Need Help with Brakes
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Need Help with Brakes
Hey everyone I need some help. I need to have my brakes changed, front and rear. The local tire shop quoted me $1000. I'm no stranger to mechanics and hand tools. I have a 2005 Denali that I lowered myself with spindles and springs so I am pretty sure I can handle changing the brakes on my LS myself. My question is, is there a DIY section on here that will point me in the right direction to replace the pads?
thanks,
Joray
thanks,
Joray
Rookie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
From: CO
First of all....$1000 to change brake pads? Is that all you are doing? You can buy pads for $100-150 for a set. Your getting ripped off.
If you search you will find tons of threads on brakes. Also try www.lexls.com and there is a tutorial there. If your just changing pads, then it's a simple matter of removing the wheels, removing the caliper retaining bolts (2 per caliper), taking out the caliper and swapping the pads.
If you search you will find tons of threads on brakes. Also try www.lexls.com and there is a tutorial there. If your just changing pads, then it's a simple matter of removing the wheels, removing the caliper retaining bolts (2 per caliper), taking out the caliper and swapping the pads.
Welcome to Club Lexus.
That price is wayyy high.
Our own brake-rotor change tutorial for your '00:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-00-ls400.html
That price is wayyy high.
Our own brake-rotor change tutorial for your '00:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-00-ls400.html
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: VA
Holy excessive overcharge batman!!!
I used I work at a shop that specialized in high end cars (Ferrari, porsche, rolls, BMW, merc) and a brake job wasn't that much on a 911turbo...
The brakes on these cars are maintenance heaven, real easy and very straight foward for the most part. On some gen's the calipers don't even come off.
I used I work at a shop that specialized in high end cars (Ferrari, porsche, rolls, BMW, merc) and a brake job wasn't that much on a 911turbo...
The brakes on these cars are maintenance heaven, real easy and very straight foward for the most part. On some gen's the calipers don't even come off.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 271
From: Kansas
First of all, it would be very unusual for both the front and rear brake pads to need changing at the same time since the fronts almost always last far longer. For example, front brake pads on my 00 LS lasted over 70,000 miles - I had them replaced at about 73,000 miles and again recently at about 147,000 miles. I had the rear pads replaced for the first time at the 120,000 mile service for convenience and they might have lasted to the 150,000 mile service.
The minimum acceptable pad thickness is only 1 mm - there is no point in replacing the pads unless one of the pads has worn down to at or near the minimum acceptable thickness.
The indie Lexus repair shop I use charges between $200 and $250 for replacing either the front or rear pads with OEM pads and turning the rotors. LS rotors are very hard and should last the life of the car unless they have been trashed by completely worn out pads. When my front brakes were recently replaced for the second time at about 147,000 miles, the rotor thickness was the same as when the car rolled out of the factory - truely amazing.
I highly recommend turning the rotors whenever new pads are installed. Even at the $100/hour rates mechanics charge these days, it is cheaper to machine them back to true than buying new OEM rotors.
The minimum acceptable pad thickness is only 1 mm - there is no point in replacing the pads unless one of the pads has worn down to at or near the minimum acceptable thickness.
The indie Lexus repair shop I use charges between $200 and $250 for replacing either the front or rear pads with OEM pads and turning the rotors. LS rotors are very hard and should last the life of the car unless they have been trashed by completely worn out pads. When my front brakes were recently replaced for the second time at about 147,000 miles, the rotor thickness was the same as when the car rolled out of the factory - truely amazing.
I highly recommend turning the rotors whenever new pads are installed. Even at the $100/hour rates mechanics charge these days, it is cheaper to machine them back to true than buying new OEM rotors.
Last edited by Kansas; Apr 8, 2012 at 08:19 AM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
The only thing that was difficult on the 93 ls400 was dealing with the seized parking brake shoes on the rear. That was a pretty bad.
I would consider buying new caliper hardware in case you round something off when taking it off. Also handy to have a small propane torch for heating the bracket if it has been along time since the last change - at least up here in the north were we get salted roads in the winter, brake calipers tend to seize up a bit!
I would consider buying new caliper hardware in case you round something off when taking it off. Also handy to have a small propane torch for heating the bracket if it has been along time since the last change - at least up here in the north were we get salted roads in the winter, brake calipers tend to seize up a bit!
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Driver
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 126
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From: Florida
First of all I would like to mention that you were probably quoted for brake pads and rotors plus labor and shop fee. Secondly you can do this job even if you are not a mechanic. I read in your profile you drive a 2000 ls400? I would join TIS www.techinfo.lexus.com they should have the info you need to change your brakes yourself.Good luck.
Last edited by Luxurexus; Apr 8, 2012 at 02:59 PM.
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First of all I would like to mention that you were probably quoted for brake pads and rotors plus labor and shop fee. Secondly you can do this job even if you are not a mechanic. I read in your profile you drive a 2000 ls400? I would join TIS www.techinfo.lexus.com they should have the info you need to change your brakes yourself.Good luck.
rears are the same as 1st gen cars.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Thanks for everyones quick response. I picked up a set of pads for the front and rear and knocked it out in about 1.5 hours. My greatest concern was the sensors, that is what the shop was saying was so high and that they had to be replaced with the brake pads. Overall the old pads on the front could have lasted longer but since they were out I replaced them anyway. The rear pads on the other hand were very close and got changed out as well. The sensors didn't have to be replaced and were pretty straightforward on how to remove them. I guess I was expecting something much more involved since it was a Lexus.
Thanks Again...this is a great site for help.
Thanks Again...this is a great site for help.
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