rk1972

New pads without turning rotors? Money is an issue at this time due to medical expenses not covered by Medicare. How terrible is installing new ceramic pads on cleaned but not turned/machined rotors. The rotors are not badly grooved. I know new rotors and pads are optimum, but with the front pads at 2/32, I need to address the brakes right now. Thank you in advance for your advice and comments.

JeffKeryk

Is there any pulsation or noise now? How many miles on the current rotors?
You might check RockAuto or Amazon. Amazon sometimes has returns that offer great prices.
Check local shops for turning your existing rotors; maybe $25 apiece...

Or just pad slap it and see what happens. Good luck.

rk1972

Thank you. No current vibration. I did not realize there was a front brake issue until I had a mirror repair at the Lexus dealer on Friday. They did a "safety check" in addition to the warranty mirror motor repair. Good suggestions.

Riptide711

I went to local brake and muffler shop and had new pads installed. I had 39,000 miles on the odometer and did not have any problems before or after. Paid $105 for ceramic pads. did not turn the rotors...

rk1972

22,000 miles on original rotors with 1 pad replacement at 12k.

JeffKeryk

22K is nothing. I would hit them with some emory to break any glaze and pad slap 'em.
The brakes in these cars are easy. If your car is an F Sport, I would only use the factory pads to minimize the chance of squeal.

rk1972

I just went to a local highly rated shop where i was quoted $150 for ceramic Bosch pads and cleaning rotors. The Lexus dealer said "About $550 to turn rotors and replace pads." Of course the dealer would drop off a Lexus loaner and return when complete. That is a really nice service, but not $400 worth of nice. Thank you all for your feedback. I'm 75 and will probably keep my GS350 AWD for another decade or until I can no longer drive. I looked for a new car a few months ago, nothing I drove made me want to replace my GS. I drove a 2021 ES Hybrid, really disappointed in the quality of the interior.

bladest

If i am at your place since i am on rent and on loans , i will drive untill my brake pads are completely gone or at least when i hear the accoustic signals, its a waste of money to change good brake pads if they have life inside them.

marjenmill

When I change my brakes on any of my cars, unless there is an issue with the rotor (e.g. warped/pulsing brake) or the rotor is too thin (beyond spec), then I just leave the rotors alone and only change the pads. To me, turning rotors is a waste of time, money and only wears them down faster. Never an issue in all the years I've been doing it.

JeffKeryk

Since "hybrids" are in vogue today, I would buy factory pads and shims from Lexus and take them to your mechanic. Just my 2 cents...
Good luck.

Knucklebus

As mentioned, if you aren't having any braking issues beyond worn out pads, I would visually inspect them, hit them with some brake cleaner to make sure they are free of any oil/grease and slap new pads on them.

As long as they don't show any deep grooves or cracks, I find new pads will wear into the old rotor pretty quickly. I've replaced just pads on everything (and several of my dad's, mom's and daughter's cars) in this manner. To date, I've bought exactly 4 rotors in 40 years of wrenching on my own stuff. Two of those rotors were the 2003 Tundra that were warped so bad that turning to the max still left one side with no turn marks whatsoever. The other two were for my mom's car. She came to visit and I could see through the wheels the deep gouges in her rear rotors on her Honda CR-V. I wouldn't let her leave until I put new pads (turns out all the way around) and two new rotors on the back.