GSF Brake life before servicing
Not trying to sound harsh, but it really seems some folks didn't get the full story on what they were buying when they bought an F car. The brakes are very good, but they're not racing pads. I run full race pads in my IS F and I guarantee you, the pads in the GS F don't have anywhere near the initial bite the brakes in my IS F have. That said, on an easy track (not hard on brakes), the OEM pads will allow a novice driver to successfully complete a track weekend without having to resort to a full race compound. The OEM pads are NOT race pads. Let that sink in. The OEM pads are NOT race pads. They're a really good compromise between a track pad and a street pad, just like the OEM pads the IS F uses. With the stability controls on, I guarantee you an aggressive driver will cook these pads at a track day, AMHIK. Lexus does a really good job with this. Unfortunately, some owners are expecting the same kind of Lexus you get when you buy an LS, or a GS that is NOT an F car. It's the same with the suspension.
"The '16 is too stiff, not a Lexus ride at all" and guess what? It isn't. But it is a decent setup for a track day newbie. So if you find yourself unhappy with the suspension, or the brakes are too dusty, maybe, just maybe, you should have dug a little deeper before buying this model over a GS without the 5.0 liter V-8.
From my perspective, these are minor annoyances for the vast performance difference the F cars offer. They should NOT be like "Lexus" at all.
"The '16 is too stiff, not a Lexus ride at all" and guess what? It isn't. But it is a decent setup for a track day newbie. So if you find yourself unhappy with the suspension, or the brakes are too dusty, maybe, just maybe, you should have dug a little deeper before buying this model over a GS without the 5.0 liter V-8.
From my perspective, these are minor annoyances for the vast performance difference the F cars offer. They should NOT be like "Lexus" at all.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: NC
is it normal for Lexus/ GS F to have break pedal go all the way down (almost) in order for break to be effectively applied? I just test drove/ made deal and bought one...everything was well except i was surprised how far i have to press in order to get car break worked fully.
Per dealer, it's normal and 'lexus' thing which i am not buying......car got brand new tires/ rotors/break and LCERT with 30k service done.
I'm coming from break experience on BMW's and never owned LXS before so thought of checking here (if there's anything I should have service dept looked at???)
Per dealer, it's normal and 'lexus' thing which i am not buying......car got brand new tires/ rotors/break and LCERT with 30k service done.
I'm coming from break experience on BMW's and never owned LXS before so thought of checking here (if there's anything I should have service dept looked at???)
I had it checked at delaer and apparently when new breaks/rotor was placed by lexus dealer (whom I bought from), their technician didn't seated the clips/ spring appropriately so they were making noise at low/low cruise speed as well as break pedal was not consistent when pressure applied; they have 'reseated' all 4 wheels and all noise/ issue gone..i'll drive around and see if this was indeed the issue
Pit Crew
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 109
Likes: 62
From: FL
Not trying to sound harsh, but it really seems some folks didn't get the full story on what they were buying when they bought an F car. The brakes are very good, but they're not racing pads. I run full race pads in my IS F and I guarantee you, the pads in the GS F don't have anywhere near the initial bite the brakes in my IS F have. That said, on an easy track (not hard on brakes), the OEM pads will allow a novice driver to successfully complete a track weekend without having to resort to a full race compound. The OEM pads are NOT race pads. Let that sink in. The OEM pads are NOT race pads. They're a really good compromise between a track pad and a street pad, just like the OEM pads the IS F uses. With the stability controls on, I guarantee you an aggressive driver will cook these pads at a track day, AMHIK. Lexus does a really good job with this. Unfortunately, some owners are expecting the same kind of Lexus you get when you buy an LS, or a GS that is NOT an F car. It's the same with the suspension.
"The '16 is too stiff, not a Lexus ride at all" and guess what? It isn't. But it is a decent setup for a track day newbie. So if you find yourself unhappy with the suspension, or the brakes are too dusty, maybe, just maybe, you should have dug a little deeper before buying this model over a GS without the 5.0 liter V-8.
From my perspective, these are minor annoyances for the vast performance difference the F cars offer. They should NOT be like "Lexus" at all.
