Brake sensor issue

LT58 · 2026-10-29T13:17:34-0500

Hey guys first time on here . I took my 21 TB in for rear brake work at my local dealership and they noticed my front brake life sensor was pulled off but they didn’t put new one on because they said that since the front brakes weren’t new the sensor would get crushed and there fore be useless . Has anyone heard of such a thing or is this just some dealership bull

GETGONE · 2026-10-29T15:22:33-0500

To my knowledge it wears as the brake pads wear and the resistance is how it shows the % of brake life in the display. Mine freaked out on my rear sensor so I just turned it off. They are the factory pads and sensors. I might replace the sensors when I need to do brake pads.

BigBlackie_'25TB · 2026-10-29T20:31:49-0500

You can replace a brake pad wear sensor without replacing the brake pads provided the existing pads are in good condition. The person who told you the sensors could be crushed is describing a legitimate concern, but it depends on the condition of the pads and how the sensors are installed. For instance, forcing a sensor into a worn or damaged mounting location can break it. So, for partially worn pads, an existing or new sensor may still be installed if the pad has sufficient material and the sensor fits correctly.

Jasper Whitfield · 2026-10-29T21:58:04-0500

Find out when and why it was removed, and ask what your truck does without it. GM trucks have a brake pad life setting you can turn off. When it’s off, you lose the pad life percentages, but the built-in wear indicators that squeal when the pads get low still work.