Fit brake pad wear sensor without removing pads?

[James24]

Today I fitted some new brake pads. Unfortunately, the brake pad wear sensor broke when I took it out of the old pad.

I hadn't bought a new sensor because I thought the old one would come out OK (the pads aren't work down, just being replaced because they squeal) and the local dealer was closed for stocktaking!

This meant I had to put the brakes back together without the wear sensor in place.

Can anyone tell me if they have ever fitted a new wear sensor without having to remove the caliper and pads? I was wondering if there was enough access through the hole in the caliper (where the wear sensor wire goes through) or whether I was going to have to take the whole thing apart again once the dealer can sell me a new wear sensor!

Thanks.

[James24]

[gtr1000]

IMO, I'd say you going to have to pull the pads out again. Sorry mate .

Hey, but I might be wrong. Hopefully someone else will post up.

[Diet1985]

when glen and i done mine... there did seem to be enough room to play with that sensor with only having to remove the wheel

[macdad]

yes you can 100% change the wear sensor without taking the pads out..it just slots into place through the gap..make sure you get the right sensor though,there are 2 one with the long wire and one with a shorter length wire hth.

[Penfold101]

Or just snip the wires, strip them back, join them together and wrap electrical tape round them... Never have to waste a tenner on a sensor which no-one who knows anything about cars should need... You just look at them...

[James24]

I don't fancy the short-circuiting method of bypassing the sensor because knowing me I'll forget to check the brakes at some point. I wish I'd done it as a temporary measure though because the 'brake pad wear' warning light is getting on my nerves after just one day!

I'll get a new cable tomorrow and see if I can put the new sensor into the brake pad without removing the caliper as a few people think it is possible. I guess I can sit the sensor in the recess in the pad then push it in using a screwdriver on the flat surface of the sensor next to where the cable goes in.

I'll let everyone know how it goes in case is comes in handy for someone else.

[Diet1985]

what makes me go ????

is when glen and i did the brakes... the one pad with the sensor was the one with the most left on it... once it indicated that i needed new breaks i wouldnt of had a disc left on the drivers side!

[James24]

what makes me go ????

is when glen and i did the brakes... the one pad with the sensor was the one with the most left on it... once it indicated that i needed new breaks i wouldnt of had a disc left on the drivers side!

I agree - a brake pad wear sensor on one pad of one wheel is no substitute for regular checks of all pads and disks.

[jonnybravo]

Hi James
yes you can fit sensor with wheel off,just make sure you route the new one in correct place