xantia: Brake pad wear warning system

ErikDK · Post by **ErikDK** » 05 Jun 2005, 17:21

Hello everyone,
I have just fixed the brake pad wear warning system on my 96 xantia so in case some of you will run into the problem I would like to share my experience with you.
Renovating the front calipers I discovered that the wires to the brake pad wear warning system was broken just above where it is fixed to the frame in a rubber mount. This has also happend to a colleage of mine. As far as I can see you have to carefully check that this wire is not stretched when the wheels are in outer positions. I guess that the previous owner has neglected this

or perhaps this is a weak spot on the Xantia?
There are two wires going to the connector where the wires from the brake pads are connected. One is green and the other brown.
The green one is the one that connects to the two wires from the brake pads and the brown one is connected to ground internally in the connector. When the green one is connected to ground the warning lamp in the instrument panel turns on. You will measure the battery voltage on the green one and zero volts on the brown.
On my car the connector was slightly corroded with green stuff inside - so I gave it some penetrating oil suitable for electrical connections - that helped. I have made the wires longer so the problem will hopefully not occur again.
Coffee break is over - time to get back to the car!
Best regards,
Erik

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 05 Jun 2005, 18:51

The technology behind this system hasn't moved on for years and is prone to false alarms or complete failure. I prefer to rely on 'wheels off, and have a look' to decide when to overhaul.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 06 Jun 2005, 00:00

I've never actually replaced pads because the pad wear indicators told me to. When I bought both of my two Xantias the discs were below minimum thickness (which meant new discs and pads) and the pad wear indicator didn't seem to notice

ErikDK · Post by **ErikDK** » 06 Jun 2005, 03:24

I also check the pads - I have only had the Xantia for some 8 months - my pads had also reached the minimum without activating the warning system.
On my girl friends BX it worked fine, the lamp turned on, and I replaced the pads the next weekend.
Erik

ITMA · Post by **ITMA** » 06 Jun 2005, 03:30

This is exactly what has happened on my Xantia.
I found one side broken and checked the other and found that broken too. At first I wasn't sure what the wire was for but once I figured out that it was for the pad wear indicators I simply cut them off at the connector near the hub (as I was going for an MOT next day).
Probably not the best of fixes but I never rely on these since constant problems with a GS many years ago.
I guess that it must be a weakness in design with the Xantia as there is little chance of misrouting the cable. Perhaps they dry out with time and then become less flexible and crack, eventually completely parting when at full lock.
Anyone else have this problem?