D3 TDV6 brake pads and wear sensor

[BradC]

Right, I was planning this for next year but the little light has just come on. Looks like I'm going to need new fronts.

2 questions :
- Anyone know where to get a set of pads and a new wear sensor in Perth at relatively short notice (like early next week)?
- I have a round trip down south on the weekend. Assuming the wear sensor is on the worst pad, because the outer fronts have enough meat on them, how much warning am I really getting?

I tried every which way to inspect the inner fronts without taking the wheel off. Mirror, pick, borescope. No dice. In fact I jammed the head of the borescope and broke it.
The rears are ok, they can be inspected using a mirror through the slot in the caliper, but I don't seem to be able to do that with the fronts.

Anyone have a trick?

[discorevy]

If the light has just come on, you'll have enough material for a trip down south.

You should be able to get a set plus sensor from Rovacraft Tomorrow

Depending on where "down south" you're going, I may even have a set here

[BradC]

If the light has just come on, you'll have enough material for a trip down south.

You should be able to get a set plus sensor from Rovacraft Tomorrow

Depending on where "down south" you're going, I may even have a set here

Not that far! Have a camp in Busselton, so probably a 700k round trip. We'll be down your way after new year however.

Cheers, I'll give Rovacraft a call and plan for a replacement next week. The light came on about 4 k's from home this morning.

Edit: Huh, they're less than 10 minutes from my place. Win!

[Dagilmo]

Years ago Kevin at Rovatech told me that once the light comes on you XXXX kms before steel. Now my recollection is 5000 kms but it was years ago....so probably wrong. However, I have driven thousands of kms after light.

Anyway, point being 700 round trip will be fine.

Also I've picked up pads and (pretty sure a sensor) from Repco.

[loanrangie]

Can get them at Repco if there is one close.

[Pippin]

Years ago Kevin at Rovatech told me that once the light comes on you XXXX kms before steel. Now my recollection is 5000 kms but it was years ago....so probably wrong. However, I have driven thousands of kms after light.

Anyway, point being 700 round trip will be fine.

Also I've picked up pads and (pretty sure a sensor) from Repco.I got mine from Repco but they tried to insist that there was one each side front and rear and wouldn't believe me when I told them there was only one on the front and one on the rear.

[shanegtr]

how much warning am I really getting?


In all reality the answer to that would depend a fair bit on how your driving - for example they are going to last a lot longer in sheer km terms if all your doing is driving in the country with minimal brake use compared to daily stop start driving in the cities.
End of the day a wear limit as been flagged so as long as you get them replaced in a reasonable time frame you'll be fine.

[BradC]

+1 for Rovacraft.

I'm obviously not hitting the brakes hard. The wear sensor is still blinking as I drive so it must be right on the ragged edge. I did wonder about a dicky connection, but when I'm sitting at the lights I often get deterministic behaviour (foot on brake, light off, foot off brake, light on).

Plan to do them on Sunday. When retracting the pistons, does anyone do the "clamp the hose and open the bleeder" routine rather than pushing fluid back up the system?

[shanegtr]

I'm obviously not hitting the brakes hard. The wear sensor is still blinking as I drive so it must be right on the ragged edge. I did wonder about a dicky connection, but when I'm sitting at the lights I often get deterministic behaviour (foot on brake, light off, foot off brake, light on).


The sensor relies on going open circuit to trigger the warning lamp so it wears down and breaks the circuit connection. However if the sensor is in contact with the brake disc then it will complete the circuit again

[ATH]

The inside left rear pad on mine wears much quicker than the rest. I'd be a bit wary of running too much further without changing them which is an easy job. Repco have always had pads available when I've wanted them.
AlanH.

[PerthDisco]

Pedders sell everything and also the Akebono dust free pads.

[BradC]

Not that far! Have a camp in Busselton, so probably a 700k round trip. We'll be down your way after new year however.

Cheers, I'll give Rovacraft a call and plan for a replacement next week. The light came on about 4 k's from home this morning.

Edit: Huh, they're less than 10 minutes from my place. Win!

Just an update. I bought Delphi front pads from Rovacraft and they do what they're supposed to do quite well. Holy crap do they create dust. I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt for the first couple of washes as they bedded in to the old rotors (which are still in pretty good nick and have plenty of meat on them) but after 6 months if anything it's worse not better.

I don't know what was on the car before, but they were nothing like this.