BigLSfan

Recently traded my 2004 LS430 for a 2008 CPO LS460, with 31,200 miles....beginning to wonder if it was the right decision...

INDICATIONS OF PROBLEM: I will be as descriptive as possible. There are three separate, but I feel related issues:
1) when I put the car in reverse (especially in the morning), there is a popping noise coming from under the car, sounds like a release of the brake
2) with the windows rolled down (as you can't hear this with the windows up), if I accelerate quickly from a stop, there is the same single, popping noise. When I let up on the acceleration pedal, there is another single, popping noise. NOTE: this is not necessarily under extreme acceleration. Also, if you turn from a stopping point and accelerate, the same single, popping noise exists.
3) Occassionally, when stopped and with your foot on the brake pedal, usually within 5 or so seconds after stopping, there is an apparent, single popping noise coming from the front of the car. This can also be replicated by pushing hard on the brake after coming to a stop

POSSIBLE REPAIRS: The dealer, which has been very good, thus far, replaced the rear struts, thinking that this was the issue. However, this did not fix the problem.

This sounds like a brake actuator problem to me and possible the brake shim issue. Any thoughts and any others with similar problems, please either email me or respond. I am desparate to find the solution and beginning to think that this new generation LS is not as good as the older one.

cheez80

iTrader: (1)

i've been thinking the same. mine has had all sorts of weird, but small issues too

Franco240

Is the sound kind of like a metallic pop? If so, you can see my similar post about 2 weeks ago about my recently purchased 2008 LS.

I took it to the dealership and after keeping it for 3 days they found the problem - pebbles in the rear left brake assembly was causing a popping noise every time I put it in reverse and problem could be replicated by putting the car in low gear and have it rock back and forth by accelerating. Anyway, after spending days checking underneath the car panels, struts, control arm bushings, brake pad shifting, the problem turned out to be these stupid pebbles in the brake assembly.

May have them first isolate exactly where the noise is coming from, which they will find pretty easily, then take apart the brake assembly for the nearest wheel and look for any foreign objects in the brake assembly. Took care of my popping noise permanently.

Good luck.

BigLSfan

Franco,

The sound is similar to a metallic noise. It can be heard when putting the car in reverse (but not at every instance). It can also be heard when you accelerate from being stopped and then heard again when you let off the accelerator there is the same single pop/click/clunk. It seems to be isolated to the rear of the car. You notice this sound with the windows down.

I am a bit frustrated. Sounds like something in the brake/suspension. The front clunking is different and is characteristic of the brake actuator problem, and it can be heard inside the cabin with all windows rolled up. So, seems to be two separate issues: 1) rear clicking/popping noise when putting the car in reverse and when accelerating, and 2) a clunking sound coming from the front of the vehicle after it has stopped with your foot on the brake.

Can anyone offer any help?

JFNash

I think you're talking about two separate problems.

The symptoms of a faulty brake actuator are very evident from your description. It's the problem #2 in your description that makes me suspect another problem in the brake assembly. Unfortunately I don't have suggestions as to what the 2nd problem might be. But from my experience with my malfunctioning brake actuator I could tell that the 2nd problem is a different issue.

Having lived with the noisy actuator for 2 years, I noticed the following:
1) the problem seems to be limited to the annoying noise and no impact on functionality
2) the noise seems to be cyclical (seasonal?) where the intensity and frequency of the noise keeps going up over time before declining forming some sort of a pattern

BigLSfan

Thank you JFNash. I do agree that they are two separate problems. One appears to be clearly the brake actuator. The other appears to be coming from the rear of the car or the middle of the car (perhaps a brake assembly problem, suspension issue, or faulty rear axle/propeller shaft). I am trying to schedule an appointment with the Diagnostic Specialist at my local dealer.

I'm very frustrated to be having issues like this on a $70K+ car, a certified car, and with such relatively low miles. I never had issues out of my LS430, and in many ways, wish I had my old car back.

BigLSfan

UPDATE: I took the car to the dealer on Tuesday to have the "Lexus Diagnostic Specialist" look at it. The clicking sound is present when you put the car in reverse and when you accelerate, indicative of the the rear axle or propeller shaft being under increased torque. The dealer thinks it may be related to the actual propeller shaft, rear axle, or the axle joints needing to be "re-torqued." In addition, the noise I am hearing after stopping the car (a pop or squawk sound) is characteristic of the brake actuator issue. So, there appears to be two unrelated issues.

The car goes to the dealer for repair after Thanksgiving; I will update what was replaced/repaired. Any other help or advice on this issue would be appreciated.

edarte

The attached TSIB refers to the 2007 model but it sounds similar in that the noise occurs when put in reverse.




PS - I had the clicking noise on my 2009 but only while moving forward, no problem with reverse. They replaced the actuator and that solved the problem.

BigLSfan

Update: problem fixed!! The dealer replaced the brake actuator and bled the brakes which fixed the squawking/popping noise after stopping and pushing on the brake pedal. It's crucial that the brakes be bled appropriately. As for the clicking noise when putting the car in reverse and also when accelerating, as I suspected, it was the joints in the drive shaft which had 'play' in the whole system. They re-torqued and re-tightened it, and the sound is gone. Fabulous work by the dealer, and it was great working with the shop foreman. Kudos to Lindsay Lexus in Northern Virginia.

Franco240

I had similar pop noise when putting in reverse and the dealer said it was pebbles in the break assembly as I stated earlier in this thread. I believe the popping noise did go away for a bit but now it is back. It is not real loud, but a slight, almost metallic pop when putting the LS in reverse.

Is the noise still gone from your car with the tightening the drive shaft bolts? Also, I do not think I am getting any popping that I can tell during acceleration like you said you were. Only getting unusual, slight pop noise when putting car in reverse.

Any chance on letting me know the dealer and SA you used so I can forward it to my excellent SA at Westside Lexus in Houston in case he needs to get in touch with your SA if he has any questions on the repair? You can PM me if you wish.

Thanks in advance.

PeachyKeen

What was your brake pedal feel like before you had the repair done, and what does it feel like after having the repair done?

Has anyone else felt like the "feel" of the brake pedal is mushy at slow speed stops?

gb403

just had mine done this week. Solved the noise problem and the pedal was kind of soft. Now pedal feel is much firmer. Brakes were bled when actuator was replaced.

telmz1

iTrader: (1)

I believe I have this same problem with my brake actuator. My 09 is out of warranty by I did by a 3rd party warranty when I bought the car used. Does any one know if this would be covered?