Hi everyone!

My wife and I picked up a 2015 RX 350 F sport yesterday with 26K miles from Carmax. I hate to be so to the point but there is an issue that we are concerned about. The brakes are really sensitive and pretty much send my wife through the windshield every time I brake. I am curious if this is simply a characteristic of the F Sport model or if it is something that can be fixed with new brake pads or in another way? The brake pads look like they have been greased up quite a bit..
our new RX


front brake pad with lots of grease on it



rotor

 

Brake pedal feel after application is very subjective.

If they lock up too early then you will have a long patch of rubber on the road.

Visit carmax lot and test out another RX. If the pads have been replaced recently, you can ask for OEM pads.

Salim

 

The brake pads may have been replaced recently, but who knows what type they are? Maybe they're not properly bedded/broken-in yet? The grease you see on the pads/clips is to keep them from squeaking. I agree with Salim that you could ask for OEM pads and see if they suit you better.

 

You have brake by wire vehicle, I believe. What entices to having brake pedal connected to brake pedal stroke simulator and master simply telling VSC module how much braking force you want. Then, VSC applies it via brake actuator, utilizing pressure from brake accumulator.
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS system, leaving tire smudges on tarmac braking is not an option - unless it does not operate.
Those brakes simply do NOT lock, that's the entire ABS logic.
Did YOU actually drive vehicle and applied brakes in sensible way, without slamming on them each time? Lexi are known for having soft brake pedal feel, it may confuse operator, used to hard push brake pedal from another vehicle. Like I am switching between RAM 1500 and NX200t, and this is quite a difference in pedal application.
Those components, brake pad shims, MUST be lubricated, and routinely, to permit pads slide on bracket, along with caliper.
If both of you were to confirm that normal brake pedal application results in over-braking force applied to the rotors, this needs to be addressed electronically, via VSC adjustment. Or, the stroke sensor is malfunctioning, sending wrong request to VSC, resulting in over - braking.

 

I think the thread starter just needs to adjust his driving and braking habits to his new vehicle. I predict that in a couple of weeks he will find that he has adapted to the braking characteristics and will be able to stop smoothly. It is apparent that the seller has just cleaned and serviced the brakes and maybe replaced the pads. Thus they are at peak efficiency.
If the pads were not bedded properly, the car would stop worse (take more time and distance), and not be as grabby as he complains.

Maybe they also bled the brake fluid. I just had my brake fluid flushed/bled by the dealer and the car stopped faster and the pedal felt grabbier afterwards. The pads were not changed and were 2 years old with less than 10,000 miles. I agree about the Lexus soft brake pedal, which I do not like, but am used to and it felt much firmer after the recent bleeding.

 

I cant agree more with Cluthless' post. Has any one tried using their left foot to brake. We humans adapt/learn things and many of them are not computed anew every time [commonly known as knee jerk reaction].

On my side it took me almost a year to learn how to brake 450h. When I switch vehicles, I have to make adjustment.

For folks moving from Cars to SUV/Truck .. the new learning is that the ball of the heel can not be used to switch from gas to brake pedal. One has to lift the foot of and plant it on the brake pedal and usually the small modulation with the heel on the floor is lost and you get head snapping brakes.

Salim

 

The grease on the slide portions of the brakes looks very clean like it was just done.