Brake Pad Sensor

Andy_with_a_screwdriver · 27th June 2017, 00:16

Hello all this is my first post. I'm trying to sort a few issues with my recently acquired 75 CDTi Tourer, firstly the ineffective handbrake which only worked slightly on the near side wheel.

I found when the wheels were removed that the rear off side pads were virtually worn out. My local parts shop had a set and I got on with changing the pads. The nearside was straight forward and I checked the handbrake shoes, this is my first experience of them and adjusted as recommended on here. The offside disc was covered with grease and muck which I cleaned, I took the disc off and the shoes were cracked and quite thin so they probably need changing too.

There was a white 2 core wire hanging around which I assume to be the sensor cable and there are 2 bare ends and no sign of a sensor. The brake pad warning light has been on since I bought the car. The bloke I bought the car from said his garage had fitted cheaper pads which didn't have sensors on, and this was why the warning was on. I think he was economical with the truth because judging by the state of the pads they must have been on for about 10 years. He only owned it for 14 months.
Anyway I fitted the new pads and adjusted the handbrake at the wheel and then at the handbrake lever. I took it for a test drive and the foot brake was greatly improved but the handbrake less so, enough to hold the vehicle in neutral on the hill by my house but not in drive. any advice or will it probably need the new shoes? I also had to do the nut up a long way on the handle to get some tension on it.
Also Is it possible to buy a new sensors and refit the wire? or does anyone know if it is left open or short circuit will this turn the warning light off?

Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks Andy.

Arctic · 27th June 2017, 00:38

Hi Andy.
Welcome to the forum, if when you checked the shoes they were cracked in my opinion I would change them, are the back plates ok, ie the pins are not being pulled through due to corrosion.

The lack of hand brake hold will be down to the compensator which is made of mild steel and stretches over time, therefore that will need changing for a modified one, stainless steel or a Mini R53 will do the job nicely and you will have an handbrake that will hold you on any hill

click the link below and read on cheers Arctic.

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=153360

PS you can change the brake pad wear sensor easy or if you want to turn the light off just joins the two loose wires together, personally I would change the sensor now you have new pads

T-Cut · 27th June 2017, 08:53

Just to add some detail, the sensor head clips into the recess on the backplate of the innermost pad. This drawing shows what I mean.

Only the front and rear offside (RHS) brakes have wear sensors.

They're quite cheap and easy to get from eBay, etc.

eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...ensor&_sacat=0

TC

Andy_with_a_screwdriver · 27th June 2017, 10:22

T cut, thanks for the diagram and link, thats what I am missing and there its no picture in haynes of where it goes. Sensor ordered thanks.

Arctic, thanks i'll be in touch about the compensator do they come with instructions? I'm not sure where to find it on the car. The handbrake shoes aren't really corroded just cracked and thin. My parts shop can get them for about £20 so i'll do that when I do the sensor.

Arctic · 27th June 2017, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_with_a_screwdriver

T cut, thanks for the diagram and link, thats what I am missing and there its no picture in haynes of where it goes. Sensor ordered thanks.

Quote:

Arctic, thanks i'll be in touch about the compensator do they come with instructions? I'm not sure where to find it on the car.

The handbrake shoes aren't really corroded just cracked and thin. My parts shop can get them for about £20 so i'll do that when I do the sensor.

HI Andy
All in the link below and on page 11 of the original thread

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...&postcount=102

HarryM1BYT · 27th June 2017, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_with_a_screwdriver

T cut, thanks for the diagram and link, thats what I am missing and there its no picture in haynes of where it goes. Sensor ordered thanks.

Arctic, thanks i'll be in touch about the compensator do they come with instructions? I'm not sure where to find it on the car. The handbrake shoes aren't really corroded just cracked and thin. My parts shop can get them for about £20 so i'll do that when I do the sensor.

The business end of the sensor just pushes into a drilling in the pad, it is nothing more than a loop of wire, a flex, then a black plug to plug it in under the bonnet/ on the inner wing. The plug is next to a pale blue plug, which is the ABS sensor.

