"Brake pads worn"

[LR1953]

Friends, last Saturday night the "Brake Pads Worn" warning came on, the orange triangle and the orange brake symbol in the speedo. Brought the car home carefully (about 60km) and haven't driven it since. So today I replaced the front pads which were down but not dangerously thin. On testing, still getting the warnings. So I inspected the right rear pads (where the rear axle sensor is located), only to find they have plenty of meat on them. Still getting the warnings even though there's plenty of pad material everywhere. The sensors appear to be in good condition and correctly installed. Where do I go from here?
(2010 D4 2.7TDI)
TIA, Rob S

[Tombie]

The sensor on either LHF or RHR has failed / worn through.

New pads come with sensor

[BradC]

The sensors appear to be in good condition and correctly installed.

They won't / can't be. The sensor works by the disc literally wearing through the connection on the sensor. So it's a one shot affair. If it goes off it has to be replaced.

[loanrangie]

The sensor on either LHF or RHR has failed / worn through.

New pads come with sensor


Must be genuine otherwise never seen a sensor cable in any of the pads i've bought.

[shack]

I've had some aftermarket with sensors, some without. I don't think the Akebono came with sensors.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Correct, no sensors with akebono, they are imho the best choice. Check RockAuto | All The Parts Your Car Will Ever Need (http://www.rockauto.com) for both. Cheap due to high market volume in the USA.

[DiscoJeffster]

Must be genuine otherwise never seen a sensor cable in any of the pads i've bought.

Correct. Never had pads with sensors but I don’t buy genuine dust machines

[Tombie]

Must be genuine otherwise never seen a sensor cable in any of the pads i've bought.

DBA, Bendix, Repco - all provided them in the box

[cjc_td5]

The front sensor is such a pr&ck to replace (having to remove the inner guard etc), that I have just cut the wires and looped them, so that I don't get the warning anymore.

You have many kms from when the warning triggers, up to >1000km before you risk doing any damage with worn pads. Just check the pads thickness at every service like we always used to before the sensors were invented....

C

[DazzaTD5]

the sensor is not part of the brake pads like some think...

its a separate part as already mentioned, front l/h and rear r/h
and as already mentioned, once its gone off you need to replace it regardless if you think the sensor is good or not. you do pads, you do sensors.

but yes and no, they can come in some brands of pad sets, they are just not part of the pad itself

[LR1953]

They won't / can't be. The sensor works by the disc literally wearing through the connection on the sensor. So it's a one shot affair. If it goes off it has to be replaced.

Thanks Brad but what a dopey idea. My 1988 Mercedes W124 has clip-in wear sensors on both front brakes (can't remember about rears). They snap into the inside pad and have a short coiled lead to the permanent cable which follows the brake hose. They work by earthing to the disc/rotor. Useable many times over provided you change pads promptly on warning and you don't subject your brakes to race conditions.

[StewG]

I've been getting Brake Pad Worn warnings off and on for the past 3 years and at every service i'm told the pads are fine. The warning might go away for a month or two and then come back daily for a week then disappear again - most annoying. It seems to be one of those pointless technology things that are done only because the designer can. Just like the useless electronic oil level checker that is so inconvenient. Give me a dipstick any day thank you.

[loanrangie]

I've been getting Brake Pad Worn warnings off and on for the past 3 years and at every service i'm told the pads are fine. The warning might go away for a month or two and then come back daily for a week then disappear again - most annoying. It seems to be one of those pointless technology things that are done only because the designer can. Just like the useless electronic oil level checker that is so inconvenient. Give me a dipstick any day thank you.

I think its one of those things that a certain large market full morons require before a vehicle can be sold there- USA.

[Discodicky]

Correct, no sensors with akebono, they are imho the best choice. Check RockAuto | All The Parts Your Car Will Ever Need (http://www.rockauto.com) for both. Cheap due to high market volume in the USA.

That's odd, all my Akebono's (2 sets front, 1 rear) I've purchased from Rock Auto have always come with sensors.
Maybe associated with part number?
The P/Ns I use are EUR1479 (Fr) and EUR10998 (Rear)
MY13 D4

Love the Akebono's; absolutely no dust and excellent stopping power, no noises.

[DieselLSE]

That's odd, all my Akebono's (2 sets front, 1 rear) I've purchased from Rock Auto have always come with sensors.
Maybe associated with part number?
The P/Ns I use are EUR1479 (Fr) and EUR10998 (Rear)
MY13 D4

Love the Akebono's; absolutely no dust and excellent stopping power, no noises.
Are you using genuine disks?

[DieselLSE]

That's odd, all my Akebono's (2 sets front, 1 rear) I've purchased from Rock Auto have always come with sensors.
Maybe associated with part number?
The P/Ns I use are EUR1479 (Fr) and EUR10998 (Rear)
MY13 D4

Love the Akebono's; absolutely no dust and excellent stopping power, no noises.
Just a correction, the rear pads part number is EUR1099B

[Eric SDV6SE]

That's odd, all my Akebono's (2 sets front, 1 rear) I've purchased from Rock Auto have always come with sensors.
Maybe associated with part number?
The P/Ns I use are EUR1479 (Fr) and EUR10998 (Rear)
MY13 D4

Love the Akebono's; absolutely no dust and excellent stopping power, no noises.

Car is now long gone, I paired the Akebonos with RDA slotted blacked out rotors no dust and looked great. Don't think i got the sensors with the pads though.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Are you using genuine disks?

Genuine discs are relative soft, aftermarket RDA or DBA seem OK. Key is new pads with new rotors. Terra firma etc would also be good,never tried them though

[Odysseyman]

DBA, Bendix, Repco - all provided them in the box

not the ones (both front and rear Bendix) I’ve bought recently.