Cheapeskape VW ?

**Sunny43.5** · 30-12-2015, 05:27 PM

Today I replaced front and rear rotors and pads on a mates 2011 T5 , imagine my surprise when I found another of VW,s cost cutting measures they no longer have the pad wear sensors fitted . The new pads came with the sensors but nowhere to plug them in I thought that it was a standard safety warning system .Oh I know it,s another way for VW dealers to make money from customers who would not be able to check the brake wear for themselves . So I would imagine there would be a few cases of brakes being worn down to the metal {dangerous} and not getting a visual warning on the dashboard .
The up side was I now have managed to do the job with less swearing and time as I discovered a neat trick to retracting the rear pistons for the new pads . I already had a special socket that I modified to fit into the two notches of the rear pistons , so instead of wrestling with the caliper in hand and struggling to get the piston back I worked out a simple work around . After removing the caliper remove the disc rotor and old pads then refit the caliper back on the axle part you only need to do the bolts up finger tight , without the pads and disc rotors in the way you can use the special socket on an extension bar and just easily wind the piston back in without the frustration of holding and trying to push and wind at the same time worked a treat !!.

**Umai Naa!!** · 30-12-2015, 06:12 PM

I don't see how this is any different to any other car manufacturer that has never used pad wear sensors.

The fact that they've had them previously is a bonus for those owners.

**Sunny43.5** · 30-12-2015, 07:16 PM

Yes I could see that it is not a compulsory thing but if it was fitted in previous models for ten years why delete it ? the way VW are going it wont be long before they stop putting in a fuel gauge and just warning light . let,s face it they have done away with a temperature gauge what,s next for the chopping block ?

**REVHE4D** · 01-01-2016, 04:29 PM

I have had my sensor come on for brake wear on my 2011 transporter, and was charged for replacement sensors, when they changed my pads and rotors.

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**Sunny43.5** · 01-01-2016, 07:26 PM

[QUOTE=REVHE4D;1166709]I have had my sensor come on for brake wear on my 2011 transporter, and was charged for replacement sensors, when they changed my pads and rotors.

I would be checking which light came on as the ABS is almost identical symbol along with the trailer function .

When I did this job the pads came aftermarket through GSL Rally Sport and came with the sensors built into the opposite sides ie one rear lh one front rh . So I just cut the front one off and then the rear one unclipped from the pad . Here is what was interesting some years ago around the time of the T5.1 release I needed pads in a hurry for my work 2005 T5and bought them from VW dealer well blow me down they did not have the sensor on them at all , so it seems that the aftermarket ones were designed for the early T5 with sensors but the T5.1 does not have the warning system so no sensors are on the hubs . Now I just checked my wife,s T5.1 owners booklet which shows the sensor warning light supposedly in the instrument cluster , I have had a look and cannot find any connections for sensors so maybe VW have secretly made a way of transmitting the signal wirelessly from the pads to the ECU hmmm more secret codes methinks . I think I will stick to my first comment Cheapskape VW another one of those sneaky downgrades but increase the price of the van and sacrifice features . If anyone else has not noticed but VW DID reduce features parts etc with the T5.1 release , no cover on the battery no side of seat base pockets no under floor coverings no under engine protection inside panelling is cut shorter than the early one and now it seems the brakes are also a cost saving victim any one else noticed this bonus feature ?

**Transporter** · 01-01-2016, 08:03 PM

Sunny, Bendix have the pads with the sensor and w/o the sensor for the T5s. Also, you can get Euro grade pads from Bendix which should be the same material as the original pads. Though, I prefer Bendix HD instead, which are less dusty.

**Sunny43.5** · 01-01-2016, 08:18 PM

Yes I know that as the ones I fitted to my mates ones the other day were REMSA European made . My issue is why VW have deleted the sensors on the actual vans themselves .

**Transporter** · 01-01-2016, 09:32 PM

Maybe the market research indicated that the customers want to save even more money. Yes, many people don't want to pay for the extras that may seem unnecessary.

I'd be more p....d of by cheapskates buyers, than the manufacturers who have no option, but respond to the market.
Example, T5 Runner, Crafter Runner with ridiculously underpowered engines, which may prove to be more danger than omitted brake pad wear sensors. If, people wouldn't buy these underpowered vehicles, manufacturers wouldn't make them.

**Sunny43.5** · 01-01-2016, 11:33 PM

I am not sure of manufacturers who have no option I am one of those who tend to keep a vehicle longer than most as we have to modify our van for transporting two children in wheelchairs . We have to buy a base model as any of the upper speced ones with roof air and seats in the rear etc is a waste as they do not then leave enough room height wise for two wheelchairs . I had a look at a base model T6 last week and I was somewhat gobsmacked that the salesman just casually told me it was $45 k . Have I missed something here I could buy a fully equipped seven seater 4wd for the same money , just seems that these vans are getting so expensive yet the makers are scrimping on features for a box with 4 wheels an engine gearbox and two seats . As for the brake sensors they would have to be the most simplistic thing to make lets see a couple of metres of wire which would share the same harness as the ABS sensor then it only has to trigger a light in the binnacle by the mere fact that as the pad wears down the sensor is just shorted by hitting the wear point . No I just don,t see a safety system being deleted to save money justified . And last it,s not like these vans are limited build they sold millions of the T5,s so its hardly a small number when compared to the fact that they stretch the model life out to ten years .