Is there a way to tell which pads need to be replaced if the brake pad light is on? I assume the front, but I wonder if there is an easy check without taking the wheels off and measuring the pad thickness.

Jim

On my car the wear pad sensors are only on the front.

Jim, if your 1994 E320 doesn't have ASR then it only has front brake pad wear sensors as far as I know. If it does have ASR then use a small inspection mirror and a flashlight to check the brake pad thickness at all four wheels.

I'm sure you realize that the brake pad warning light goes on well before you actually need to replace the brake pads ... it's not an urgent situation. Replacing the brake pads too soon only starts the brake pad replacement cycle earlier than necessary.

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Fred Hoelzle

My 93 300E is a daily driver, with a combination of city/highway driving during the commute.

I have found that I can drive for nearly two months after the light comes on before I need to be concerned about the wear. By the time I do replace them, there is still about 30% of the pad left!

Rears don't wear out much unless you like to drive with the E-brake on. I normally replace the rears when I replace the discs all the way around...every third brake job...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

For reference, my E320 pads are 11 mm thick when new. Discard thickness is 2 mm. The sensors are activated when thickness is around 2.5 mm.

Thank you all for the help.

How often do you replace the rubber break hoses?


Jim

Your 1994 E320 may be due for a new set of brake hoses, especially if the calipers are releasing sluggishly.

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Fred Hoelzle