Brake pad warning light - how long have I left? ( D4 trip to the snowfields )

[dukemasterpro]

Hi all, just had the brake pad wanting yellow light come on, got a drive at the weekend to the snow and wondering how much life I have in them??
Have done 22,000 km mostly highway / outback and was told 5-10,000km when the light comes on by my independent mechanic.
plan was to fit new pads next week. 1300km round trip to the snow, also asides from alpine diesel is there anything else to watch out for to prep for the weather.

[lt8x7]

The answer is, and always will be, 42.

The units depend on how you drive - kms, days .....

😁😜

[Fred Nerk]

Only 22000 km and the light is on???

I had rear pads replaced at last service before any lights were on and fronts are still Ok at 80000km. The service man explained that the rear brakes come on a little ahead of the fronts to stabilise the car during normal braking and so the rear pads often go first.

Is there a problem if the brake pads are worn at only 22000? I rarely use HDC (only for really steep and scary decents) and try to use engine braking off road and on. Interested in others story re pad durability.

[jon3950]

I've just done my rears at 52k. Have about 3mm left to the sensor on the front so expect to do them at the next service (in 13k). That's a fair bit better than the D3 (35k for rears I think) so I'm happy. Measuring pad life in 1000s of km instead of 100s is always a bonus.

Cheers,
Jon

[jon3950]

Oh, and in response to the original question. If it were me I would get them replaced before the trip. If you have only done 22000km to get down to the sensor I doubt you would get 5-10000 out of the last 2mm.

You may well get away with it but at that thickness your brakes are not working at their optimum, which is the most important consideration to me on a trip like that.

Just another thought though. 22000 is not a lot of km. It would be worth checking that they have actually worn down that far and its not stuffed sensor.

Cheers,
Jon

[SBD4]

my wear is similar to Freds. I think 22000kms is way too low even for an enthusiastic driver.

Check that the cables for the sensors are intact. If I remember correctly, they go open circuit when they exceed the wear point - same as if the cable was broken. There are two sensors, one front, one back on opposite sides of the car- can't remember if its front right and rear left or visa-versa.

[GP1200]

Just had my rear pads replaced @ 39,500 / hardly any towing at all / D4 02/2013

Would have liked a little more::BigCry
But in this day and age.. ?

Jack

[Redback]

Have to agree with everyone else, 22,000ks is not good, we are one our 3rd set and second set of front, just replaced the rears 1000ks ago, the front were replaced at about 60,000ks, pretty good after 98,000ks and with a lot of towing and to and from work.

I'd check the sensor also, but if they are down, I have them replaced now before your trip also.

Baz.

[minibloodhound]

Coming upto 50000 on mine and have replaced the fronts on mine twice. It does get used hard though offroad and tows a camper regularly. It's the 2.7litre with smaller brakes - that may make a difference.
My wife's D4 with the 3litre only just had the fronts replaced at 70000, but it doesn't tow or go offroad.
Each time the light comes on they've been replaced fairly promptly, and have almost no meat left on them, so if I were you, I'd replace them before any trip.

Scott

[Plane Fixer]

I have 75000 on mine and have not yet replaced any brakes as I try and be kind to them, and they certainly pull up when needed.
I will have a good look at them when I get home as I have a trip to Canberra and Melbourne about the first week in September.
What I have noticed is there is a lip on the front discs and a smaller one on the rears.
When I change the pads I will also put new discs on as well; any idea of the pricing of the genuine brakes. Especially the front and I will do the job myself with genuine items as I am still under warranty.