The brake pad wear indicator is a device that is mounted on the brake pads with a wire. When the brake pads are very worn, the indicator will come into contact with the brake disc. As soon as the wear indicator touches the brake disc, this is transmitted to the car's on-board computer. The on-board computer will illuminate a warning light in the dashboard. By the time the warning light comes on, the brake pads are too worn. In this case, be sure to replace the brake pads as soon as possible. Driving with worn brake pads can be very dangerous. The braking force can be greatly reduced.
Not every car has a wear indicator. Unfortunately, you can't just build this in either. Cars that are equipped with a wear sensor have a separate or fixed indicator. The fixed wear indicators are attached to the brake pads and are replaced together with the brake pads. Most brake pads, however, have a separate indicator, which is clamped onto the brake pads. In this case, it is useful to check the condition of the indicator when you replace the brake pads. In most cases it is recommended to replace the wear indicator together with the brake pads.
Wear indicator broken
The wear indicator that is attached to the brake pads will have to be replaced together with the brake discs. If you have a loose wear indicator, it is important to check it regularly. In general, the indicator will soon break when you change the brake pads. The lifespan of a separate wear sensor is therefore approximately the same as the lifespan of a brake pad. We therefore recommend that you replace the wear indicator when you replace the brake pads. This way you can be sure that the indicator can do its job well and you will not be faced with surprises.
Replace wear indicator
Replacing a loose wear indicator is not a difficult job and you can do it yourself, provided you have the right tools at home. For example, you need a car jack and axle stands to jack up and support the car. Briefly, the mounting of a new indicator works in the following way:
1. Raise the car with a car jack and make sure it remains stable by supporting it with axle stands.
2. Loosen the wheel bolts and remove the wheel from the car.
3. The wear indicator is in most cases attached to the brake pad with a clip. So you can easily pick it up.
4. Follow the wire from the wear indicator to the coupling point. You can easily disconnect the device.
5. Connect the new wear indicator to the coupling point.
6. The indicator can then be clamped back onto the brake pad with the clip.
7. Put the wheels back in place and lower the car again.
Buy wear indicator
Buying a wear indicator is quick and easy at Winparts. Simply enter your number plate or car model on the website and the correct parts will be displayed. Are you looking for other accessories for the braking system? In our wide range you will also find brake hoses, brake cleaner, ABS sensors and assembly parts.