Brake pad warning light, and pad deterioration (1 Viewer)

[Feltwell]

Brake pad warning light came on whilst on my recent holiday in France. "Odd", thinks I, "I only did the pads about 8000 miles ago, they can't be that worn". Had a quick crawl underneath but couldn't see anything untoward so dismissed it until I could be back at home with a proper jack etc.

Well, at home now, so jacked the van up and took the caliper off today (Fiat tightwads only put the warning sensors on one side on X244 Ducatos). Loads of meat on the pads, as I expected, but where the brakes have got hot the insulation on the sensor wire for about 1mm next to the pad has melted - just enough to short it out onto the backing plate I think.

We've had a few holidays in mountainous areas and despite careful driving, engine braking, never braking continuously etc etc and generally treating the brakes as you should we've had a few instances on long downhills where the brakes have got hot enough to smell a bit - never enough to fade, but enough to whiff a bit.

I wouldn't have worried too much about the sensor but I noticed that the friction material was just starting to come away from one of the backing plates, so it's new pads & discs, as the discs are past their best.

A timely reminder with motorhomes and brakes to check the pads carefully, the friction material starting to part company from the backing plate long before the pads are worn out is not uncommon.

 

[gus-lopez]

today (Fiat tightwads only put the warning sensors on one side on X244 Ducatos).

More profit.

My 29 year old ducato has individual brake lines to both pistons on each caliper! Amazed me when I first saw it.

 

[PP Bear]

Mine after 11k miles....Fiat Ducato

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[tonyidle]

More profit.

My 29 year old ducato has individual brake lines to both pistons on each caliper! Amazed me when I first saw it.

No car or van has more than one wear sensor per caliper. The pad with the sensor is fitted nearest the centre of the vehicle because it's the one that wears out first.

Dual line brakes were common prior to ABS which does away with need for them.

 

[gus-lopez]

No car or van has more than one wear sensor per caliper. The pad with the sensor is fitted nearest the centre of the vehicle because it's the one that wears out first.

Dual line brakes were common prior to ABS which does away with need for them.

I took the op to mean only one wear sensor on one side.ienothing whatsoever on the other?

 

[tonyidle]

I took the op to mean only one wear sensor on one side.ienothing whatsoever on the other?

I hope not .

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[Figaro]

I had this earlier this year. Pads all round replaced in April then in June having crossed the Alps pad wear warning light came on intermittently.
Turns out the sensor wire was shorting on the wheel rim.
Sensor only on front NS wheel, Ducato x244.
Dave Newall offered to replace but haven`t bothered as it`s a bit of a hassle to get to Telford again.
Doesn`t seem to be a big deal except perhaps I no longer have a working sensor but I`ll live with that.

 

[tonyidle]

I hope not .

Seems he did .

 

[HandyAndy]

Quite normal for some vehicles to only have a wear sensor on one side of the vehicle.

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[ambulancekidd]

Quite normal for some vehicles to only have a wear sensor on one side of the vehicle.

Yes totally true, changed our Mercedes R350 rear pads today & sensor on only one side, normal.

 

[Feltwell]

Seems he did .

Yep, he did. X244 has a wear sensor on the caliper for the front left wheel only, nothing for the right wheel. Can't remember what's on the back, nothing I suspect!

Whereas my Audi A6, which coincidentally I changed the front pads on today, has sensors all round.