y2k1234

I did see there is wire near left and right rear brake but I did not see any near front brake. My car is 1992 LS400. Wire is about 1/4" diameter. Is it the sensor wire? I am afraid this is related to anti lock system. Any one can tell me about it?

Thought I'd clarify. Picture is worth a thousand words - however in lieu of one, here are a thousand words!

The brake pad = 10mm thick braking material on a metal base about 3 mm thick.

One end of the metal base has a rectangular slot into which the wear sensor slips in and is locked in place by a spring clip.

The top face of the wear sensor is 2mm above the metal base. So, once your pad lining wears by 8 mm, the pad surface and the wear sensor top face are on the same level, both touching the rotor. As the rotor continues to grind away, now both, eventually the wear sensor "opens" electrically and the dash light () comes on. This is different from the "BRAKE" light which is driven by brake fluid level.

Keep track of your mileage after new brake pads - typically 6K miles wears out 1mm of pad. So after 36K miles or so, you should think of changing the brake pad. Again, not all wheels wear out evenly. This is just a guide line. If you replace the pads at 4mm to 3mm remaining, you will never have to replace the wear sensor as it would never touch the rotor and get shaved off.

I did see there is wire near left and right rear brake but I did not see any near front brake. My car is 1992 LS400. Wire is about 1/4" diameter. Is it the sensor wire? I am afraid this is related to anti lock system. Any one can tell me about it?

Once the wear sensor has been shaved by the rotor, its too late. The sensor itself costs $40 at the dealer + about $30 labor to install it.

Depending on the model, not every wheel has this sensor. On a 96 Lexus, I have seen it on passenger rear but not on the driver side rear. Haven't looked at the front axle yet.

You can install new brake pads and not replace the wear sensor and ignore the () light. You can't get rid of the light without changing the sensor.

What I don't know is whether you can just strip the wires going to the wear sensor and twist them short to defeat the () light.

So was the dealer for real when they said that the sensors need to be replaced each time the pads wear out?

I think they only need to be replaced if broken or like mbpgawest says, when contact is made and the light comes on. I am pretty sure that there will be ample warning (squealing) before the sensor will make contact and the warning light will come on.

I have a broken sensor that I think resulted from the wrong pads being used. The sensor contact seemed like it was heat damaged and crumbled when changing the pads.

My 97 has two sensors not four -- one on the front right and one on the rear right. The other sensor disconnected and reconnected easily during the pad change.

I don't think they are supposed to be replaced each time you change pads unless you waited too long.

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My 1992 LS400 brake warning light is on and off. Special when I drive in low speed light is on more often. Any one have clue about that?

Thanks