Hi, first time on club, owner of a 1998 ES 300 and experiencing poor braking and steering wheel shaking when I brake, looks like time to change brake pads and rotors, do I need to change all 4 brake pads and rotors ? also whats the approximate cost I am looking at ? I live in Dallas, Texas.
I will appreciate help....

 

When you change brakes, you really only need to change the front brake pads/rotors.

Without know the car history, you probably wont need new rotors. If youre going to a shop, ask them to "turn" your front rotors and give you some new pads. Basically they put the rotors on a machine that cuts the lip/groove off and resurfaces it.

You shouldnt have to get new rotors, unless your rotors are really, really worn out. I changed my own brakes a couple of years ago and bought new rotors. My brake pads were worn down to the metal, but the rotors were still good with hardly any wear on them. I really wasted my money getting new rotors, so dont let anyone try to sale you new rotors, until theyre measured. Tell them to use a micrometer and measure the thickness.

Brakes are so cheap and a common repair, you should find a shop to do it for less than $200. Just go to midas or a big chain. Get new brake pads, and if ncessary have them turned, dont buy rotors.

And for the steering wheel shaking, have the wheels torqued down to 80ftlbs. The factory spec is 76, but I just torque to 80. Most shops use impact guns, and when wheel lug nuts are overtightened, you REALLY feel pulsation when braking, so torque all the wheels down to 76 or 80ftlbs.

 

just my 2cents, i think shaking/vibrations when braking, especially at high speeds mean a warped rotor, and i dont think you can fix it by 'turning' them, you need to buy new rotors.

 

I agree with this, if you plan on doing the work yourself which isn't very hard at all you'll save a quite a bit. I myself bought all 4 new brembo blank rotors and some Hawks HPS pads and for all 4 corners and spent around $300. check out tirerack.

 

they can be turned as long as there's still enough of the rotor left after being turned if that makes sense. I've had it done countless times with no problems at all. there really is no sense in buying all brand new rotors if you can just turn the old ones for about 10 a rotor.

 

I am not planning to do it myself, never worked on car before, definitely taking to local shop, is it worth taking to lexus dealership or will be too expensive ?

 

you can get a local shop to do it. its probably much cheaper that way.

 

didnt know that, i recently replaced all 4 rotors on my car cause the fronts were both warped, didnt know the origin of the rotors that were already on (used car) so i didnt both trying to them turned because the rotor conditions were horrible.

learned something new

 

Thank you all... appreciate your help...
I am thinking of getting car tinted. can someone suggest me a good place in dallas and what will be the approximate cost for tinting ?