Apologies for the long post, but I wanted to share this with those that may have never had to hard brake their IS before. If you read my other posts in this forum, you will see that I often poke fun at some of my driving experiences in Houston, especially after buying my new IS250 in April. It seems that I've avoided some of the most bizarre things on the Houston roads recently. However, none of my prior experiences can match what happened to me this evening.

I was driving along the Houston highways this evening to meet my wife and some friends for dinner after work. An 18-wheeler was driving along in front of me, so I slowed down to avoid flying rocks and pebbles, and maintained a safe 2 second distance behind it. I was surrounded by other cars, so I couldn't really change lanes very easily.

Several minutes later, I was driving up an inclined stretch of highway with the 18 wheeler still in front of me. I looked down at the nav for a split second because it was guiding me to the restaurant. I then looked up as I caught a glimpse of the red brake lights of the 18 wheeler. It then proceeded to jacknife directly in front of me! There was very slow traffic on the downhill part of the highway, and it caught the driver of the 18-wheeler by surprise.

I slammed on my brakes like never before. The car seemed to almost immediately stop on a dime like no car I have ever driven before. I don't even recall hearing any sort of noise during the braking, thought I admit that my mind was a bit preoccupied with avoiding the accident altogether.

I avoided an accident without a scratch on me or my car. Another car wasn't so lucky, as it got clipped when the truck jacknifed (it was an older BMW 3-series). Fortunately no other cars were following closely behind me, or I surely would have been hit from behind, as tailgating is the norm in Houston. I'm still a bit shaken up over the whole experience, as I would have surely hit the truck if I was driving my former car.

I haven't had the TSB for the brakes done on my car yet, and am not sure that I will ever have it done. I just bought it in April and haven't been in for service yet, but I was considering the TSB. I've heard that there is a slight loss in braking performance after the TSB. I can live with extra brake dust if accidents like this can be avoided.

Anyone else ever decide not to get the brake TSB done?

Thanks for taking the time to read. My wife is still trying to calm me down.

Wow I am glad you are okay!

No one has ever done a side by side skid testing of the different brakes but I dare say had you got the TSB done the braking would not have been that different.

But after a stituation like that I'd be sold on my brakes too! Glad everyone came out okay!

Yes the Isx50 brakes are awesome. There were several times where i had to slam on my brakes because of "stupid" drivers and like you said the car "immediately stop on a dime."

Glad everyone's ok.

I dont plan on doing the TSB on my brakes. I can live with some brake dust on my wheels since i wash my car almost every week.

Glad you're okay man. I too have been in a situation where I needed stop-on-a-dime braking.

Thanks! I'm definitely sold on these brakes after today. Fortunately the driver of the BMW that got hit came out okay, and there was no passenger in his car. I'm not sure that the passenger would have made it out alive after seeing the car. No one else was affected, but they still took the driver of the BMW to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

I stayed to describe the accident to the cops for the accident report. Needless to say that I never made it to dinner this evening.

i got the TSB done a couple weeks ago, and had to use the new brakes VERY HARD due to some dumb lady that doesn't know what Yield means. The new brakes worked good enough for me, cause i slammed them and the cars braking performance was incredible.

I hear you. I'm afraid to mess with the brakes based on what I just experienced. I actually wash my car twice a week because of the bug splatter that I get on my car during routine driving this time of year.

tires and traction are just as important as good brakes. the supposed decrease in performance of the new pads are probably not noticeable in everyday driving. its when the pads are heated during intense track use that the decrease will be seen.

Wow! I'm glad to hear you're safe. Did you have the Pre-Collision System as well?

Times like that are scary. I'm happy to hear such a positive outcome.


I am going to get my brakes changed in a week.

The brakes were originally made for the GS450h, which is a heavier and more powerful car. If anything has been "weak" with the braking of the GS450h, it is because of the regenerative braking system on a hybrid that hinders braking, not the brakes' performance.

Stopping distance (60-0 mph) on the IS350 is 119.93 ft.
Stopping distance on the GS450h is 123 ft.

Although 4 ft makes a huge difference with braking, you have to take into account that the GS450h is 600 lbs heavier than the IS350.

Good to hear you are ok, but while the brakes might have saved you, the NAV got you into the mess in the first place, right?

I have to admit, there are times when I looked up from the LCD after playing with the audio and climate and realized that I took my eyes off the road for much longer than I should have and it was a scary thought.

I would prefer a higher placement of the NAV, like BMW, Infiniti, and Acura RL. Don't know if that would keep my eyes more partially on the road, but it seems like it.

Glad your alright man

Was the accident on 45 north bound right past UH?
Those overpasses right there usually has cars bunched up on the downside of em with .Lotsa accidents there with the peeps coming onto the ramp trying to cut over to make it to 59

I know what you mean about the thought of keeping your eyes off the road for a much longer time.. i travel a lot and sometime i'm busy changing cd or doing whatever the heck i do.. all sudden i'm like wow im not even keeping my eyes on the road.. i get the chill everytime that happens.. it's indeed a scary thought.

glad you were okay.. i must say, the brakes on the IS are pretty good..

the brakes on the IS have saved me at least twice in dead-stop situations, and that was after i got the TSB done for it.

I just got the TSB done. The braking performance is nearly identical. The 350's have much bigger brakes, and stop way better.
I thought the TSB was only for IS350 and GS models?

thanks for sharing! Glad that you are ok!

I guess you wont complain how dusty the wheels are from now on.....