skyman

I have had my 2001 LX470 for a month now. I went into the purchase with my eyes open,knowing that the LX has a reputation for going through brakes. I am curious to hear from other owners about this subject ie: mileage on a set of brakes and related issues with rotors. Part of my agreement to purchase the LX was that the dealer install new brakes all the way around and true or replace any rotor out of tolerance. Even though it was a certified preowned that passed at all four corners with 7/32's remaining,I insisted on new pads.

RPH74

I've had my brake pads for 16k miles now, and they barely show any wear at all. I just inspected them a couple of months ago thinking they would need a replacement, but was surprised to see so little wear. I've heard from others that their brake pads have lasted upwards of 70k.

I used Wagner Thermo Quiet pads BTW.

tabraha

Bought my LX used and have no idea how many miles were on the brakes when I bought it but... I put over 30,000 miles on them before I changed the fronts and they still had 25% left on them. The rears are still fine on wear. The rotors are still in spec and don't shake under braking at all. They are routinely submersed in mud and water offroading and have taken it all in stride even though they are working a little harder than most stock LX's to stop larger 33" tires everyday.

Bobhgd

Chiming in on brakes, based on my '99 LX470:

Right now, at 72800 miles, the front pads are worn to 7 to 8 mm thick, the rear pads 3 to 4 mm.

(The Lexus Service Manual says replace when pads worn down to 1 mm, applicable to both front and rear.)

Not sure how fast they're wearing, because I haven't been measuring them until I checked them yesterday, but it seems they have a while yet to go before replacement, based on the Service Manual wear specs. Probably another year /12k miles, at least.

Rotors are in very good shape, too. Only the rear shows significant wear and glazing, but not bad at all for 72k+.

Braking action is still excellent - smooooooth, zero vibration, sweet pedal action response, powerful grip - as it should be, befitting the marque.

The reputation of LX470s going through brakes frequently must be dependent upon driver habits: Personally, my driving habits will maximize brake life (as well as vehicle life overall and fuel economy), so my brakes probably look better than most LX470s at this stage of service life.

Most people habitually subject their vehicles to much harder accelerations and decelerations (braking), and this will result in greatly accelerated wear and tear on the brakes (and other things) - especially with heavier vehicles like the LX.

Remember - that's 5500lb curb weight plus occupants and cargo. Every time you get it up to high speed and then brake it down to stop at the next light, you're dissipating a large amount of energy through the brakes. >>> friction/heat/wear

Enjoy!

stelios

i have a 2000 lx with 50kmiles one it and have not changed brakes on it yet. I beleive it is the driver more than the car. If you are hard on the brakes they will wesr out quicker

LX470Pilot

OK, obviously we're dealing with an almost 3ton vehicle, and brakelife depends on driving habits.

That being said - would it seem strange for a set of brakes to last only a year, and (just) less than 20k miles?

1loudLX

no it wouldnt. I just got new pads and rotors this year. I got new pads and rotors last year too....and the year before.

I drive abouuttttt 20k miles a year or maybe a little less. I also get about 9-11mpg if that gives you any idea on how i drive

LX470Pilot

Are you getting them at the dealer, your own guy/gal, or doing them yourself?

I think I'll need to replace soon, but can't afford $1300 at the dealer again.

V8_Fan

I do all disc brakes myself. I only let the dealer do the drums (like the e-brake on the LX), as those little springs are a PITA w/o the SST. You can get quality rotors (brembo, powerslot, DBA) for around $110 each. Pads run about $50 for the fronts or rears, plus shims are about $35 fronts or rears. The total is about $600 in parts, plus you need to get the paper gaskets for the front 4wd plate, bearing grease for the front wheel bearing, disc brake grease for the anti-squeal shims.

1loudLX

hey jim, i had the brembo rotors last year. I had the brembos and TRD front pads. Really stood up to a beating quite well. I didnt get the brembos this year as TRD discontinued the front pads i was told by my local toyota dealership.

V8_Fan

Yeah, I've been using slotted brembos on my 4runner for 5 yrs now. They stop really well, no signs of warping. I'm using Porterfield R4s pads. BTW, the TRD pads (at least for the 4runner) are supposedly the same as the peformance friction carbon metallics but with a cosmetically different slot (so they can claim to be unique). I think the LX OEM pads are carbon (there are a couple of makers, one of them is Akebono [yeah, the same name as the ex-sumo grand champion:-) ]). I measured my rear and front rotors the other week when rotating tires and think they'll last to 90K. The rear pads are below 50%, will probably change them next year when I do the 60K service. I'm thinking about changing the rotors to slotted brembo's.

BTW, there are a couple of big brake kits by brembo for the LX. One uses Ferrari F40 calipers, the other uses F50 calipers (need 18" wheels). They aren't cheap (if ya have to ask....)

1loudLX

brembo doesnt make slotted for the LX. At least not last year when i looked for them, only OEM replacement.

yeah, StopTech makes a 14" rotor kit. 2,500 i think for it. If i had 18" wheels i would have the kit already, lol.

V8_Fan

I think most of the brembos sold here are initially blanks, then the slots are added and sold under different brand names. The "Powerslot" rotors I have on my 4runner were brembo blanks, then they add the slots and repackage them. The only factory brembo slotted rotors for the LX I've seen are in the big brake kit ($8K for 4 discs, 4 calipers w/ extension mounting brackets), and the rotors all use allen bolts (look like 2 pcs each).

1loudLX

i havent seen the 4 corner BBK. Ive only seen the kit for the front two and then stainless steel lines for the back.

V8_Fan

The rear brembo BBK's are advertised in the back of LC magazine.