Brake Pad Indicator Lights come on

[BruceBanner]

As per titile, my Brake warning light has just come on, indicating a Pad Change.

Approx how much life/miles are still in the pads once this has come on? I ask, because the mechanic I use has gone away for 3 weeks and I wanted to wait for him to return. I will probably do about 500 miles in this time

My Plan is to Skim my discs and install new Pads. My discs do have a large lip but seem OK - I will check the width with a vernier and if feasible Skim them.

Question on Pads guys - do I go OEM or something like EBCs that seem to be popular?

Your opinions would be much appreciated.

[j1sgo]

Mine came on when i was out in France, did 2000 miles after that (motorway not hard miles), then when i changed the front disks and pads last night there was still plenty of pad left.

Dont worry for a while, the wear indicator sensors are a bit premature IMO

I just kept with OEM pads as i have found them pretty good and probably easier to live with day to day.

[Stoo.]

They should last more than 500 miles.
Easily.

Also, if your going to check disc thickness, use a micrometer or a vernier with disc specific jaws.

[leadfoot]

depends on how hard you are on the brakes... Mine came on during a track day.... did 5 more laps (~2 min lap)... and then drove the car for 2 weeks on the strret very gingerly... and as I waited for the new pads and rotors ... the pads had started kissing the rotors... so if I was planning to keep the rotors... they would have been trashed

[ArthurPE]

if older oem pads check your rotors for scoring by the pad retaining rivets
they extend further than the wear sensor

[MB2]

Also the wires are known to snap (did on mine) triggering the warning when the pads are actually OK (although was a bit intermittent to start with) so if yours is on all the time more likely the pads.

[BruceBanner]

Thanks for all the info and as advised I will stick with OEM.
I will be asking about discs if I discover mine are too far gone to be skimmed.