daryll40

Well, I got my car back from the dealer today and they fixed my ignition cylinder problem by replacing all locks and I got new keys, etc. I returned the rented Jaguar X class and all seems well with that problem and I give the dealer high marks for they way they handled that.

While the car was there, I asked them to check the brake pad wear. They told me that I have 5/32nds left on all 4 and that was about half way. After I left, I started thinking about it and have a few questions:

1. DOES 5/32nds left really mean I've only worn half the pads? How many 32nds does a new pad have?

2. I live in Pittsburgh. LOTS AND LOTS of hills all day. And to be totally honest, my driving "could be better". In other words, I hit the brakes pretty hard perhaps more than a better driver would (I am trying to be nice to myself in public). My 2004 LS430 now has 19,000 miles on the odometer and these are the original pads. I have NEVER EVER gotten more than 15,000 miles from front pads on other make cars, although the rears usually last to about 40,000. My Mercedes' cars were even much worse...about 11,000 from front pads but those cars have "soft" pads as the dealer told me over and over and over again. So this brings to mind a subquestion:

Does the Lexus use some sort of different braking system where, instead of the front brake pads wearing quicker than the rear as is usually the case, load is distributed more evenly? That would expiain my situation where the fronts are lasting longer and the rears maybe shorter?

Any insight here would be helpful. Also, when I do change the pads, is there a reason (other than convenience, etc) to use the dealer, or can a decent independent handle the job. Frankly a good friend owns a Meineke Muffler franchise and he swears it's not different than a high end Toyota and he does Lexus brake pads all the time (although I suspect older Lexi where the people avoid the dealer).

joegolf68

Wish I cold help. I ahve no idea, but thought you'd like a response from someone. The LS board here get very few views and even less responses. I have 21,000 milels on mine and weill need them checked at next service. Good luck.

daryll40

Thanks for the reply. You are right...this "subgroup" gets much fewer responses than the main group.