I'll be replacing the brake pads on my W201 in the near future. The brake pad light hasn't come on yet but I know that the pads will need to be replaced soon. You always have to replace the wear sensors, right? In my Haynes manual it looks like they re-use the same sensors, but I always see posts that say you put new sensors in when you replace the pads.

I always replace the sensors.

If the pads have not worn to the sensor and no part of the senor has worn or contacted the rotor, then you could probably reuse it if you can pull it out of the pad without damaging it.

But for $2, I always just figure there's no harm in getting a new one.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

I second that notion. Replacing sensors is a very inexpensive type of insurance.

You can replace them or you can reuse them. I too did my brakes just before they wore into the sensors. I reused the sensors. It took me 5 minutes and I pocketed the $8. They can be somewhat brittle, but if you carefully take them out and reinsert them into the new pads, there is no problem reusing them. The choice is yours.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K