Thin handbrake shoes is normal, they suffer very little wear use. Cracked is not usual, but has been reported before. The compensator is hidden by the trim, directly behind (to the rear) the handbrake lever in the cabin.

Andy_with_a_screwdriver · 28th June 2017, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic

PS you can change the brake pad wear sensor easy or if you want to turn the light off just joins the two loose wires together, personally I would change the sensor now you have new pads

Done this short term until sensor arrives and it has turned the display off.
I'll see what it's like at the front next!
Thanks.

27th June 2017, 00:16	#1
Andy_with_a_screwdriver Gets stuck in Rover 75 Tourer CDTi Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Plymouth Posts: 692 Thanks: 141 Thanked 153 Times in 117 Posts	Brake Pad Sensor Hello all this is my first post. I'm trying to sort a few issues with my recently acquired 75 CDTi Tourer, firstly the ineffective handbrake which only worked slightly on the near side wheel. I found when the wheels were removed that the rear off side pads were virtually worn out. My local parts shop had a set and I got on with changing the pads. The nearside was straight forward and I checked the handbrake shoes, this is my first experience of them and adjusted as recommended on here. The offside disc was covered with grease and muck which I cleaned, I took the disc off and the shoes were cracked and quite thin so they probably need changing too. There was a white 2 core wire hanging around which I assume to be the sensor cable and there are 2 bare ends and no sign of a sensor. The brake pad warning light has been on since I bought the car. The bloke I bought the car from said his garage had fitted cheaper pads which didn't have sensors on, and this was why the warning was on. I think he was economical with the truth because judging by the state of the pads they must have been on for about 10 years. He only owned it for 14 months. Anyway I fitted the new pads and adjusted the handbrake at the wheel and then at the handbrake lever. I took it for a test drive and the foot brake was greatly improved but the handbrake less so, enough to hold the vehicle in neutral on the hill by my house but not in drive. any advice or will it probably need the new shoes? I also had to do the nut up a long way on the handle to get some tension on it. Also Is it possible to buy a new sensors and refit the wire? or does anyone know if it is left open or short circuit will this turn the warning light off? Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks Andy.

27th June 2017, 00:38	#2
Arctic Give to Learn Freelander 2 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: West Midlands Posts: 18,700 Thanks: 1,155 Thanked 6,407 Times in 3,874 Posts	Hi Andy. Welcome to the forum, if when you checked the shoes they were cracked in my opinion I would change them, are the back plates ok, ie the pins are not being pulled through due to corrosion. The lack of hand brake hold will be down to the compensator which is made of mild steel and stretches over time, therefore that will need changing for a modified one, stainless steel or a Mini R53 will do the job nicely and you will have an handbrake that will hold you on any hill click the link below and read on cheers Arctic. https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=153360 PS you can change the brake pad wear sensor easy or if you want to turn the light off just joins the two loose wires together, personally I would change the sensor now you have new pads __________________ Arctic Givology Learn to Give Everything is Achievable ad altiora tendo. Check out our Nano meet dates http://www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk/ http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/index.php?thepage=howto " You do the work , we supply the expertise " Last edited by Arctic; 27th June 2017 at 00:40..

27th June 2017, 08:53	#3
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,752 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	Just to add some detail, the sensor head clips into the recess on the backplate of the innermost pad. This drawing shows what I mean. Only the front and rear offside (RHS) brakes have wear sensors. They're quite cheap and easy to get from eBay, etc. eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...ensor&_sacat=0 TC

27th June 2017, 10:22	#4
Andy_with_a_screwdriver Gets stuck in Rover 75 Tourer CDTi Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Plymouth Posts: 692 Thanks: 141 Thanked 153 Times in 117 Posts	T cut, thanks for the diagram and link, thats what I am missing and there its no picture in haynes of where it goes. Sensor ordered thanks. Arctic, thanks i'll be in touch about the compensator do they come with instructions? I'm not sure where to find it on the car. The handbrake shoes aren't really corroded just cracked and thin. My parts shop can get them for about £20 so i'll do that when I do the sensor.