Joe '87 S4

I'm curious at what point, of pad remaining, does the brake pad sensor light come on?

jayc67

Hard to give a concrete example, but in my case let's call it VERY DAMN LITTLE......

Joe '87 S4

Oooops! That doesn't sound good.

jayc67

I think the documentation claims around 10 percent. I can't seem to locate where I read that and I'm going off memory here. It will be time for pads in a couple hundred miles I guess. The good news is that a pad only replacement on an S4 is about the easiest mechanical thing you can do with these cars. If the rotors are good, it is literally a 15 minute job per wheel if you plan ahead. The calipers don't have to come off or anything. It is truly a simple job. Buy the right size dampers and pads from one of the big 3 and go after it. Replacing the pad sensor that is worn through is simple as well.

Joe '87 S4

Mine were at around 30% remaining a few months ago but I was going to replace them soon anyway. They seem to be going down by about 10%/year. Is that average? I'm pretty easy on the car although I tend to ride the brakes down a hill by my house (the friendly neighborhood officer sometimes hides behind a tree halfway down the hill). Mostly just curiosity. Thanks for the info.

Steve J.

Visually check your brake pads occassionally and don't wait for the pad sensors to wear through. Save having to buy new sensors.

Gretch

Maybe, but the sensors are relatively cheap, and generally difficult to get out of the old shoes with out damaging them. I recommend you get a set in your posession before you do the brake job, if you don't use (all) of them you have spares......

jayc67

Agree with Gretch... during my pad replacement I ruined 3 of the 4 pad sensors just trying to get them out of the old pads. I did have a set ahead of time thanks to some warnings I received here
Ruined 3 of 4 because #4 was already worn through....

UKKid35

I must be lucky, I managed to remove all the pad sensors on the front without damage - but I only had the single sensor per caliper type, and that is a moot point. Because the calipers corrode one of my pads was partially seized and hence had worn far less than the other - this was the one with the sensor fitted. The other pad was at the wear grove but of course there was no warning of this. Check my other post for the description of the problems that await you reguarding corrosion. I'm shortly going to replace the rear pads - I wonder what delights await there.