Did my own pads and rotors all around a few months ago on 95 LS400. Had never done a brake job before but I’m methodical and follow instructions. Parts sourced through Toyota / Lexus. Brakes work great, no throbbing or pulling to one side or other and quickly stop car if I have to brake hard. Just one thing, my first brake after car has been sitting overnight or in parking lot during day, I get a nice long squeak that is plenty loud. Sometimes REAL loud. Seems to have some correlation with moisture in air or if has been raining. Will go away reliably after I brake a time or two and never comes back for the duration of my trip. But rest assured will be back in the morning, Should I be concerned? Or just embrace it …?

 

No need to worry, normal. Happens to every car eventually, at least every car I've had. (about 20) It has to do with the moisture. I don't know if it happens to cars parked in a garage cuz none of mine ever were. sadly.

 

Got it thanks that’s really helpful. Yeah I grew up with cars in a garage but I am living somewhere now with ample street parking but no garage 🥲

 

Did you re-use or replace the anti squeal shims? They are important and often overlooked.
You can re-use them as long as they havent been destroyed by rust or extended wear.

 

Thanks for this. I did take them off and apply some anti seize before attaching them to the new pads. I can’t remember if I reused or replaced but they were in fine shape. The only thing is I probably overdid it a little on the anti seize ie more than a dime I spread it on the back of the pad kind of like jelly on toast. But nothing insane I guess. I also replaced other brake hardware and applied some anti seize to locations on hardware where pads would be sliding.

 

Hmmm...
Anti Seize would not be my first choice when doing a brake job. Others may disagree but I wouldn't use it at all on brakes.
There are plenty of anti-squeal PRODUCTS available but you really don't need them with Toyota shims. That's the beauty of OE shims, when installed completely dry they do not squeal 👍

Edit- "Like jelly on toast" is likely way too much.

 

Got it - thank you. For now braking performance is overall great and the squeak is only the first brake of the day or evening after sitting and doesn’t ever come back during the drive. So I still feel like it could also be related to temperature of and/or moisture on rotor surface but I’m taking what you’re saying seriously…will revisit for next brake job. For now probably not going to rip everything apart because it’s always one and done for any given drive as far as this squeak goes. Thanks again.

 

I live in a very dry climate, so I don't expect to have overnight rusting problems or squeaking on the first stop. However, I also didn't experience any squeaking when I visited Chicago. Even when the car got rained on after sitting for two days in the middle of the (humid) summer. Nothing.

I suspect the shims as well. However, for you, since it happens once then stops... then you're fine. I personally would leave it & address the next time the brakes need looking at. Or you have a particularly boring Sunday 😁

 

Ok thanks. Yeah, boring things are not right now, fortunately or unfortunately. I’ll see about it maybe in another 20-30k miles if she’s still ticking along then…at least the ordeal of getting the caliper mounting bolts off hopefully won’t be as bad as it was the first time. I thought I was going to break the car getting those off…

 

which pads did you use? i use the akebono proact ceramic pads and the first initial roll down the driveway occasionally makes just the kind of prolonged squeal/squeak you're describing

yes the more humid it is seems to directly correlate to the loudness and duration of the noise, but after the initial occurrence it doesn't happen again until the next time the car sits for a day or so

i've also noticed these pads take getting a bit of heat in them before they really bite hard... but hey the virtually dust-free operation is worth it to me

 

My above story is from my Akebono ACT pads, the same ones you have and everyone uses. They should be squeak free. Or at least on my car they are, fwiw.

As for your performance remarks: I don't think they have a very harsh initial bite at all, not compared to more sporty brake setups on more sporty cars, much less how modern brakes are calibrated. The top of the pedal is pretty progressive, which I actually quite like. I don't like super stabby brakes. And as I heat soak my brakes in the mountain canyons, doing some semi-spirited driving, I don't notice any fade, nor major changes in how they bite as they heat up. It feels just about the same to me when they're cold vs. warmed up.

The most important thing is I'm able to lock up the tires and trigger ABS when the brakes are stone cold. And that they do.

My 2c

 

i think you being in a dry desert climate plays a big part in that, mine don't always make the sound either but humidity seems to be a direct factor... also there's never any 'stabbiness' but i've just noticed the brakes seem to work even better once there's some heat in them

well if OP wants to ensure the noise doesn't happen again they can always try to capture a recording of it happening lol

 

The road trip to Chicago I did. And anytime it's rained here or snowed here (snow melts in my garage so it's a continual drip feed) or I've washed my car there is buildup. Never been a problem, dead silent. The only squeaking problem I've ever had was when I had some **** chinese rotors on the front. Replaced those and have been problem free ever since.

Ahhh okay, I understand what you meant now about the bite\stabbyness of the brakes.

 

Well, sunny, relatively dry day yesterday, slightly warmer with spring weather, no squeak …

The pads are from whomever supplies OEM pads to Toyota/Lexus right now. I can’t remember what they said on mine but based a picture online of pads for sale from Lexus that look exactly like mine indicates “Sumitomo”

 

It took me a second to catch that also. The noises never do happen when you want them to.

Earlier I said the noise happened with every car I've had, but I misspoke, it hasn't happened yet with my now 93 LS400. I bought it 1 1/2 yrs ago, only has 90K miles on it and I think it still has original breaks after reading the service records, or lack of, from previous owner. I'm changing them soon, (couple months) when I'm under it finally doing the motor mounts, now that I have a garage. (just moved this weekend )