Pad Wear Indicator Not Working

[Jesda]

I'm due for a brake job (new pads, turn/replace rotors, new fluid). I've got a pulsating steering wheel when braking from 60-0, and a pad squeal.

I usually listen for the squeal on whatever car I drive, but I thought the 92 Q had a pad wear warning indicator thats supposed to kick in before it gets to that?

-Jesda

[DAEDALUS]

It's very possible that the previous owner shorted the sensor leads so he/she could use aftermarket pads without having the error message displayed.If they were shorted past the connector, you can always replace it.

[911/Q45]

I usually got funny noises before the pad sensor wore through.

[Q451990]

I'm with Daedalus... probably aftermarket pads - that would explain the squeal too. It's highly possible that your pads are not worn out, but just the wrong compound to really work well on the Q and causing glazed rotors. You'll need to turn or replace the rotors, and I'd go back to OEM pads.

Heath

[GEOFF]

OEM pads seem to be the best for the money, though you can find one w/sensor cheap at an auto store. They are easy to short out to avoid warning and I here you can paint the ends of used ones at get more like outta them.

[DAEDALUS]

What makes them work is a thin wire filament near the tip. Painting the tip will not help, unless the paint is extremely conductive (silver-filled epoxy paint maybe). I once repaired one by soldering a wire across the broken ends. It's about impossible to get *just* right though, since the height of the sensor is critical. If you screw it up, it'll go off to early or too late. Better off just splicing the wires to make it easier, or just keep using factory pads.

[Jesda]

I always listen to my car. Screw the darn wear sensor! As long as I have good pads and rotors I can listen for the wear squeal.

-Jesda

[Q45tech]

The brake wear sensor is the last resort warning. At T3 we visually check pads with a flashlight at every oil change and report an approximate depth.

The thickness of the pad material is the ONLY insulation to the caliper piston and thus the brake fluid.We like to see the pads changed long before they wear down to the critical point..........something like 25% [2.25 mm] remaining is a good time.