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Disclaimer. I recommend that you use the service of a qualified shop for any servicing of your vehicle. If you choose to work on your own vehicle, I am NOT responsible for any damages that is caused in the process that may result in damage to your vehicle or injury to yourself. I am NOT a mechanic, and am NOT advising anyone to follow my methods or directions. These are simply opinions of my own, and should NEVER replace that of a qualified and certified technician.
So, myself like a lot of people on the forum have been suffering from the obnoxious brake squeal problem on the front brakes of RWD GS350 FSports. I've tried almost everything, and finally gave up made the decision to go back to complete OEM as it is the least of all evils. My current setup is OEM 1-Piece with Akebono Ceramic Pads. They squeal nasty from 5mph to a stop. Every stop light, every stop. Gets worse when temps get into the 30s.
I went to the dealership to get a new set of OEM pads, with the intention of resurfacing my rotors and start with a fresh set of pads. I gave them part #04465-30491 for the pads. The parts adviser told me there is a TSB available which lists an updated set of pads due to the squealing complaints. The new part # is 04465-30540. The TSB shows dated 1/9/2020, so it looks to be a recent release. I've got a copy of the TSB posted below. I had to take a picture of it with my phone because I couldn't find a digital copy online anywhere. So I'm crossing my fingers, and hope this will do the trick. I also got a new set of shims. These shims look really beefy, they have a layer of rubber (i think) on the side that makes contact withe the pad. I'll go ahead and swap these in tomorrow and report back.
Part #s and what I paid: Pads Set 04465-30540 $77
Shim Kit 04945-30340 $18
Thanks for the new part #. Let us know how it goes I might just buy these pads to try out. Is that for the front only do you have part number for the rear?
Thanks for the new part #. Let us know how it goes I might just buy these pads to try out. Is that for the front only do you have part number for the rear?
It is only for the front. I have not read a single comment about problems with the rear brakes yet. Sorry, not much help on that.
At this point, I'd trade all the brake dust just to have quiet brakes.
So confused. If it’s a TSB why did you pay anything?
Because I already swapped the pads out for Akebonos. They would have done a test drive, and then have them pull it out to show that they aren't OEM pads. Then I'd be wasting several hours to try save $100. The likelihood of them giving me the replacement for free is 50/50 at best because I don't have the original pads in there. But then I'd have to sacrifice a couple of hours just to have them look at it. $100 bucks for new pads and shim kit is completely fair to me.
I got up early this morning, had the rotors off the car by 7:30 and dropped off to get resurfaced. I got them back by 9:30 and everything back on the car by 10:30. Went for a 30 minute test drive and bed-in. The new pads feel good, bite is good, not too harsh, but definitely more grippy than the Akebonos previously on the car. I'll continue to track this and report back with result through the next 5,000-10,000 miles. Wish me luck, hope this solves the squeal.
It would be interesting to learn exactly what the difference is between the previous (#04465-30491) brake pad and the new (#04465-30540) brake pad in terms of pad composition, as well as the pad's mounting plate and dimensions.
It would be interesting to learn exactly what the difference is between the previous (#04465-30491) brake pad and the new (#04465-30540) brake pad in terms of pad composition, as well as the pad's mounting plate and dimensions.
I don't have the original 30491 to compare, but it looks like there are no differences in the physical dimensions (backing plate, fitment, etc). I can only hope the pad composition has been revised. Honestly, I don't really give a damn how they did it. I just hope it works. If I can get another 20K miles out of this rotor and these pads squeal free, I'd be pretty stoked.
I don't have the original 30491 to compare, but it looks like there are no differences in the physical dimensions (backing plate, fitment, etc). I can only hope the pad composition has been revised. Honestly, I don't really give a damn how they did it. I just hope it works. If I can get another 20K miles out of this rotor and these pads squeal free, I'd be pretty stoked.
Wishing you (and all others that give the new pad a try) all the best that it is squeal-free...