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Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 12:24 pm
by Latitude48
I ordered some EBC Red Stuff brake pads for my 944 S2 that has 993 TT calipers in front and stock calipers in the rear. I received the front pads today and they don't have the provision for the 993 TT wear sensors; I suspect the rears may be the same when those arrive.
I've always run wear sensors, however, in 28 years of ownership the pads have never gotten low enough to activate the sensors before I've changed the pads. So, is this no big deal?
I don't know if the system just checks for an open circuit or if it also looks at a resistance value. If it's open circuit the old sensors could be cut near the connector and spliced to deactivate the warning light.
The other option is return these pads and get something else. Stock pads work fine but make a lot of dust.
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 1:00 pm
by spacecad3t
Mine were pretty ratty so I gutted them. You can just ground the wires together somewhere. The non-destructive way is to ground the sensor plugs. This thread has photos:
https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turbo-a ... ensor.html
I took that approach and even pulled the bulb for the dash. I like the cleaner engine bay/wheel wells.
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 2:18 pm
by WillyDaP
If you are a track rat you likely check them often anyway, and if not just make it a habit to view them when rotating tires or during other maintenance. As you noted you have never had a problem so should not be an issue having no sensors.
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2025 11:44 pm
by Wespa
I delete them on all of my cars, IMHO one of the most useless accessories together with tire pressure sensors..
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 5:24 am
by rbpeirce
Wespa wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 11:44 pm
I delete them on all of my cars, IMHO one of the most useless accessories together with tire pressure sensors..
True on the first but not on the second. I find TPMS very useful during a session on track. Waiting to get back to the pit to check pressures has not proven to be as accurate.
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 1:58 pm
by spacecad3t
Wespa wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 11:44 pm
I delete them on all of my cars, IMHO one of the most useless accessories together with tire pressure sensors..
It might have been ok if they hadn't used such messy and complicated harness... like I get that it went on to support pad sensors and ABS, but ugh so many wires and junctions for whats a single wire application...
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 7:18 pm
by Evan
Latitude48 wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 12:24 pm
I ordered some EBC Red Stuff brake pads for my 944 S2 that has 993 TT calipers in front and stock calipers in the rear. I received the front pads today and they don't have the provision for the 993 TT wear sensors; I suspect the rears may be the same when those arrive.
I've always run wear sensors, however, in 28 years of ownership the pads have never gotten low enough to activate the sensors before I've changed the pads. So, is this no big deal?
I don't know if the system just checks for an open circuit or if it also looks at a resistance value. If it's open circuit the old sensors could be cut near the connector and spliced to deactivate the warning light.
The other option is return these pads and get something else. Stock pads work fine but make a lot of dust.
NO.
The system only checks for an open circuit. Cut your old sensor wires, strip the ends, and twist them together. Tape it up securely. This will close the circuit and permanently turn off the warning light.
Since you change pads before they are worn out, you don't need the sensor function. Keep the EBC pads to avoid the dust.
Re: Brake Pad Wear Sensors - Yes/No?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2025 3:38 pm
by Latitude48
Evan wrote: Mon Nov 17, 2025 7:18 pm
NO.
The system only checks for an open circuit. Cut your old sensor wires, strip the ends, and twist them together. Tape it up securely. This will close the circuit and permanently turn off the warning light.
Since you change pads before they are worn out, you don't need the sensor function. Keep the EBC pads to avoid the dust.
I'll probably cut the sensor wires, strip the ends, twist together and secure with a crimp cap and possibly shrink wrap that. I think the rear pads may have the sensor provisions, so I might just keep those... or not
If these pads work well I may get some for the Golf R as the stock pads make a ton of dust.