Greezy

Funny, I got tints put on the car about 10 days ago, and just to be safe I hadn't rolled my windows down until last night..well anyway I was driving with all the windows open enjoying the breeze when I noticed a high pitched, not very loud screeching noise as the car was coasting, no gas no brake.

The interior of the car is so quiet that you cannot hear anything on the outside of the car when you're driving..so I have no idea how long this noise has been going on for..but I don't like it one bit. It occurs when coasting at low speeds, and accelerating at low speeds, and when breaking it fades in and out. Is it possible that the brakes can be making this noise even when my car is coasting? Or is this an entirely different problem? One of my buddies said it sounded like the rotor rubbing against the wheel but he probably doesn't know what he's talking about.

Greezy

This is something I would do without hesitation..just didn't think of it until you gave me the idea..kind of want to do it now just for the principle. It really is a genuinely good idea.

Greezy

Did you go through an independent mechanic or did you go through a dealership and how much did it run you?

Tsmith1982

I had that noise happen on a es300 I had prior. It suddenly stopped as soon as it started. I think it was a rock that was lodged between pads and rotor and eventually fell out. I had a mech look when it was doing that and they said they didn't see anything

bruceko

Warped rotors for sure. Your dealer knows It is a know problem with the Ls. He is just trying to worm out of their problem. Plan on having it start every 15 to 20000 miles. Finally replaced the rotors on my 08 with another brand rotor and no more problem.

williakz

What brand did you put on? I'm about done with the OEM rotors and will need to replace my warped ones (30k miles) once the pads are worn or I get disgusted with the brake shudder. Did you change calipers and/or pads as well? I'm just looking for a quick and easy rotor swap. I figure Lexus is using rotors that are too flimsy for the job in order to save weight and lower emissions to make the Feds happy. I don't mind putting on rotors with some meat to them as long as the warping goes away.

cregeis

I have the same problem and get my rotors "turned" every 15,000 miles although it really needs it around 10,000 miles. What rotors did you replace the OEM's with?

geolyte

I have a similar issue. I have had my brakes replaced twice now for the same issue reported in this thread. The rotors are getting groves in them for what the dealer says is heavy braking. I drive about 7K a year. I have had them done at 39K and 49K with new rotors and pads and now at 59K they need them again. The pads are good but rotors have grooves. Any suggestions from anyone? Should I have the dealer use their rotors or should I go to aftermarket? I am open to any and all suggestions?

roadfrog

AFTERMARKET! Cheaper too. As I stated in another thread you posted on, I bought a pair of Bendix branded rotors on Ebay for 60 dollars with free shipping and the warping has disappeared. Lexus rotors are prone to warping regularly. There are countless posts/threads about this problem.

broken_tsi

iTrader: (1)

I heard the same screeching noise from my passenger rear and took it to the dealership. They said they couldn't find anything and everything was normal. I heard it briefly after I left and it hasn't been back since. That was about two weeks ago.

BigWalt

I went with my own mechanic, head tech at Sewell Cadillac formerly of Westside Lexus in Houston.

Greezy

After I took my 08 LS to my local Lexus dealership, and they told me nothing was wrong with my brakes and that they felt no pulsating or vibrating and basically told me I was crazy for thinking something could be wrong, I kind of just ignored the problem hoping it would go away. As you would expect, the problem only got worse and worse as the months went by.
Last week I finally had a day off to take the hour drive to my actual Lexus dealership, where I bought the car (not my horrible local one) .. And the service specialist told me that my rotors were warped and that he could do brand new front brakes and resurface the rotors for $370.
Sounded like a decent deal but honestly I would have paid more just as long as that pulsating stopped and didnt come back.
Got my LS back today and it finally drives like it should.. Brand new with smooth, confident braking and no pulsating whatsoever.
Had a loaner car for about a week because the dealer did a number of other things with my car besides the brakes which I will post about on those appropriate threads.

roadfrog

Unfortunately, your pulsating will return before long. Because they removed material which has now made the rotors thinner, the warping will come back sooner. For the cost of turning/resurfacing the rotors, one can get a set of quality replacement rotors which are better quality than the factory rotors our cars were equipped with. I replaced mine with a set of Bendix rotors on Ebay for 60 dollars per pair and free shipping. That was over 6 months ago and they are still smooth. Replacement pads are about 20 bucks.

For now at least, you have smooth braking which is nice. Just be prepared for that annoying pulse to return in the coming months. This forum is full of similar stories such as yours. Lexus/Toyota rotors are crap.

vincentesq

I just purchased my 07 LS460L 2 weeks ago to replace my superb 01 LS430 which I drove 272k miles. I had the same brake shudder problems in the beginning, and one time going down the grapevines off Highway 5 near Los Angeles, my whole car started to shake. I think the brakes were fading.
Anyway, last week, following another member's recommendation on this forum, I did a couple 60 miles to rolling stop, fairly hard braking and now there is no more shutter. I wonder why? Maybe I should just change new rotors and brakes, huh? I do it myself so not expensive, and I just don't want any problems with braking since that is a safety issue. What do you all think?

Kbueno

I assume all of these rotor issues are associated with the non-sport models? 35k so far on the Brembos and rotors are fine. Brake dust and pad wear are a different story.