Are there Alternate Brake Pads & Rotors for LS 430?

[mcbrue]

As an alternate question to my question below - my 06 LS 430 Ultra is
said by the dealer to need new brakes and rotors at 35,000 miles.
These brakes have been noisy and grabby when cold as in backing out of
the garage in the morning; they initialy would vibrate the car when
applied at road speed; they are very expensive, about double the cost
of a German brand luxury car. The dealer has repeatedly told me that
the noise and vibration are standard for the brand. In view of these
factors, I have decided to try to find an alternative to the
dealership for service. In Greenville, SC, this is likely to be some
chain like Pep Boys, so I wonder what brands of brake parts are equal
to or better than the OEM equipment. Has anyone had experience with
their Lexus and different brakes?

[j***@hotmail.com]

Good brakes should not squeal at all. The OEM Akebono ProAct ceramics
are actually decent pads. These are not performance pads like those
used in true luxury Mercedes and BMWs, but not bad at all. You can buy
Akebonos online at www.rockauto.com. Also see the Akebono site:
www.akebonobrakes.com

If the rotors are warped, then you'll likely have vibrations all the
time when you step on the brakes. Otherwise Toyota Lexus are known to
have weak ball joints prone to failure. Worn wheel bearings and other
suspension components can also contribute to vibrations. I think your
caliper rubber parts may need replacing as well as these may affect
brake application.

Broken ball joints can do this on a Lexus:
Loading Image...
Loading Image...

Unfortunately, you can't really buy any performance brake parts for a
Lexus -- you buy Mercedes and BMWs for that. You can try the $90
Raybestos Advanced Technology rotor (fronts only) and Akebono ProAct
brake pads from rockauto.com; rears I see only Beck Arnley rotors,
don't know these. Have them installed at a reputable independent shop.
Consider flushing the brake fluid (such as Castrol GT Low Moisture
Activity fluid) and replace the rubbers on the calipers. Caliper
rebuild kits would work, but shops tend to like to replace entire
calipers to save time.

Post by mcbrue
As an alternate question to my question below - my 06 LS 430 Ultra is
said by the dealer to need new brakes and rotors at 35,000 miles.
These brakes have been noisy and grabby when cold as in backing out of
the garage in the morning; they initialy would vibrate the car when
applied at road speed; they are very expensive, about double the cost
of a German brand luxury car. The dealer has repeatedly told me that
the noise and vibration are standard for the brand. In view of these
factors, I have decided to try to find an alternative to the
dealership for service. In Greenville, SC, this is likely to be some
chain like Pep Boys, so I wonder what brands of brake parts are equal
to or better than the OEM equipment. Has anyone had experience with
their Lexus and different brakes?

[ACAR]

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Unfortunately, you can't really buy any performance brake parts for a
Lexus

Check the Brembo brake kits available thru The Tire Rack.
Expensive but available.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Yeah, looks like the TireRack premium Brembo kits are generic kits
(380mm) good for a performance tuner's truck, car, whatever, etc.

At about $8000-9000 front/rear retrofits I think his Lexus LS 430
Ultra just isn't worth it, and might as well trade up to a true luxury
car that actually comes with a Brembo brake system.

BTW, TireRack doesn't sell replacement brake pads. Buy another
retrofit kit later I guess.

Post by ACAR
Check the Brembo brake kits available thru The Tire Rack.
Expensive but available.

[Elder]

In article <78fdb6cb-7e4d-4e0e-8c9b-
***@j39g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>, ***@hotmail.com
says...

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Good brakes should not squeal at all. The OEM Akebono ProAct ceramics
are actually decent pads. These are not performance pads like those
used in true luxury Mercedes and BMWs, but not bad at all. You can buy
www.akebonobrakes.com

Might I suggest using
http://www.olyparts.com/ if you plan to wrench the car yourself.
I have even bought from them and had them shipped to the UK.
We can't get Akebonos in the UK as the brand isn't 'E' marked for Europe
so it is illegal to sell them, I imported them for my old Celica All-
Trac and things were fabulous. I found along with Brembo discs the pad
life, brake performance and brake dust situation was much improved.

The problem with brakes wearing out in such a short time is down to the
removal of Asbestos from brake pads. Because the pads are now harder to
avoid too quick wear and overheating, the discs have tended to be softer
to help increase grip. So you find while pad life isn't much less than
before, you are replacing disc with every second set of pads or so
instead of maybe twice in the life of the vehicle.

