Dodgy MOT?

[van ordinaire]

Of course they're meant for people who never take their own wheels off but a useful back-up nevertheless (I've not known them not to work) & should have averted the disster that prompted this thread.

Also, with, what I thought was the more modern system, what appears to be 2 leads that is triggered by that being severed, if you dispense with the sensors, you have to bridge the 2-pin socket, or the light will be on all the time AND, if the pads have flying leads you'd have to cut them off or tie them up out of the way - might just as well plug the leads in surely?

[elma]

On a Xantia bridging the 2 pins would turn on the lights.
The wires have plastic caps on the ends (pad end) which poke through holes in the backing plate so when the friction material is low the plastic should be rubbed off and the wires circuit completed using the brake disc as a conductor.
I think the reason they never seem to work right is water bridging the 2 pin connector and the fact that Xantias rarely wear front brakes evenly. As they are only fitted to the outer pad if the inner pad wears faster (mine usually do) you wouldn't be warned anyhow.

[MikeT]

Same with my C5, if not fitted, there is no circuit to bring on the warning light.

[Bandit12]

Thanks fr setting record straight on the MOT issue guys. You also explained my next query about the brake wear indicators. On close inspection the wires had come away from the pads but this did not set off the warning light! Yup defo a Citroën! All fixed now and brakes working very well

[elma]

That isn't meant to set off the warning light, only when the wires are shorted out will the light come on.

[RobinMasters]

It's a test not a service.

If it works on the day, you pass. Responsibility for maintaining your car remains with you. If the pads were due for replacement, why hadn't you noticed?