s40 brake pads

Discussion in 'Volvo S40' started by volture, Jul 10, 2003.

  1. volture

    volture Guest

    I was told volvo s40 brake pads don't have wear sensors on them. Can this be true?
     
    volture, Jul 10, 2003
    #1
  2. volture

    Mike F Guest

    No Volvo has ever had a wear sensor - I can't understand why. Other
    cars have used pad sensors to turn on a warning light on the dash, it
    seems like such a good idea for so little extra cost.
     
    Mike F, Jul 11, 2003
    #2
  3. From a point at sea, to the circles of your mind, this is Mike F:
    Not so sure; doing proper servicing is surely a better idea.

    To my mind, the need for a wear sensor implies poor servicing.
    Checking the brake pads by eye, involving taking the wheel off, means
    that much else in the wheel/brake assembly can get looked at at the
    same time. A sensor would only a good idea when servicing is not being
    carried out at all, and in that circumstance, to rely on a fallible
    sensor of some sort cannot be a good idea.

    And besides, I've always found that the loud grating noise (often
    followed by the sound of bending metal) that you get when the pads
    need replacing is ample warning.


    --

    Stewart Hargrave

    Faster than public transport


    For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
     
    Stewart Hargrave, Jul 11, 2003
    #3
  4. volture

    Mike F Guest

    Well, there's no doubt proper inspections and servicing is better. I
    personally have no problem, especially since the cars I've had for the
    last 15 years have all had 5 spoke wheels with openings large enough to
    quickly do a brake inspection whenever I want. However, most people
    aren't like you and me, they need something to tell them when something
    needs attention on their cars. And a light on the dash is a good way to
    do that. And since BMW, Mercedes and Porsche (and others I don't know
    about, I'm sure) all use sensors and lights, then there becomes an
    expectation that other cars will also have the same feature, and as you
    say, people start to rely on them.
     
    Mike F, Jul 14, 2003
    #4
  5. volture

    Stuart Gray Guest

    Volvo is the only car I've had that doesn't have pad wear wiring, and come
    to think of it, my old 240 and both my 740's don't or didn't have low fuel
    warning either. I do have low washer fluid warning, low brake fluid warning
    in the SE tho, but no brake or fuel. It is odd but there must be a "Volvo"
    logic behind it. maybe they just ran out of space on the instrument panel
    !!!

    Stuart.
     
    Stuart Gray, Jul 14, 2003
    #5
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