Auto (non-Valk) brake pads – orientation of the wear sensor (squealer)

[vanagon40]

I’m replacing brake pads on my car and I’m not sure if the wear sensor or squealer should be on leading edge of the brake pad or the trailing edge. Looking to the Internet, it seems opinions are about evenly divided (although there does seem to be a consensus that if only two of the pads have sensors, those pads should be mounted on the inside next to the piston).

The Google result has the Wikipedia link (we all know Wikipedia is never wrong) stating the squealer is on the leading edge directly under the picture showing the opposite.



I realize it does not make a lot of difference and the brakes will work just fine either way. It is probably even less important for me, as I usually don’t change the pads until after the squealers have broken off and there is metal to metal contact (with noticeable growling).

Any definitive answer (or should I make this a poll and see if the results are evenly divided)?

[Patrick]

Single piston caliper, inside/piston side.
I've not seen any that were set correctly out of the box. They are set to start 'squealing' too soon to suit me, so, I 'adjust' them.

[cookiedough]

have done both my vehicles pads (and rotors) front and the metal tab sticking out of the pads is on the inside (closer to the car wheel well inside facing engine) and on bottom sticking out in back.

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I put them on the inboard pad (caliper piston side) because the inner pad usually wears faster in a floating caliper system. When you step on the brake, the inner pad applies, and the force of that is what makes the caliper body move on the slides, which applies the outer pad. I put the wear indicator on the leading edge of the pad (as the rotor would turn while in motion). So, placement depends on your caliper orientation. If the caliper is behind the hub, the indicator would go on the bottom of the inner pad. If the caliper is in front of the hub, the indicator would go on the top of the inner pad.