GS350 front brakes warp-need help
09-07-17, 07:57 AM
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GS350 front brakes warp-need help
I've owned 2 GS's since 2010. 1st a 2006 GS300 started with 66K miles sold with 233K miles and ran like a sewing machine still. In 2014 I bought my current 2013 GS350 with 18K miles and now has 179K. I drive roughly 50K/yr and 90% of it is interstate.
I have issues with my front rotors warping once I get them turned. They just can't take the heat after you get a little meat off of them. I've searched here to see if anyone has this issue and can't find another problem. My independent Lexus mechanic also is stumped. I've had to buy new OEM rotors twice now.
My mechanic "Lexpro" in Franklin TN says it's because I don't put enough heat on them and all I do is interstate driving, so when I use my brakes they're always cold. I don't buy that one. I think the issue is with my car itself, or an issue with the standard GS front brake size.
This being a base GS, should I put F Sport brakes on it? Do I need to up-size my wheels for that? There are no service bulletins related to brakes on my model either.
About my driving: I don't flog the car much. Only when I'm on an occasional twisty back road or up in the Smoky Mountains. I also go twice a year to beat my son and his beemer on an Autocross course. I actually average 28 MPG's so that's how much I'm on the interstate.
About me: I'm a wrencher. I've rebuilt many cars and still do everything but bodywork on all my toys, but this being my work vehicle, I have all my work done by Lexus or Lexpro. Even every 10K oil changes and recommended services at the proper intervals. Besides meticulously detailing it every weekend, I've only replaced a battery and windshield wipers myself on this car. I really don't get it on these brakes though.
I have issues with my front rotors warping once I get them turned. They just can't take the heat after you get a little meat off of them. I've searched here to see if anyone has this issue and can't find another problem. My independent Lexus mechanic also is stumped. I've had to buy new OEM rotors twice now.
My mechanic "Lexpro" in Franklin TN says it's because I don't put enough heat on them and all I do is interstate driving, so when I use my brakes they're always cold. I don't buy that one. I think the issue is with my car itself, or an issue with the standard GS front brake size.
This being a base GS, should I put F Sport brakes on it? Do I need to up-size my wheels for that? There are no service bulletins related to brakes on my model either.
About my driving: I don't flog the car much. Only when I'm on an occasional twisty back road or up in the Smoky Mountains. I also go twice a year to beat my son and his beemer on an Autocross course. I actually average 28 MPG's so that's how much I'm on the interstate.
About me: I'm a wrencher. I've rebuilt many cars and still do everything but bodywork on all my toys, but this being my work vehicle, I have all my work done by Lexus or Lexpro. Even every 10K oil changes and recommended services at the proper intervals. Besides meticulously detailing it every weekend, I've only replaced a battery and windshield wipers myself on this car. I really don't get it on these brakes though.
09-07-17, 11:10 AM
#2
That's really odd! I haven't experienced anything like this, and I drive a more regular city/highway mix. As I understand it, many incidents of brake warping are not due to warping of the rotors themselves but often due to uneven deposition of pad materials, especially if you stop with very hot brakes and/or never properly bed your brake pads in.
If you do figure out whether it's possible to install the F-sport brakes - I had heard it wasn't - I'd love to hear it, since I'd love to do it myself. Something about knuckles or spindles was supposed to be incompatible.
That said, RR Racing offers a very affordable front big brake kit that might be right up your alley if you do autocross. It uses six-piston Wilwood calipers and 14.0"X1.26" brake rotors. This is the same rotor diameter (bit thicker I think) as the RWD F-sport uses.
edit: here's the thread where someone with AWD fails to install the F-sport brakes due to the knuckle. If you have RWD, you might be able to pull it off - it's cheaper than it was then because they went from two-piece to one-piece rotors in the intervening years.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-4th-gen-2013-present/746273-i-m-upgrading-brakes-2.html
If you do figure out whether it's possible to install the F-sport brakes - I had heard it wasn't - I'd love to hear it, since I'd love to do it myself. Something about knuckles or spindles was supposed to be incompatible.
That said, RR Racing offers a very affordable front big brake kit that might be right up your alley if you do autocross. It uses six-piston Wilwood calipers and 14.0"X1.26" brake rotors. This is the same rotor diameter (bit thicker I think) as the RWD F-sport uses.
edit: here's the thread where someone with AWD fails to install the F-sport brakes due to the knuckle. If you have RWD, you might be able to pull it off - it's cheaper than it was then because they went from two-piece to one-piece rotors in the intervening years.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-4th-gen-2013-present/746273-i-m-upgrading-brakes-2.html
Last edited by MTerrence; 09-07-17 at 11:40 AM.
09-07-17, 11:53 AM
#3
Yes, definitely it looks like the steering knuckles. For example, AWD uses part number 43202-30050 for the front left; RWD (f-sport and otherwise) uses 43202-30040. Looking at pictures of the two parts side by side, they are clearly quite different.
With that said, the hub and bearing appear to be the same also for the RWD F-sport and non-F-sport - so this bodes well for the potential of upgrading to the F-sport brakes.
With that said, the hub and bearing appear to be the same also for the RWD F-sport and non-F-sport - so this bodes well for the potential of upgrading to the F-sport brakes.
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