We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Front brake pads wearing thin
Options
Comments
-
If no-one has ever bothered topping up the brake fluid, the warning lamp will come on when the brake pads are worn out, as the fluid level drops far enough to trigger it.
Nice bit of penny pinching, you don't need pad sensors.
Doesn't work if people go around topping the brake fluid upto "full" though......
I'd just get new pads and change them for the price, then I'd only need to bend down by the wheels once, rather than keep checking them.
I've never known brake fluid to drop to the extent that it triggers the fluid level warning, due to pad wear, and likewise have never had to top fluid up due to pad wear. Through ordinary use I'd say the only warning that you're likely to see is as described above (the pad wear one not fluid level).0 -
Wear sensors on brake pads are not related to the brake fluid level sensor at all (they're a physical wire on at least one of the pads and is triggered by the pad wearing out on to the plastic or wires on the sensor, triggering the warning). The brake fluid level sensor however, does relate to the level of the brake fluid and is positioned on the brake fluid reservoir lid.
I've never known brake fluid to drop to the extent that it triggers the fluid level warning, due to pad wear, and likewise have never had to top fluid up due to pad wear. Through ordinary use I'd say the only warning that you're likely to see is as described above (the pad wear one not fluid level).
He was meaning that the low brake fluid warning would indicate he brakes are worn
Some pads are fitted with acoustic wear markers, basically a piece of bent metal that touches the disc at a set limit and makes a screeching sound when you brake.
They were fitted on my Legacy and my Pathfinder.0 -
Just had a quick look on EuroCarParts. Pads for an Ibiza of that vintage are around £20 with the 30% off. If you're handy with a set of spanners, that's all it'll cost. If you take it to a trusted indie, you're looking at £50-£75 for them to do it I reckon.
As other's have said, try and take a look at the pads on the car first though.0 -
you will probably need a G clamp to wind the caliper back if you change them yourself, If they are worn you'll never get new pads into the space, if not worn they won't need changing. Just take cap off hydraulic brake fluid reservoir and put a cloth around it in case it overflows then use clamp to force caliper back far enough for new pads to fit.
Don't worry if you push back too far, they hardly go wider than new pads anyway, and brakes self adjust when you use them. Don't forget to replace the lid on reservoir and only have it open a short time due to properties of hydraulic fluid.Mr Generous - Landlord for more than 10 years. Generous? - Possibly but sarcastic more likely.0 -
Mr.Generous wrote: »you will probably need a G clamp to wind the caliper back if you change them yourself, If they are worn you'll never get new pads into the space, if not worn they won't need changing. Just take cap off hydraulic brake fluid reservoir and put a cloth around it in case it overflows then use clamp to force caliper back far enough for new pads to fit.
Don't worry if you push back too far, they hardly go wider than new pads anyway, and brakes self adjust when you use them. Don't forget to replace the lid on reservoir and only have it open a short time due to properties of hydraulic fluid.
Haynes manual suggests pinching off the brake hose and cracking open the bleed nipple to get rid of debris. I did it on my old corsa and got loads of black horrible looking fluid out. Then just top up to full.0 -
I've never bothered loosening off the bleed nipples when doing brakes. to do a proper job when touching them, you'd have to bleed the whole system. I've never had an issue with doing them as Mr.Generous has suggested i.e. taking the top off the brake fluid reservoir, sticking a rag in there to soak up any excess and clamping back the pistons. I've heard of people saying you can damage seals if you force the fluid back but I've never had it happen to me.0
-
Remember - an MOT is not maintenance or a service. It's just a very basic check that your car meets the absolute bare minimum standard to be allowed on the road.
THIS!
Just get them done sooner rather than later as later, you'll forget they are thin and then it'll end up getting very bad, very quick.0 -
Mr.Generous wrote: »you will probably need a G clamp to wind the caliper back if you change them yourself, If they are worn you'll never get new pads into the space, if not worn they won't need changing. Just take cap off hydraulic brake fluid reservoir and put a cloth around it in case it overflows then use clamp to force caliper back far enough for new pads to fit.
Don't worry if you push back too far, they hardly go wider than new pads anyway, and brakes self adjust when you use them. Don't forget to replace the lid on reservoir and only have it open a short time due to properties of hydraulic fluid.0 -
He was meaning that the low brake fluid warning would indicate he brakes are worn
Some pads are fitted with acoustic wear markers, basically a piece of bent metal that touches the disc at a set limit and makes a screeching sound when you brake.
They were fitted on my Legacy and my Pathfinder.
Brake fluid warning indicators indicate a low fluid level, irrespective of the cause. Pad wear indicators indicate worn brake pads.0 -
Yes in The Olden Days my P6 had a copper wire embedded in one pad on each calliper, if any one of them earthed out by touching the disc the pad wear light came on.
This however was a Proper Car with wiring etc.
My 1990s vectra had a contact on a wire that you clipped onto a hole in the pad that did the same thing.
A lot of cars now e.g. my suzuki and my [STRIKE]Renault[/STRIKE] Nissan don't have any pad wear sensors or even squealers, they do use the low fluid warning switch to indicate a problem with the brakes - in this case the pistons have come out far enough to empty the reservoir and put the light on, so they can save the few pennies that the sensor wiring costs multiplied by the thousands of cars sold, and the shareholders get an extra case of bubbly.
If you top the fluid up as the level goes down it wont work.I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....
(except air quality and Medical Science)
0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards