As some you may already know, I just purchased a 2003 LS430 with 29,000 miles a few days ago.

I factored my purchase with the fact that the car would need brakes, tires, rims and minor paint work.

Tire and rims have been sorted out and complete- and look great.

Have new front and rear pads and rotors cut today. I have two concerns.

1) My pedal still feels a little soft. The rotors are very thick and have
plenty of life and new pads. Thought I would have had a stiffer pedal?
Any ideas on what can be done? Would the shop not bleed the brakes
or is this not needed when just pads and rotors are cut?

2) The shop that did the repairs says the sensors need replacing.
The red triangle light is flashing now on the dash and says brake wear
on the dash. He thinks that one we get sensors in he can install
them and this error message will go away? Will it? Is there anything
I can do to reset or get the flashing red triangle and message off
my dash until I get the sensors?


Hope someone knows...

LSMAN

 

I would recommand you to bed-in your new brake pads for maybe half a tank of gas OR 2-3 medium speed stop(25-30mph) and 3-4 high speed stop(50-60mph) to bed in your new pads. Flush your brake fluid is always a good idea but I don't think you will ever get rock hard pedal feel like German cars but you'll get used to them.
As far as your brake sensor, yes you need a new one and no you can not reset (AFAIK) until the new sensor is in. You do know that there is only 1 sensor per axle and @ right side only.
Hope these helps and good luck.

 

I would bleed the braking system and see if that helps. "Spongy" pedal feel is a somewhat subjective matter depending upon what you're used to, but if it's noticably spongy, I'm thinking you may have air in the system. I haven't bled the LS system, but if it's like the Supra system, you must be SURE to bleed the ABS section (there's an SST to connect power to one of the plugs, but you can also hot-wire it). If you don't, the pedal may remain softer than it otherwise could be.

FWIW, I've never had satisfactory results with turned rotors (back years ago when I had a few turned). Nowadays, if they are worn enough to need attention, I buy new ones. Brakes are important, so saving $100 on a band-aid isn't worth the risk and hassle IMO.

 

Wish I Had Done My Own Brakes. Total Cost With Pads And Rotors Turned Was $470.00.

Really Is Only An Hour Job After My Buddy Showed Me How Easy. The Rotors On The Ls Are A Monster And Do Not Need To Be Turned.
They Are Like Twice As Thick As Any Other Rotor I Have Ever Seen.

I Ordered The Brake Sesnors From Lexus. About $150.00 For Front And Back. Took 15 Minutes To Install And No "brake Ware" Light On Dash.

Lsman

 

right on LSMAN,
$470 for brakes ( OEM ? ) that's a great deal. Maybe I should drive to IL for mine

Was that for all 4 ?
If so, I'm putting gas in my ride right now and rolling north.

Carmine

 

All 4 / Now Head North. I Will Set You Up....

 

I pulled the Brake sensors out of my pads and zip-tied them up out of the way. They were just starting to show wear and there was still 3mm of pad remaining on all 4 brakes (48,400 miles on original brakes). My rotors are still looking like new. It tool me all of 20 minutes to pull the pads and remove the sensors. I easily could have changed the pads out in the same amount of time. These are by far the easiest brakes to change (at least as far as just changing pads)I have ever worked on.

Frank

 

Hello Frank,

When you did zip tie your brake sensors out of the way, does the "Brake Wear" message still stay on??

Also, anyone know if these sensors can be bought somewhere else for cheaper than $150 for the pair??

Thanks.

 

You need to pull the sensors before the warning light comes on. Once the light comes on the sensors are shot! I dont think there is any other source than Lexus for the sensors.

Frank

 

I'd search, but I'm multitasking enough as it is.. There is a thread or mention of soldering the sensors to reset the warning without replacing the sensor.

T

 

the brake sensor is just two wires, that when shorted together, allow the "brake wear" message to disappear. I just soldered the wires together, and re-installed. Message now gone.