Changing brake pads

Badgerpoo · 5 Aug 2006 at 11:02

How much pad material should there be before you change your pads? I have had the brake pad sensor come up but on checking them they all seem to have 6-7mm left on the pads. Thats surely plenty isnt it?

Glaucus · 5 Aug 2006 at 11:05

well, Never had pad sensors. I change mine when I have about 2mm left. As long as you dont have any metal showing though and you break doesn't travel all the way to the floor. They still work fine.

valerian · 5 Aug 2006 at 11:14

Badgerpoo said:
How much pad material should there be before you change your pads? I have had the brake pad sensor come up but on checking them they all seem to have 6-7mm left on the pads. Thats surely plenty isnt it?

seems like plenty to me i ran mine for about 6 months with the sensor lights on, depends on how long the pads last e.g. ive just done 50000 on a set of genuine pads on a vectra, so its relative, how you drive, where you drive traffic etc.
the ****ache is paying £20 odd for new sensor cables?

Dogbreath · 5 Aug 2006 at 11:15

Badgerpoo said:
How much pad material should there be before you change your pads? I have had the brake pad sensor come up but on checking them they all seem to have 6-7mm left on the pads. Thats surely plenty isnt it?

Yes, normaly plenty for several thousand miles yet. Are you sure it's the pad warning light rather than fluid level? If definately pad warning, check the wires that are embedded into the pads, if not fitted correctly they can chafe on the disc/suspension and cause the light to come on.

Matt82 · 5 Aug 2006 at 11:16

Badgerpoo said:
How much pad material should there be before you change your pads? I have had the brake pad sensor come up but on checking them they all seem to have 6-7mm left on the pads. Thats surely plenty isnt it?

if its a vag the inner pad may be worn, youll have to pull the caliper apart etc and clean it