I'm getting ready to do my first brake job on my GS400. I have a couple questions though.

1. The stock pads have a inner and outter anti squeal shim for each pad, front and back. I went with the Akebono pads and they just come with one shim for each pad and some lubricant. Should I reuse any of the stock shims or just use what they sent? Do your pads get noisy if you don't have that extra inner shim?

2. I need the torque specs for the bolts that hold the calipers (front & back) on.

 

If not damaged, use the stock shims, lightly greased on both sides along with the back of the pads where they contact the shim. Don't add an additional shim and insure you locate the shims exactly as on the original pads.

The Front 14mm caliper bolts spec at 25 Ft Lb. Rear at 20 Ft Lbs. Additionally, a thin coat of grease on the sliders the caliper rides on.

 

Thanks for quick reply Tammy. What about the torque specs for the 17mm bolts that actually hold on the whole caliper?

 

So the stock inner and outter shims should be used instead of the one single shim that aftermarket pads come with? I'm kinda confuse because what the aftermarket instructions say and the Lexus manual instructions say don't match. The aftermarket shim has adhesive to attach it to the back of the pad, then it says to lube the back of the shim. But this pdf file says to lube both sides of the inner shim but not on the back of the outter shim?? Does this make sense what I'm trying to figure out. Lube on the outside of shims or not? I just want to do it right the first time so I don't have to rip it apart again.

 

I used the old OEM stock shims on the new pads, no squeals after 4 months. The Field Service Manual is what I use as the final answer, that's what it recommended. The pads I bought didn't even come with shims.

 

87 ft/lb for 17mm torque plate bolts.
The rear caliper torque spec is 77ft/lb.

 

How much force is this exactly? I just got done swapping out rotors and pads on mine and I just tighted it hand tight and then popped the wrench with the hammer a few times.

 

Hard to tell ... your technique may be effective but a bit weak on accurate measurement. (I've had to use the hammer a couple of instances myself, not having the tool for the job)

No getting around the consistant measurement capabilities of the torque wrench and socket. May I suggest renting a good one or purchase a $20 inexpensive one, the results are about the same. (Mainly, your peace of mind.) For the 50-150 Ft Lb range, a 1/2 drive is the answer.

These 17mm head bolts are the mounting of the brake caliper itself, after all. You want it right.

 

I just did this job and I torqued to spec...boy I tell you that 87ft/lb isn't hardly anything!
I took the caliper bolt off of a 2005 Nissan 350Z and that thing must've been on at least 150ft/lbs. Damn near took my arm off trying to get it loose!
If you don't have a torque wrench my bet is you're probably over tightening it!
I'm cautious so I always tighten down things real good where it counts. So i did one side the normal way using just my hand and 1/2 inch drive ratchet. My buddy then checked what I 'thought' 87 ft/lbs was--turns out it was torqued to about 100. I said, hey better tighter than looser!