First of all, my rotors are warped, and need to be replaced, but I've noticed something more to it than the rotors over the last week. It's been warm enough to roll the windows down in the evening, so I could actually hear this happen, as oppose to the winter weather. Two things happen when I apply the brakes:

1.) When coming from a stop I hear, not a grinding noise, but more of a creaking sound. Almost like an old spring is being depressed, but it slows down as the wheels slow down and gets louder as the brake heats up.

2.) When sitting still and pressing the brakes, I hear a creaking noise. If I slowly press them, I hear almost a metallic popping sound and feel a faint pulse in the pedal at the same time. When pressed fast it sounds like a creek. Very hard to explain this noise.

Midas says I had 70% Pad life left last month, and I was going to wear the pads down before I changed out the warped rotors. Could there be another problem with my brakes, or is it solely a problem related to the warped rotor?

I'd love to get slotted rotors, but this is my daily, and I'm a spirited driver, so I need OEM or better for stopping power. Does anyone have suggestions?

PS: Another issue that has happened twice... I've made several panic stops recently resulting in about a 40 mph change in speed, but after I depress the pedal, the car seems to still have the brakes applied. This has only happened on rare occasion though.

 

hey quick question!!...... how many miles you got? jus curious to see how long thsese rotors last

 

regarding this, have you checked for stuck pistons (those things behind the caliper that pushes the pads)?

there's an old thread on that

 

My 2000 LS400 did the exact same thing, and it stopped when I replaced the pads and installed new shims.

 

may have a caliper going bad.i would start by changing the brakes and rotor and inspect the calipers and go from there.this would be a diy job and save a boundle of cash.

 

The LS430 makes unexplainable brake noises. I have a small pop noise around 5mph when stopping. Cant feel anything in the steering or brake pedal, but it makes the noise 80% of the time im stopping. As for the creaking you have, idk what to tell you.

 

Sounds like a stuck caliper piston. Rotors that are too thin will make some nasty metal "creaking" noises, which sounds like a bunch of rusty suspension joints, its absolutely terrible. Old caliper pins (pins that hold the pads in the calipers) can cause noises too, they should be replaced when you do pads. The 5mph "pop" noise when stopping is a worn lower control arm bushing.

LS430 rotors are the beefiest of almost all production cars and last 75-100k miles depending on your driving style.

 

for lower control arm bushings are there only OEM and AST? if it is the LCA bushing, what happens if you dont replace and drive on them worn?

 

you mean the BIG lower arm bushing, which are replaceable ?

 

mmmm the rear lower control arm. the one you need to burn out the bushing or use a press for?

 

As far as I know for the LCA bushing you have to buy the entire arm. I think there may be aftermarket bushings but you'd have to press or burn the old one out, and the dealer likely won't screw with that. Running with a worn one will just continue to cause a lot of annoying noises and loose feeling in the suspension, and may cause the alignment to be constantly wavering, which can cause increased or uneven tire wear. My opinion.

 

LCA have one bushing integral, no aftermarket solutions. That's a given.
But it 'plugs' into big, replaceable bushing...

As for braking noises - get some copper grease and a new caliper kit (new pin + spring plate for each wheel).
Get your pads+shims out, clean, pu some copper grease between shims and pad. There should be no grease on the outside shim which is in contact with pistons.
Then, lube with copper grease the EDGES of pads - the points of contact/sliding with caliper.
Put back in carefully, put new spring plates on and new slide pins.

This will stop noises for some time.

 

my 01 was making a popping noise when stopping and i replaced the large, front lower control arm bushing that goes on the rear of the arm, and the noise went away. there was a tsb i found for an updated bushing part number.

also before i tell you you have a bad caliper, there are guide pins that the pads slide on in the caliper. they get gummed up with brake dust and road grime. you can take them off and clean them very well, if needed use some light sand paper to take the stuff off of the pin. then reinstall them and use a light coat of a brake lubricant on them like silicone paste or anti-seize. it may help some noises and brakes feeling like they are sticking.

 

nice. can you please describe the condition of the bushing you took off the vehicle ? was it obviously damaged ? thanks