I agree that brake fluid will eat paint like nothing else. My point was that, if you have not added any brake fluid to your reservoir, then the fluid level will return to the normal level. As the pad wears, the fluid flows down and displaces the area where the pad used to be. Thus, when you put new pads on and use a clamp to compress the piston, you are merely displacing the fluid back to its original level. If you have added brake fluid, then the turkey baster is what I prefer. Just don't tell my wife!

Don't forget that brake fluid has a short term life and most auto manufacturers recommend replacing it every two years. It absorbs microscopic levels of water and starts to turn brown. Notice how new fluid is light tan whereas old brake fluid turns brown and eventually black. That is the reason for changing it out.

Gary

 

I added brake fluid not long ago. So when I changed the pads, I had to suck out some.

I will do the rears shortly.

 

Rear Brakes. 2 14 MM bolts have to be taken out. Make sure you install the pin with the rubber seal in the right place (which is the lower).

 

Torn apart prior to pad replacement.

 

Just make sure the rubber boots are sealed good with the pins.

 

QED. Total 3 Hours.

 

Great job... Thanks for the great pics too... :P

 

Did you really have to remove both pins on the rear calipers? My RX300 rear also was pivot up once the bottom pin was removed. Also, is the RX330 rear caliper also a push piston, or rotating piston that you have to rotate to get back into the caliper? Great job, and nice pics.

 

The rear's 2 pins must be taken out. The design is different from the front. The pins actually are bolted to the caliper. Unlike the front where the pins are bolted to a floating nut. When you take it apart, you'll see.

 

awesome write up, if mods could sticky somewhere in the maintenance how-to, would be great!

where did you buy break pads from? $95 for both sets seems incredibly cheap....

 

Sewell....maybe like $56 and $50...so about $110 for the front and rear set...

 

still cheap....these are the same pads that are used on Toyota Highlander right?

 

Yup! Same ones. OEM brake pads are sold by our listed CL vendors....decent price versus local dealers.

 

Since the Highlander shares the same brake pads as the RX330, do they also use the same rotors if both vehicles are 2004? The Highlander rotors are much cheaper then the RX330.

 

They should be the same. But yes, they do sell a different type for Lexus versus Highlander, but you can use one of them. Just like brake pads...To be sure, ask the dealer.