tomtnc

Compare the new front pad on the bottom of the picture to the old pad on the top of the photo. Both are Lexus brake pads. Installed the new set today and was very surprised to see this weird "recess" of the pad material on the left side of the pad (as you see in the picture).

Can anyone explain what problem this was supposed to fix? Maybe less pad contact = less prone to warp??

Old )top) vs. New (bottom) front Lexus brake pads

whitels

Your old started it's life like the new one that you have now. It only has worn down all the way to the base. The recessed or angled pad is a "kindler, gentler" pad when pressed against the disc. If it was 90 deg, that can "cut" into the disc.

JacobT

Whitels is exact correct. All new pads are like that to start with. After 200 miles, they are like your old ones.

tomtnc

Thanks for the info guys.

Before we installed the pads, I called the Lexus dealership to talk to a tech about it but couldn't get anyone of the phone that knew the answer to my question. The parts department guy assured me I had the right pad but that the part number had changed a few months ago...I wonder if his information was accurate, and if so, was this recess in the pad the reason for the p/n change?

I wish I would have measured the depth of the recess on the left side of the pad, but is sure seemed more significant than 200 miles of wear (to become flat all the way across like my worn pads)..

VVT-i

Tom, that the new re-designed pads with the cut on them to reduce the noise. The cut on the pads need to go down both inner and outer pads. On some car like an RX or ES the calipers mount toward the front of the car, then the cut on the pads will need to go up.