2006 X5 M54 138K with RED Brake Light---SOLVED (LF Sensor)

[wpoll]

The pads *should* wear evenly, since the caliper is a sliding type but as the guide pins wear and bind slightly, the inner pads will end up wearing faster. All pretty normal.

[andrewwynn]

I used the tie the wires trick to get my light off and wear my pads down to about 1.5mm.

The thing is when you get lower than 3mm thickness you lose braking strength dramatically.

[cn90]

I have owned many Volvos (1991 240, 1998 S70, 1998 V70, 2004 V70, 2005 XC90) over the years...while I don't know about modern Volvos, the Volvos I have owned: NO brake pad sensor bc the Swedes rely on routine inspection of the car, which I think is a good thing for responsible owner. This allows the pads to be used more, down to 2-3 mm.
Although we can argue that at that thickness, there is less material to transfer heat.
For ppl with tight budget and drive conservatively, sure I have used Volvo pads down to 1-2 mm.

In the BMWs, you can always withdraw the sensor at 5 mm and zip tie it out of the way so you can re-use the sensor or save $10. Or don't insert the sensor into the pad at all. And just follow good routine inspection every 6-12 months, depending on how much you drive a year.

PS: Just randomly checked a 2018 Volvo XC90 brake section of FCPEuro: no pad sensor.

[andrewwynn]

Growing up, our breaker pads had the metal finger that would scrape it's an ∞ better system because all eight pads has a sensor and you'd get the squeek no matter which got low.

3mm is overly generous and I tell my family and clients when the wear sensor trips, to plan within the next couple months or 2-3,000 miles to replace brakes.

I wore mine down to under 2 and they worked find for normal braking but could no longer lock up the wheel so there was diminished power for sure.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Growing up, our breaker pads had the metal finger that would scrape it's an ∞ better system because all eight pads has a sensor and you'd get the squeek no matter which got low....

Are there any brake-pad suppliers/manufacturers that put the metal fingers on their version of X5 pads, or do all leave them off? I don't want to use the sensors, if I can rely on the "squeakers", and visual inspection, of course, to monitor the state of the pads.

And, can I turn-off the "brake-pad wear" warning by using a Foxwell NT 510 Elite scan-tool (the pads are new, the sensor(s) weren't replaced by previous owner)?

[cn90]

@workingonit,

- I don't think you can turn the brake sensor off bc of safety issue, I may be wrong though.

- Sure you can remove the sensor and zip tie it out of the way.

- Then do visual inspection every 6-12 months...The only problem is: the OUTER pad is easy to inspect w/o the need to remove the wheel. The INNER pas is virtually impossible to check w/o removing the wheel.

- Actually, when I used to own the 1991 Volvo 240, every 6-12 months, I remove the wheel, put on jack stand for safety and do a visual check of the whole place: CV boot, brake pads, brake hoses, ball joints, tie rods etc. Just good practice but it requires work/basic tool (jack, jack stand). These days, ppl don't want to do anything and rely on the dash light to tell you what is wrong. Things like CV boot, brake hoses, tie rods...there is no replacement for visual inspection.

- So, maybe the Volvo engineers have it right...no need for brake sensor bc in their mind, a car needs to be inspected every 6-12 months. To the Saturday mechanics (like most of us here)...not an issue, for my Volvos...I don't have a choice, I have to inspect it every so often. For the BMWs, I have become complacent and reply on the sensor...
To average Jack/Joe, it is costly at the shop for inspection alone. It is what it is...lol...

PS: the "metal finger" is mostly on Japanese cars. It is kind of funny bc you like it or not, it squeals like a pig and you are forced to replace the pads, if you don't want to attention from people...

[andrewwynn]

You can as suggested eliminate the sensor from the equation.

You cannot code out with scanner but you can tie off sensor.

On the bmw the sensors are in 25% of the pads. It's more important to inspect anyhow.

I think the 3mm is on purpose generous so there is little chance the other will wear to metal if they are more worn.

[cn90]

Somewhat related, but replaced the Angel Bulbs using Osram 64113.
The message "Check side lights", which I have ignored for 7 years is gone now.

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by cn90

Somewhat related, but replaced the Angel Bulbs using Osram 64113.
The message "Check side lights", which I have ignored for 7 years is gone now.

Hoooray ! Congrats