Author Topic: Brake Wear Sensor Pictures-HELP! (Read 3522 times)

lindol · « **on:** January 09, 2008, 12:08:25 AM »

I've searched this site and many other BMW forums trying to find a picture that shows the brake wear sensor installed on the left front, every site shows the right rear instead as a typical sensor install. The parts catalogs on oembmw or bmwfans don't clearly show this area either I'm afraid. Unfortunately, on my recently purchased '91-M42 the left front sensor was missing and so I don't really understand how or where it attaches at the brake pad. A picture would help me out tremendously, and finish the complete brake overhaul on this car, can somebody help?

Best regards,
David
'91 BMW 318iS
Sweden

hoevesruperd · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2008, 08:50:55 AM »

i think there are two sensors. one on a front wheel and one on a rear wheel (one being left the other right) so there might not be a sensor for the wheel you're looking at.

ortherwise, the sensor connects to the caliper. its a flexible black plastic hose.
the sensor itself is not much of a sophisticated sensor. its only a wire that runs in your pads. when this wire is cut by wear the warning light comes on. so its easy to jump the circuit. just connect the sensor wire to itself.

if you want to reinstall the sensor you might want to look at realoem.com for the diagrams

pbgd3skier · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2008, 10:06:42 AM »

the sensor pushes into the pad, there is a little hole in the pad material and a cut out in the backing plate.

Same way that the rear brake sensor installs.

It then exit the caliper and attaches to the line from the car.

Which by the way mine doesn't work, I have to trace the line back into the car.

lindol · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2008, 05:12:06 AM »

Thanks for your reply, unfortunately the sensor attachment is not the same as the right rear wheel as the photo seems to show. My sensor for the left front has is a thin plastic piece with a metal bump in the middle of it.
Now I can end this thread properly with a picture that shows the mounting of the sensor. After we put this on, we re-attached the caliper and once we started the car the brake pad sensor light finally went out, success!
Thanks for the tips everyone!

For some reason I can't upload the pictures here, but I have described this problem and successfully loaded them on the pelican parts site, here's the web address if you are interested in the pictures!
Thanks!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?p=3745069#post3745069