Quick brake light question.

[Dddaviso7]

I have a 94 Ranger, and the pads are pretty worn up front. I'm just curious, Is there a sensor that triggers the abs and brake light (in the gauges) when the pads are worn?
The abs light comes on randomly during braking and stays on until i shut off the vehicle. The brake light comes on during braking and goes away when you release the brake pedal.
Any information is appreciated, Thanks.

I have all the pads, Im just waiting for my rotors to get here, which should be tomorrow....

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

there is no sensor on the brake pads. the brake light comes on when you are low on fluid...being that the pads are worn down, i would top the reservior off. the ABS might be an unrelated issue, most likely a gummed up VSS.

 

[Dddaviso7]

Oh good point, I should have thought about that. Less pad = More fluid required to push the piston out farther.

Well, I'll be replacing the pads and rotors tomorrow (and checking the fluid level), If the abs still lights up, I think I'll take it to a shop. Either way, I'll repost something.

Thanks wicked, You almost always reply first to my threads!

 

[Earl43P]

This should be instructive....

MYTH # 6 - The brake fluid reservoir should be topped up during routine service.

In most modern passenger cars, the brake fluid reservoir is designed with a specific volume and is equipped with an internal float. The volume corresponds to the amount of fluid that will be displaced when the pads have worn to the point of replacement plus a generous reserve. When the replacement point is reached, the descending float completes an electrical circuit and a light appears on the dash warning the driver that the pads should be replaced.
If the brake fluid is topped up the first warning of warn out pads will be the screech of steel backing plate against iron disc. This will be both annoying and expensive.

from: http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_warped_brakedisk.shtml

Cliff's Notes: Don't top it off.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ranger disk brake pads come equipped with a small metal "scraper" that will contact the rotor and cause a brake squeeling noise well before the pad backing plate is reached and the rotor is ruined. its been my experience that different manufacturers have different thicknesses of pads and pad replacement is required at less or more caliper piston travel accordingly. thus it is occasionally necissary to top the master cylinder off even when the pads still have life left in them.

 

[Dddaviso7]

After doing the rotors and pads the light haven't came on. It's a few days and everything is back to normal. I didn't top off my fluid until I had everything back to normal, It only took a little fluid anyway.

thanks guys

-Davis

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

thanks for updating us. new brakes sure are nice