Skier76

I brought my IS250 in to have the rear rotors and pads replaced. The car is just under 100k for mileage and the rotors and pads were most likely original. Got the word that the calipers were seized and needed to be replaced. Anyone else had this issue? I've done some reading and it seems some earlier IS250's had caliper issues, but Lexus allegedly updated the design.

I had the work done and the car brakes much better. Just wish I knew the calipers were cooked and I would have provided my own; just like I did for the pads and rotors. Even at a Toyota dealer, the price was high.

Tungstn-IS

Yes, this is a very common issue. There is only one bolt on the caliper, the bottom one is a blind pin. They have rubber boots intended to keep moisture out and hold grease in, but they still seem to eventually dry out and seize up causing the caliper to not be able to slide. In some cases they can be loosened up and separated, then cleaned, regreased and put back together. I doubt any shop would fool with that though, like you mentioned, they will just want to replace them.

Also worth noting, if the rear calipers were seized then they should not have been able to install the new rear pads as the caliper won't retract to fit the thicker unworn pad back in without forcing them.

smitty2919

I had the same problem on my wife's 06 250 with 102k mi. EVERY slider pin was seized and needed cleaned/re greased. A front slider pin was SO rusted that it snapped off inside the caliper bracket.

That means the calipers would not self align themselves under braking. My wife mentioned the IS brakes were worse than her 06 accord...for a ~$40K car new surly the braking system would be pretty good...maybe so if the calipers were functioning properly lol.

Still may toss on some Hawk HPS pads.

XSV

iTrader: (1)

Yes, it has happened to me on my 08 IS250; however, they were able to salvage the caliper. It also happened on one of the 06 IS350 rear caliper I purchased, there was rust all inside the caliper where the slider pin goes in and also inside of the piston. I am in the process of rebuilding the 06 IS250 calipers, probably would have been cheaper to buy new ones.

Zmon

iTrader: (2)

A reman'd caliper only ran me $80, they're not hard at all to DIY. Had one of my rears go bad on my 350 when I did my brakes/rotors a few months ago. Fronts appeared to be fine, and the other rear caliper appeared to be fine.

Just a common problem with these cars, it's just a poor design.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

Happened to me on my IS350. Even the dealership did the TSIB on them and replaced the boots for the "new, redesigned" ones...didn't help. Replaced with new, OEM calipers. Good to go!

Skier76

Thanks everyone. Glad to know it's more of a common issue. Just with I had known about it beforehand and I would have purchased the calipers and had the Toyota dealer do the work. When you're there and the brakes are half apart, you're pretty much captive audience.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Caught the two rear ones on my 2008 right before they got bad, now its just become standard practice for me to clean and regrease every slider pin on all my cars when I put the snow tires on, and again when I take them off. Grease is cheaper than a caliper ha

jjc250

Happened on my 250 as well. I free the pins and greased them and thought they're good to go but no! The piston was seized as well! Bye bye $800...

TakaM

Yup..happened on my 2007 IS250, despite the fact I had the recall for the "updated boot" done immediately after the notice came out. I complained (very professionally) that their "recall" solution really didn't solve anything and I shouldn't have to pay for their failed solution. Lexus/Dealer ended up replacing both rear calipers without any cost out of my pocket. It's worth a shot to negotiate.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

^I tried the same thing. But my request was denied by Corp. Probably because I wasn't the owner at the time that TSIB was performed. Oh well. Since I've only put less than $1k into the car in "fixes", it's still been the most reliable car I've ever owned. LOL!

See5

In my case the mechanic broke the steel bolt while trying to open it.

Bought a set of a reman'd rear calipers. Can't return cores though because in my case shipping charge is over $150

In your case it will cost around $160 for a pair with cores returned.

gustervon

Can anyone provide some information on greasing and maintaining a caliber?

Tungstn-IS

I just clean the slide pins and the bore they fit in with a soft wire brush, inspect the condition of the rubber boots and pack them full of synthetic grease every so often to keep them in check. Of course we don't have snow, salt or anything else down here so it's probably a random interval for me. Basically whenever I think about it. Of course doing it based on season is probably an easy reminder if you change to snow tires, since 90% of the work involved is just jacking up the car and removing the wheels.

Sfrt