Anyone else had this done? If so, at what mileage?

This part failed on our 2006 400h @ 125k miles.. had to pay out of pocket at the dealership in the tune of ~$3,000.. not too happy, but didn't want to mess around the brake system..

The part was about $2,200 plus labor, brake bleed, and tax totaled $3,000...

Checked with Toyota.. they wanted ~$3,200
Checked with couple of other Toyota specialists, but since this was a hybrid car, they didn't want to mess with it.

I know there are few posts around this topic, but most of the repairs were done at low mileage and under warranty. Reading posts on other hybrid forums, I guess this is not an uncommon failure. I don't think I can recommend this car after 80-90k miles or so...

Interestingly, our LS460 had the same issue with the brake actuators, but it was replaced under warranty. THANK GOD..

I am not saying a car needs to be bullet proof, but on a part that's "prone" to failing, I don't think it needs to be a ~$3,000 repair. I would've been okay with $500~$1,500, because **** happens.

 

Our old LX470 used a similar electric booster. I swapped the boost motor from a 4runner in it. If you pull the motor out you can also just replace the brushes and bearings.

 

We bought our 2007 Rx400h used with 80K miles on it 4 years ago. I remember the brakes making a faint chirping noise while waiting for a stoplight, but it didn't seem bad. A few years later, the faint chirping noise is a very noticeable noise (sounds like a barking seal) and there's a little vibration on the brake pedal while waiting at a stoplight with the brake pedal pressed. I'm going to try and bleed the brakes with my bootlegged Techstream, but I'm under the impression that the ABS actuator is the culprit. It hasn't affected drivability over the last 4 years, so I'm not inclined to throw down $2K-3K when the car is only worth about $12K now.

 

Sorry you had this issue. How often had you changed you brake fluid?

 

I got that I chirp too. Please let us know if the bleeding helped.
What does the ABS Actuator look like and did any one tried to DIY on it?

 

never.

 

How often should you change the fluid, anyone have a diy on this? This is the problem with this car, expensive components. I'm interest if your chirping goes away.

 

Brake fluid should be changed every 30k miles per manual. http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/do...HU_MS0010f.pdf I have changed mine 3 times in the past 120k miles and have no noises. I assume this gets neglected as the brakes generally don't need replacing until well past 100k miles.

 

Smassey321 do you have it flushed or do a turkey baster method. I know on Hybrid you need a scanner tool to actuate the brake actuator.....

 

Dealer did it the first time for around $100. 2nd and 3rd time I used the ebay techstream tool. It was easy as the tool gives you instructions for each step. The system can bleed one wheel circuit at a time. All electronically.

 

Smassey, Can you explain the process a little with the Techstream, do you hook a jar of fluid to the calliper,and open a valve? Did you use a Toyota fluid?. I have Techstream but have very little use with it.

 

If you hook up Techstream and go into the area that bleeds the brakes, the screens will show instructions of what to do. You can do this without hooking up the hose to see what I am talking about. It looks similar to this https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...re-system.html

Basically you hook up a hose into a jar. Press start on the screen and then it tells you what to do. Sometimes it wants you to press the brake pedal, sometimes it does it for you. I used Prestone Dot 4 that you can get at an auto parts store. 2 quarts did the trick.

 

Just received word from Lexus advisor, ABS Actuator is leaking. Dealership cost is $2,466 Labor is $480 and part is $1,834. I called O Reilly autoparts and cross referenced the part#'s 44050-48191 Actuator, Assy and they can't get the module. Trouble codes C1421 and C1391 were returned from the computer. What happens if i don't replace this? Is it just ABS not working at slow speeds, or at all speeds?

any other recs on how to fix?

 

It is more than just ABS, traction control and stability control. If it fails completely you will have no power brakes. Basically you have electrically boosted brakes now and if that fails you go into manual mode with no power brake assist. You will need to push down on the pedal pretty hard.

Are you thinking about DIY? The ebay Techstream has a bleed mode for full module replacement. Once you kick it off it tells you what to do step by step. The part can be purchased new for under $1200 on the internet. Used is around $900 so that probably is not worth the savings. Swapping it out does not look that difficult. Toyota has a service that gets you access to the service manual and you can pay by the day. That is what I would do.

 

My brakes are chirpping and squealing too when they are transitioning from regenerative to conventional braking. Dealer says its probably the brake actuators and that it'll set me back 2-3k. Has anyone done this replacement DYI with a techstream cable or taken apart the actuator and see if its repairable ?