Cast iron discs and ceramic pads can help, but they still wear faster
than the old discs did with old Asbestos pads.

[j***@hotmail.com]

Sounds like most Lexus dealers you come in contact with are a joke. I
guess that's why some take their Lexus to Toyota for service. Tell
them to listen to their Lexus ES and RX on the lot, which are modified
Toyota Camrys and see if they hear anything.


On Mar 6, 7:22 am, mcbrue <***@aol.com> wrote:
The dealer has repeatedly told me that

Post by mcbrue
the noise and vibration are standard for the brand. In view of these
factors, I have decided to try to find an alternative to the
dealership for service. In Greenville, SC, this is likely to be some
chain like Pep Boys, so I wonder what brands of brake parts are equal
to or better than the OEM equipment. Has anyone had experience with
their Lexus and different brakes?

[Elder]

In article <30b11372-3eb3-4772-a1bd-67cfbf917241
@w9g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>, ***@hotmail.com says...

Post by j***@hotmail.com
Sounds like most Lexus dealers you come in contact with are a joke. I
guess that's why some take their Lexus to Toyota for service. Tell
them to listen to their Lexus ES and RX on the lot, which are modified
Toyota Camrys and see if they hear anything.

I agree, take it to another Lexus and a Toyota dealership, get second
and third opinions.

[ACAR]

Post by mcbrue
As an alternate question to my question below - my 06 LS 430 Ultra is
said by the dealer to need new brakes and rotors at 35,000 miles.
These brakes have been noisy and grabby when cold as in backing out of
the garage in the morning;

the brakes on my '98 Toyota Sienna have been MUCH more durable than
the brakes on my Honda cars. Hard to imagine why brakes on a LS would
be worse.

they initialy would vibrate the car when

Post by mcbrue
applied at road speed;

warped rotors.

they are very expensive, about double the cost

Post by mcbrue
of a German brand luxury car.

The Tire Rack has less expensive replacement parts.

The dealer has repeatedly told me that

Post by mcbrue
the noise and vibration are standard for the brand.

BS

In view of these

Post by mcbrue
factors, I have decided to try to find an alternative to the
dealership for service. In Greenville, SC, this is likely to be some
chain like Pep Boys,

Nope, find an independent mechanic. There's nothing about repairing
your Lexus that can't be found via the ALLDATA system. Ask a shop
whether or not they have ALLDATA access.

so I wonder what brands of brake parts are equal

Post by mcbrue
to or better than the OEM equipment. Has anyone had experience with
their Lexus and different brakes?

for some reason or other you are hard on your brakes. you should have
them serviced routinely. do not wait for noise or vibrations to
develop. schedule maintenance every 6 months. adjust the schedule
after consulting with your mechanic.

[GIga]

Yes.

Mine work fine. 2008 LS 600hL (no need to emphasize the "Ultra" part like
you always do)

GIga

Post by mcbrue
As an alternate question to my question below - my 06 LS 430 Ultra is
said by the dealer to need new brakes and rotors at 35,000 miles.
These brakes have been noisy and grabby when cold as in backing out of
the garage in the morning; they initialy would vibrate the car when
applied at road speed; they are very expensive, about double the cost
of a German brand luxury car. The dealer has repeatedly told me that
the noise and vibration are standard for the brand. In view of these
factors, I have decided to try to find an alternative to the
dealership for service. In Greenville, SC, this is likely to be some
chain like Pep Boys, so I wonder what brands of brake parts are equal
to or better than the OEM equipment. Has anyone had experience with
their Lexus and different brakes?

[j***@hotmail.com]

Now even if the brake pads (wear items) aren't covered under the
bumper-to-bumper warranty, one would think the rotors will be? No?

I know the alignment is covered only 12 months and 20K miles.

Post by mcbrue
As an alternate question to my question below - my 06 LS 430 Ultra is
said by the dealer to need new brakes and rotors at 35,000 miles.
These brakes have been noisy and grabby when cold as in backing out of
the garage in the morning; they initialy would vibrate the car when
applied at road speed; they are very expensive, about double the cost
of a German brand luxury car. The dealer has repeatedly told me that
the noise and vibration are standard for the brand. In view of these
factors, I have decided to try to find an alternative to the
dealership for service. In Greenville, SC, this is likely to be some
chain like Pep Boys, so I wonder what brands of brake parts are equal
to or better than the OEM equipment. Has anyone had experience with
their Lexus and different brakes?