I stand corrected, those are brass pins, part of the pad construction not wear sensors. You know the wear sensors plug in.

 

That's what I thought. And What you want to avoid scoring your rotors...

W/ regard to the backing plates I put the new ones in.. I don't think they are required but...

 

Can't say if that would be a problem. Do you have vibration dampers in the caliper pistons?

 

No.. But the old pads did squeak which I'm assuming was the copper rivets on the pad

 

If that copper, brass or taper, eventually dooms your PCCBs, I have a set @70% off retail, near mint:

https://rennlist.com/forums/for-sale...mint-cond.html

Hit the price, and I'll throw in a set of P50 greens (new). I'd rather reach for a backup set of those, than go on track with less than 5mm.