mkorsu

Ok guys, here's a possible submission for the record books.


My friend's fiance has a 2004 ES330 (pretty sure is an '04). Needed the brakes done so I go over and help change the pads. Rotors appeared to be in good shape so they stayed. Plus the car is a lease and gets returned in less than 6 months. My friend purchased replacement pads from NAPA that included shims and were a name brand.

Install was smooth and the brakes worked fine in town at low speeds. The following day when the car was taken on the highway a wobble was noticed under heavy braking. We had suspected the rotors may have had some warping prior to the pad change and this confirmed it.

Ok, on to the good stuff. My friend has also just purchased a new GX470 and his fiance took that to the dealer to get a new wireless headphone set. While there she happened to mention her brakes. The service advisor told her that she should have had the pads changed there as Lexus uses "special" shims that you can only get at the dealer. She went on to say that the "non special" shim is the cause of the wobble.

Now, I am not a professional mechanic but I have been tooling on all my cars for the past 20 years. My 92 SC400 has been worked on only by me and I am now at 202,000 miles and she still runs great. I can find my way around cars.

Never have I heard of a "special" shim that is required. I'm open to hearing otherwise if there is in fact certain equipment that needs to be used, but this just sounds to me like someone trying to get over on what they perceived to be an "un-car-educated" female.

Any thoughts?

SirSkrip

Umm, I had my brakes done at a non-official Toyota/Lexus repair shop. They use lexus parts. I had a severe wobble prior to doing the brakes. After they were done, the wobble wasnt as bad, but my brakes were loud. It sounded as if they were bad again. It did wobble a bit, but not as much as before. Well I took it to an offical Lexus dealer, and guess what? they said I was missing the shims. So I told them to go ahead and install them. And now I have no wobble and the brakes are super quiet. It made a big difference for me. Im sure the brakes are fine without them, but the buffer the shims provide is certainly better.

I had posted about this a few weeks back:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=279659

mkorsu

I mentioned above that the pads INCLUDED shims. So, shims were used with the new pads.

iDrive

I'm 19 and should know how to change my brakes.. But for some reason I always zone out when I watch my dad do it lol. I've nvr seen him have to use any "special shim" or anything. He just replaced the pads with what I believe were Toyota brake pads and it works just fine.

92ES5sp

The rotors need to be resurfaced if they are within spec.
Spray Disc Brake Quiet by Permatex on the back of the pads. (On top of the shims)
Apply Anti seize or Silicone brake lube on all metal to metal points, and clean & lube the slide pins.
Id only use OEM brake pads & rotors, they have several shims on each pad to prevent noise. They are actually the best perfroming, quietest, and longest lasting for these cars. Ive still got the OE rotors on my 92 w/ 100K (Front brakes done twice, rears done once)

Cheap pads will always squeal and pulsate, especially after a pad slap or improper installation.

Parker Gen

I'd suggest OEM too, as you don't want to get the annoying squeeking sounds and all that other hassle.

mkorsu

Amazing that no one understands the point behind this post.


The dealer is telling someone that the repair should only be done AT the dealer because there are "special" shims that only a delaer can get!

This is a flat out lie and scares individuals into thinking they MUST go to the dealer for any repair.

Kohinoor

iTrader: (22)

dealer is lying to you to get your $$

SirSkrip

Sounds like the typical dealer talk to a woman who may not know much about cars...

We all know this is very common. To suggest its special and only the dealer can do it and get'em.. come on.

So I agree that its B/S the way he's telling her.

csaxon

There were 2 rotor designs for that car. Type B was the newer step design to stop the wobble and vibration that was common with the type A design. You probably needed the "special shim".

mkorsu

Would you like to buy a bridge? I have a nice one for sale connected to Manhattan.

There is no such animal - "special shim".