Brakes and wear sensors: when it’s time to act

Many Volvo models have a wear sensor built into the brake pads that warns the dashboard when the pad material nears minimum thickness. The warning comes before the pad starts grinding metal against the disc — so it's not an acute danger, but the repair shouldn't be put off.

Front brakes usually wear faster than rear ones, since they handle most of the braking work. City driving and frequent hard braking speed up wear; motorway driving slows it down. The car's weight and load — towing a trailer, for example — also affect pad lifespan.

Here, a visual brake check is part of every scheduled service, so a wear sensor's warning reaches us before it reaches a customer on the road.