Brake upgrade for 2013 ES350
 

Hello Lexus People!

I've just upgraded brakes on my 2013 Lexus ES350, bigger rotors in front, and dual-piston calipers. They are just amazing!

Pictures below, new and old.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...af17f60c61.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...5333d23636.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...626a1e6622.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...35ade3ee61.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...902afec5ed.jpg

Did you use rotor, caliper and caliper bracket from Highlander or this is something else?

yes it looks like you know the magic trick - from Highlander. They fit perfectly

Yeah, learned that trick from Toyota Avalon back in the days. Good to know that it still works with ES350. Thanks for the post with pictures.

Curious, what year(s) highlander?

I also would like to know. I’m about to do a brake job on mine, would be nice to upgrade. I plan on getting some drilled and slotted rotors too, so new twin piston calipers would be awesome.

It's from 2011 Highlander. Calipers and rotors. Fit perfectly and the brakes really are much better now.

So, after doing some digging, it appears that Highlanders and Siennas from ~2010-2019 have the same front brakes. If you're looking for a more sporty set of brakes, PowerStop makes a kit with painted calipers, drilled and slotted rotors, and "sport" pads. PN: KC4713A

The PNs for the brackets are 47722-0E030 (Left), and 47721-0E030(Right).

I use the tow set on my Tundra, and I've loved them so far. My wife is bad to warp rotors due to her driving habits, so I've learned to upgrade her brakes to drilled/slotted rotors lol.

Did you also have to replace the brake shields?


Edited to remove hyperlinks from part numbers

Looks like the website you are promoting has crazy overpriced item. Just 1 caliper bracket$130? Fully a rip off. On Amazon full caliper with bracket is $70 and it's perfect. Also drilled/slotted rotors is the biggest waste of money in brakes. Doesn't do anything else that make you change your brake pads faster and they create tons of brake pads dust. Do not recommend at all. With the time holes get filed with a brake pads dust and driller rotors look just terrible. Bosch quiet cast rotors and brakes pads on Amazon have just perfect price and quality.

Those cheap no-name drilled rotors will often crack over time between the holes, and prematurely fail.

First time I heard about the ES/Highlander brake swap. Wish I knew about this months back. I did replace the rotors on mine with coated Centric rotors and Alebono pads, it noticeably braked better, but what really improved everything was bleeding/purging all the old brake fluid through the entire system with new.

I'm sure the Highlander brakes work great by having a larger geometry... but for everyday use, I'm happy with how my car is now. I don't know if the rewards would outweigh the costs.

Wasn’t trying to promote any website. I didn’t even realize I’d copied links instead of the PN. I just use that site to find part numbers, never bought from them.

I won’t argue with that. I did want to point out that PowerStop isn’t a no-name brand, and make good parts. They’re sold on most any auto parts sites, and are pretty popular in most car communities.

Bleeding is a must if you change brake calipers. Drilled rotors that's waste of money. Had them before and no difference other than more brake pads dust. To have bigger braking power you need bigger rotors or bigger pads or dual pistons calipers if you had one pistons calipers. I've upgraded for bigger rotors, bigger brake pads and dual pistons calipers so the braking power is really improved. It's important also to brake in new rotors and brake pads correctly. See blueish color on rotors after braking them in. The sign that the braking in process was done correctly. I've changed everything by myself so no labor cost. Got zync coated Bosh rotors for $50 each, brake pads for front $50. Whole Calipers with brackets $65 each. So $280. Much better and Cheaper than original Lexus brake rotors and pads from the dealer. Best $280 ever spent for upgrading the performance of Lexus ES 350.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...0a6a9582a3.jpg

Do the rears from the Highlander also swap in? I'm not sure they're much of an improvement, but thought I'd ask the hive mind here.

From my findings, the highlander is a 309mm, whereas the ES is a 280mm.

Not sure if rear once from Highlander also swap in. I just put new rotors and pads also for rear but Lexus standard sizes. Rear are not very important. Most braking power comes from front brakes

And yes, the diameter of Highlander front rotors is much bigger than diameter of Lexus rotors