black veccy buried in the undergrowth on the A49.
I work for Network Rail and was working on the track right by that bridge and we park right underneath it so had to have a good look around it. The hazards and the alarm were still going off so i guess he/she must have had mishap that morning if you remember it was pretty icy and cold.
Have to say it did look a bit of a dogs dinner and that was before they rearranged the front end!!

regards ther discs, they were put on the car just before i bought it so have no idea as to make but the pads are VX and the service history is all Vx so im guessing they are VX.
Have had disc checked and it is mullered!! The rear of it has more ripples and wrinkles than Susan Boyles face!!
I take on board your comment about it being fitted incorrectly maybe hub contamination causing problems. Will make sure hubs are sparkling before fitment.

Thanks for all your help guys, As usual. Will keep posted on outcome.

MArk.

**Penfold101** · 7th December 2009, 20:47

Easy option - snip the wires of the sensor, strip them back, wrap them together, and cover in electrical tape. No need to waste 10 quid on a sensor when any muppet should be able to tell when they're pads need changing...

**monty2000** · 26th August 2011, 12:01

Originally Posted by Penfold101

Easy option - snip the wires of the sensor, strip them back, wrap them together, and cover in electrical tape. No need to waste 10 quid on a sensor when any muppet should be able to tell when they're pads need changing...

Well said. my pad indicator just come on. snip & join ill be doing aswell