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[Toledodude1973]

Can someone confirm for me please is there  a brake pad sensor fitted to just one front caliper or both of them ? i'm thinking back doesn't have any? thankyou

[Carfix]

On my pre-facelift 2.5 litre I have a front wear sensor on each caliper. (attached to one of the pads)

I think I remember that that this was changed to just one on the face-lift models?

I am sure someone can confirm this.

You can "fool" the pad warning system by bridging the terminals on the connector under the wheel arch. Useful if you damage the sensor on the pad during the pad change and you don't have a preplacement sensor handy.

[TheBoy]

2.6/3.2 has a single sensor. Superior engine cars - 2.5/3.0 - have 2 sensors on the front axle.

[Toledodude1973]

Thank you both for replies i can now order tonight 

[Enceladus]

All Facelifts have one sensor, fitted to the front nearside, and use 296mm front discs.
I believe all Pre-Facelifts have two sensors, one each side on the front.
Some base model early 4 pot models use 286mm discs and require different sensors and different pads to those with 296mm discs.
All models that use 296mm front discs of whatever vintage use the same sensor, either one or two.

The sensors are a PITA. They usually fall apart if you remove the pads for any reason. So they can't reliably be re-fitted and historically they were over-priced. Hence standard practice for Carltons, Senators and Omegas, going back years, has been to bridge the wires. Not an issue since you should be inspecting the front brakes regularly and not letting the pads get to minimum thickness.

However I recently saw something that suggested that the MOT test now checks that the sensor(s) is/are in place (and the warning light is not illuminated). Can anybody say if that applies to old Omegas or is it just newer vehicles?

[Tick Tock]

All 2.6 / 3.2 Facelifts have one sensor, fitted to the front nearside, and use 296mm front discs.
I believe all Pre-Facelifts and Facelift 2.5 / 3.0 have two sensors, one each side on the front.
Some base model early 4 pot models use 286mm discs and require different sensors and different pads to those with 296mm discs.
All models that use 296mm front discs of whatever vintage use the same sensor, either one or two.

The sensors are a PITA. They usually fall apart if you remove the pads for any reason. So they can't reliably be re-fitted and historically they were over-priced. Hence standard practice for Carltons, Senators and Omegas, going back years, has been to bridge the wires. Not an issue since you should be inspecting the front brakes regularly and not letting the pads get to minimum thickness.

However I recently saw something that suggested that the MOT test now checks that the sensor(s) is/are in place (and the warning light is not illuminated). Can anybody say if that applies to old Omegas or is it just newer vehicles?

On my 2.5 Facelifts I have removed the sensors and bridged out at the plug under the wheel arch. They've been like this for years and have had no issues regarding MOT tests. As you say, regular servicing does away with the need to be reminded there's a problem with the pads every time you switch the ignition on, even when there's nothing wrong. They are a PITA.

I have several here that I've taken off so if anyone wants them FOC, let me know.

[Andy B]

.....
As you say, regular servicing does away with the need to be reminded there's a problem with the pads every time you switch the ignition on, even when there's nothing wrong. They are a PITA.....

but I like stuff to work as intended  At least the warning stays off when cancelled til the next time the ignition is switched on .... my Merc reminds every time you press the pedal again (a system that 'earths' onto the disc rather than open circuit like the Omega)

[Nick W]

.....
As you say, regular servicing does away with the need to be reminded there's a problem with the pads every time you switch the ignition on, even when there's nothing wrong. They are a PITA.....

but I like stuff to work as intended  At least the warning stays off when cancelled til the next time the ignition is switched on .... my Merc reminds every time you press the pedal again (a system that 'earths' onto the disc rather than open circuit like the Omega)

I'm with you, it's not hard to make them work: fit new sensors with the pads and replace both 40,000 miles later when they're worn out.

[TheBoy]

I agree, I always have my sensors working.


I'm perplexed by NickW's 40k though.  I'm glad I'm not following a Metro around Kent

[VXL V6]

I only ever fit the sensor on the first set of pads with new discs, the second set of pads and original discs will both be sacrificial.