We have a 1995 LS400 that we bought new. It now has about 73,000 miles on it. My wife was driving it last week and felt no response when she put the brakes on. Thank goodness she was only going about 35 mph and there was space to pull off and no damage to the car. I took it to a non-lexus shop for "inspect and fix". I have had a lot of work done there and trust them. I knew the brake pads were close but also knew that should not cause the problem. The shop reported no fluid leakage either at the master cylinder or at any wheel, and fluid level was full. We replaced the pads but before we picked up the car, I insisted that the pads would not cause the problem. They checked the struts and told me the rubber was rotten. I looked at the struts myself and agree. They explained that the worn out struts would allow the wheel to rotate slightly when the brakes were applied, thus giving the feel of no brakes while you actually still had brakes. We replaced the struts but have not driven the car enough yet to determine if that caused the problem or not.
Comments?
Thanks
bob

 

I don't understand how worn struts would cause a braking problem.
When you say the brakes had little effect was the symptom the brake pedal was stiff and had to be pressed very hard to have any effect on braking?

 

yea u might have the rare option of anti-lock strut braking system! lmfao...omg thats the last time i would take it there

 

I thought the same but tried to be subtle.

 

find a shop that know what they're doing.