41000 miles on my RX is it time for brakes?

 

maybe ..maybe not. Have your rotors mic'd for thickness and inspect your pads..that will tell you the answer.

 

^ This. You can't rely on mileage. Person A at X miles could need new brakes while Person B at the same X mileage might not.

While this is the non-hybrid forum, keep in mind that there are those of use with hybrids in here so be sure to include the number. Our hybrids, for example, can go much longer between brake replacements because the regenerative brakes are used for much of the braking.

 

I just replaced the rear rotors and pads for the first time at 50,000 Km (31,000 miles). A couple of the pads were down to minimum thickness and were very close to the steel backing plate. Front had lots of material left.

 

My rear pads also worn out at about 31,000 miles. Fronts were fine. I attribute it to city driving.

 

2015 RX350 FWD with the factory 19-inch wheels....

We purchased this vehicle four weeks ago with 32,750 miles on the odometer and the remainder of the factory warranty until mid-August 2019. It was a well-maintained corporate lease vehicle in Florida. It is now my wife's daily driver, she has put just over 500 miles on it to date, and thus far she is quite pleased with it. From August 2003 until February 2012 she had a 2000 RX300 AWD and a 2004 RX330 AWD so she has a certain familiarity with the model (although this one is more powerful and has more amenities). I know brake pad lifespan is dependent upon driving conditions and individual driving styles, but I am curious regarding how long the factory pads are lasting for you long-time owners here. What can you tell me?

 

My rear pads wore out by 35,000 miles. The fronts lasted much longer, but the front rotors rusted out within the cooling vents after 4 years. I would have your brake pad depth inspected to know how much life remains.

 

Thanks for your feedback. When I do my first tire rotation on this vehicle at 35,000 miles, I will take a good look at the brake pads on all four corners. When replacement time rolls around, I plan to go with the appropriate Wagner ThermoQuiet brake pads (probably sourced from rockauto.com). I have run them on our Jaguars and on my Ram for close to a decade and typically get at least 50,000 miles out of them regardless of the vehicle. I also had them on my wife's two previous RX models. Still a great bang-for-the-buck brake pad.

 

I hope you just got the words backward. I have never heard of back brakes wearing out before the front.

 

Rear pads wearing out before front pads may not be common, but it can certainly be characteristic of some vehicles. It was for my now-sold 2005 Jaguar S-Type sedan. The front pads typically did 60,000 miles, but the rear pads were typically done by 45,000 miles.

 

I am 66 and have never paid for a brake job. I have been doing them since I was a kid. I have had all sorts of cars both foreign and domestic and I have never had rear brake pads not last longer than front. That includes the current 2015 RX I have now. I have 40K miles on the car and I have already replaced the front pads. The rear have lots of pad left. I am not saying it is not possible, but I am saying it is not the norm. My 2006 SC430 had the rear pads last about 80K and the fronts only last about 35K.

 

 

This type of question will render all sorts of answers. My wife RX450 i change rears at 230k kms and the front at 140k kms. My cars have been similar in the past.

 

Wow, I don't know where this is coming from. I had a 2000 RX, my daughter currently has a 2004 RX, and I own a 2015 RX. I have never had that happen and we have owned the two older cars for years. I have always had the front pads go first. By a long shot!

 

My last 4 brand new vehicles all had their brake pads last into the 120K+ range...that is about where I traded them in. But, I drive ~100 miles round trip every day to and from work and it is all highway miles.

I will keep an eye on my wife's 2015 RX350 brakes. I've never seen or heard of the rear going out first. Like lolmaster above...I am 50 and have been doing my own brakes since my dad taught me when I was 16. I have never seen the rear wear out before the front.