Not Braking Crisply
Thread Starter
9th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Not Braking Crisply
My 07 ES is OK around town but on the highway I'm not getting crisp confident braking. The rear brakes squeal when backing up. I checked them and they were like new, even though they were replaced years ago. It seems the rear brakes aren't working much, leaving at all the work to the fronts. I haven't change the brake fluid in some time.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 315
Likes: 90
From: Ontario
Did you get the brakes serviced the last time you changed them? Servicing means cleaning the calipers and relubing the pins, it's usually recommended every time you change the brake pads/rotors and again when they're about halfway through their life.
Also, check your brake fluid, is it low? There might be a leak or air bubbles in your rear brake lines causing there to be less force on the calipers.
Also, check your brake fluid, is it low? There might be a leak or air bubbles in your rear brake lines causing there to be less force on the calipers.
Thread Starter
9th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I'll check the fluid and do a bleed. Not sure if there was a complete change of fluid as is required by Lexus. I do my own brakes where I lube the pins and pad rails with recommended grease. I did have a sticky caliper piston in the back which I thought I had remedied.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 544
From: CA
Your rear brakes wear very slowly compared to the fronts, and this is normal. The noise while backing up is not normal, and not an issue for braking "feel." However, the noise is annoying and can be easily remedied by making sure you have all the factory shims and clips in place, and that you have adequate brake grease between the shims, caliper pistons and pads. The grease tends to dry up an dissipate over time, so re-greasing is likely necessary and will fix the noise. The feel of the brakes can be addressee through replacing all of the brake fluid. It is tricky these days because you usually need to software to open the ABS system lines while bleeding.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 693
Likes: 151
From: TX
my rear brakes squeal a bit when backing up after the car has sat overnight or a few days. I think this may be some rust getting thrown off (teeny bit, cant even see it) but after the first back up of the day, it no longer does this.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 544
From: CA
The noise is due to a harmonic resonance and it happens in the morning when the brakes are cold and their depleted grease can't do its job in disrupting and insulating the resonance. It happens less in the front because front pads are replaced more often, with new grease is applied.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 693
Likes: 151
From: TX
I don't agree the rust is causing the squealing noise. I've owned many vehicles that have never made noise when backing up first thing in the morning, and many that have. The ones that have made the noise were remedied by adding grease between the shims/pads/pistons.
The noise is due to a harmonic resonance and it happens in the morning when the brakes are cold and their depleted grease can't do its job in disrupting and insulating the resonance. It happens less in the front because front pads are replaced more often, with new grease is applied.
The noise is due to a harmonic resonance and it happens in the morning when the brakes are cold and their depleted grease can't do its job in disrupting and insulating the resonance. It happens less in the front because front pads are replaced more often, with new grease is applied.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 352
Likes: 72
From: MD
Found this "replace brake fluid" video from a Toyota tech.
https://youtu.be/jpiXOBRkZs4.
This will be my next stab at correcting the feel of my ES350 brakes.
https://youtu.be/jpiXOBRkZs4.
This will be my next stab at correcting the feel of my ES350 brakes.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 544
From: CA
could be, could also be the parking brake making the noise, as we use it each time we park. rotors and pads were replace at same time on both front and back and are same age. but I can let the car sit for hours, the brakes cool down, and it doesn't make the noise. keep in mind we are backing up at a half a mile an hour and the back up distance is about 4 feet. can't imagine too many harmonics occurring in that scenario.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 544
From: CA
Thread Starter
9th Gear
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I finally did a fluid replace on the brake system, as suggested in this thread, using a MityVac, and following this Toyota techs video (
). The car now uses all four corners to stop. Thank you for the great advice!
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