Brake pad warning light (was: Brake pad 'fitting kit'?)

[Del]

Morning all,
The brake pad wear light came on on the way to work this morning, so I'm looking through everyone's favourite auction site for some new pads.
Plenty there, so nothing to worry about with the pads themselves, but there's a number of 'fitting kits' advertised that look like some kind of spring clip.
I've never needed anything special on other cars I've had, are these kits necessary or are they just one of those things that make the job a bit easier?

[Rich]

The car should already have them fitted. You can replace them if you like but generally they are only replaced if the old ones are rusty, missing or allowing the pads to rattle.
Why not try a local motor factor for parts before turning to eBay? I find going somewhere to be helpful and it's easier to check that the parts are right first time, and you also help ensure that that shop is there for when you desperately need it (financial future and all that)

Edited to add, you can also ask them about which fitting kit you need and get advice. Provided you don't expect halfords to help you, most factors actually employ knowledgable staff.
The one I used to use when I lived in horndean spent a few hours FOR me going through an exhaust sundries supply catalogue to find a crush seal that would fit my golf ANSA exhaust manifold off of dimensions alone. And he sorted it and let me know when they would be in. That's service!

[Del]

Cheers, Rich.
I'll give the factors a call later, but I was in work, it was early, so eBay seemed the easiest thing to check

[sal]

As rich has said the fitting kit is not essential but you may find the warning light stays on after you replace pads so you may need to buy a new sensor or you may be able to join the wires at the sensor and by pass it.

[bortaf]

"IF" we are talking about the granny ? (see final line of reply)

The pad wear indicator is non changable and comes in the new pads (make sure the new pads have the wear indicators as some don't as not all vehicals the pads fit had the indicator so you can get both types), you have to fit the fitting kit spring ! (not new just use the old one if they are OK )
the granny has floating calipers and the spring holds the caliper square in the caliper carrier (same aas Mk4 escort sierra ect), without it you will get uneven brake wear, noise and probably pulling on the steering as the outer pads stick and then release.

See now why i moan when peeps don't say what the car is, people make assumtions and can give the wronge info (with the best of intentions i know and i've been guilty of doing it as well)

[fordperv]

as bortaf says its the spring that clips into the caliper and goes over the carrier

as seen in this picture

[Del]

Thanks chaps. Because I only have the one car and it's in my avatar, I forget that others have loads

[bortaf]

Wasn't having a go really it's just i answer hundreds of questions a week on lots of sites and don't have the brain power to remember who has what

[Del]

So, on the way home, the warning light stayed on most of the time, except when pressing the pedal. The pedal travel hasn't got worse, and seems to stop just as well as before.
So I think I may have dashboard PCB issues...

[welshpug]

More likely to be a lip on the disc rubbing on the warning light contact pad, often you can grind it off and the pads still have a good few mm left.

Worth whipping a wheel off regardless.

[bortaf]

Why would you expect the brakes to feel any differant? the pad warning light is there to tell you they need changing "SOON" before the brakes run out of meterial, it'd be useless if they told you after they had ran out of meterial
As welshpug says a lip on the disc can wear a small part off the pad lower than the rest bringing the light on early or it may well have worn through the cable sheathing, all the pad wear indicator is is a metal/graphite rod inserted into the pad a few mm from the metal backing so when the pad wears to that level the pin touches the disc and earths the bulb(or relivant curcuit) on the dash to illuminate it