W210 Rear Brake Pads - Sensor on one side only!
 

Good day!

I am in midst of changing rear brake pads on our '98 E320.

This car has the single pin type calipers. I bought a set of Pagid pads from on-line supplier. They had two choices based on VIN# - one for single pin (newer cars) and one for double pin (older cars).

I changed the drivers side with no problem.

Then I find on the passenger side, that there is a wear sensor and the spring is a different shape to allow for the sensor.

This seems a bit strange - sensor on just one side?

Problem I have is, that pads do not have cut-out or drilled hole for sensor.

I could modify the pad, but my inclination is to just disable the sensor. What do you think?

I don't have easy access to WIS and don't have a manual to check if this is how the car should be. Car only had 48K km when I got it and records didn't show any brake work having been done.

Graham

I wouldn't be surprised if you've been supplied with the wrong pads. Its happened to me when buying EBC pads, even supplied with the VIN.

On mine, both front calipers have wear sensors.

Yes, there are two on the front but just one and it is on the right hand side rear. I am working on the rear.

The parts are supposed to be right, but all pads wee identical.

What I did, was modify one of the pads. Required cutting a u-shaped slot, drilling the pad for the sensor and using a Dremel tool to thin the edge of teh slot down so the sensor would fit. SEEMS to be OK.

Graham

Not unusual...I changed the front pads on my former 99 ML320...the sensor only exists on the driver's side caliper.

I suppose the engineers determined that pads would wear evenly on either side, so it was no longer necessary to have sensors on both.