Hello, I am a newbie, so please forgive me if this question has been asked before. I need 4 new pads and also need 4 of my rotors resurfaced, but was wondering what pads you would recommend, OEM, Axxis, Green stuff, etc? I only ask as I would like to keep them quiet and be relatively the same as stock but would like them to last a bit longer. It is a 04 RX330, and the dealer quoted me 575 for the job with tax, but midas and a private mechanic quoted me 400 with their own pads. What do you guys think would be some good pads to put on and a reasonable price to pay for labor and materials? Thanks in advance all!

 

If you use the search feature, you will get plenty of information.

You asked for opinions and I will give you mine.

I would replace rotor if they are warped instead of turning them. [If the full thick rotors warped, the turned would not last long]. The rears should not have any reason to be turned unless the pads had worn down and they pitted/grooved the rotor.

OEM pads are noisy but have decent braking and not to bad on the rotor. The dust is not bad and I only see it when they are worn out. Ceramic would be my after market choice [I have not made the switch].

My view is that ALL shops do more than the minimum (replace the pads only) to maximize profit and to to prevent customer come back with complaints.

Salim

 

If you wind up replacing the rotors as well, Autozone's price for pads/rotors totals about $320. Doing all 4 corners is probably 1.5-2 book hours of work, which at a $65/hr labor rate would run you about $100-$130. So $420-$450ish would be reasonable. Personally, I'd save the money and do it myself, but that's not up everyone's alley.

 

just beware of TRD parts. i had them put on my old car and they burned out in 5K miles.

 

The brake pad and rotor replacement is a 5 on a scale of 10 hardness. Directions are easy. Get OEM Pads and Rotors, they sell them on the NET, original Toyota parts, or can even go to Alternate OEM's. I would stay away from Retailers, they always end up costing the same as discounted OEM's. If you are not a DIY person, try to find a friend who can do it for you. Saves you money and you get to learn.

 

But OEM pads don't come with lifetime warranties either, and the upper-tier retail brands do....pay the same price now, pay nothing in 30k miles.....nothing in 60k miles.....

OEM pads are good, no question about it. But the Lexus ones are a little noisier than I'd like, and I've gotten better bite out of mid-priced aftermarket pads. The OEMs on my BMW bite great and are very quiet, but are dusty as hell so they're getting the axe when they wear out as well. But they'll likely be replaced with performance pads like Hawks or EBCs, so the lifetime warranty won't apply there either.

I do agree on doing the job yourself, it's generally not very hard, and you can rent the caliper compression tool for free from stores like Autozone. I wound up keeping mine the last time I "rented" it though, since I was the first person to ever use it (clerk cut the shrinkwrap off it when I picked it up) and I thought it was worth the $35 investment. Used it twice so far this year, so I guess it was.

 

Watch out for the cheap aftermarket pads as they tend to dust a lot and often squeal. I like the Lexus OEM for the fact that they don't dust much, don't squeal and braking power is good.

 

thanks for all the opinions turns out they didnt need to resurface the rotors or anything and a local shop did the install on all 4 corners with oem pads for 250, beats the heck outta 575 at the dealer!

 

Even with the single jack, all four sides can be changed in less than 2 hrs. Glad you saved some $$, but could have saved even more [Sorry to rub-it in as the DIY is very simple ... investment is only turkey-baster, flat long handel screw-driver, 2 wrenches, torque-wrench (if you are fussy), pliers, +know-how].

Salim

 

Lifetime warranty on pads means it will eat up your rotors...then it is time to replace the rotors. Whereas, eat the pads.....the way it was designed. Just an observation.

 

The OEM pads is a good compromise as far as quietness and performance.

 

I would second the opinion about diy. I have not done it on the RX, but on other cars I have had no trouble replacing the brake pads. If you do it early enough, while there is still some pad left on the old ones, the rotors are usually fine.

 

I have read the OE rotors tent to warp. It would make sense to get aftermarket rotors with OE pads. What aftermarket brand rotos does one recommend? I personally don't think the OE pads dust a lot. I guess most pads don't dust compared to my BMW E39 oe pads.

 

The front rotors on my RX300 have been warped before and I have had them machined. I plan to replace them with Rotora rotors. For brake pads, try Akebonos. TunedRX300 recommended both Rotoras and Akebonos, and so far the Akebonos are much better than OEM.

I have had experiences with Hawk Performance and EBC, but didn't see anything significant over the OEM in the long-run.

 

I would replace the rotors as well with quality after market ones, but I would still use the stock pads. My front pad was changed at 60K miles and my rear pads still had life in them when we checked at 65K miles since I sold it to a friend. That is pretty good life too me.