"The '16 is too stiff, not a Lexus ride at all" and guess what? It isn't. But it is a decent setup for a track day newbie. So if you find yourself unhappy with the suspension, or the brakes are too dusty, maybe, just maybe, you should have dug a little deeper before buying this model over a GS without the 5.0 liter V-8.
From my perspective, these are minor annoyances for the vast performance difference the F cars offer. They should NOT be like "Lexus" at all.
Pole Position
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 289
Likes: 29
From: TX
Not trying to sound harsh, but it really seems some folks didn't get the full story on what they were buying when they bought an F car. The brakes are very good, but they're not racing pads. I run full race pads in my IS F and I guarantee you, the pads in the GS F don't have anywhere near the initial bite the brakes in my IS F have. That said, on an easy track (not hard on brakes), the OEM pads will allow a novice driver to successfully complete a track weekend without having to resort to a full race compound. The OEM pads are NOT race pads. Let that sink in. The OEM pads are NOT race pads. They're a really good compromise between a track pad and a street pad, just like the OEM pads the IS F uses. With the stability controls on, I guarantee you an aggressive driver will cook these pads at a track day, AMHIK. Lexus does a really good job with this. Unfortunately, some owners are expecting the same kind of Lexus you get when you buy an LS, or a GS that is NOT an F car. It's the same with the suspension.
"The '16 is too stiff, not a Lexus ride at all" and guess what? It isn't. But it is a decent setup for a track day newbie. So if you find yourself unhappy with the suspension, or the brakes are too dusty, maybe, just maybe, you should have dug a little deeper before buying this model over a GS without the 5.0 liter V-8.
From my perspective, these are minor annoyances for the vast performance difference the F cars offer. They should NOT be like "Lexus" at all.
"The '16 is too stiff, not a Lexus ride at all" and guess what? It isn't. But it is a decent setup for a track day newbie. So if you find yourself unhappy with the suspension, or the brakes are too dusty, maybe, just maybe, you should have dug a little deeper before buying this model over a GS without the 5.0 liter V-8.
From my perspective, these are minor annoyances for the vast performance difference the F cars offer. They should NOT be like "Lexus" at all.
As far as suspension, the AVS on 17s+ is awesome, its just the fixed dampers on the 16s that ride hard. There's always room for improvement. Even with a $350k Ferrari.
^^^^Brembo does not make pads, they make calipers. Any pad marked Brembo is not made by Brembo, but by another company and packaged in a Brembo box. Personally I'm running Ferodo DS2500 front and PM 800+ in back. Awesome IMHO.
Lou
Lou
Nothing new there. Lots of posts from IS350 and IS F owners about dealers telling them they need to replace pads and rotors. But I can tell you for sure, the GS F rotors are not nearly as long lived as the IS F rotors.
Edit: He posts quite a bit of videos but eventually found said video, doesn't seem that he grinded the rotor surface, just the part where wheels contact the rotors and around the edges where surface rust typically exists. Still don't think its the best idea though.
Last edited by TrevorR; Dec 13, 2018 at 01:14 PM.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 167
Likes: 34
From: Tx
Wow.......
Edit: He posts quite a bit of videos but eventually found said video, doesn't seem that he grinded the rotor surface, just the part where wheels contact the rotors and around the edges where surface rust typically exists. Still don't think its the best idea though.
Edit: He posts quite a bit of videos but eventually found said video, doesn't seem that he grinded the rotor surface, just the part where wheels contact the rotors and around the edges where surface rust typically exists. Still don't think its the best idea though.
Removing corrosion from the hub face is common in the rust belt. If you don't the rotor won't run true with the hub and that can be really bad. Grinding on the rotor's contact surface might be OK if you use garnet, but anything else isn't a good idea. Silica based abrasives create LOTS of issues with braking surfaces. I definitely wouldn't do that. Some guys randomize the rotor surface after turning with a garnet pad to help remove the spiralized cut from the rotor faces. This is actually a pretty good idea if you want to waste some rotor metal by turning them.