2003 Lexus LS430 brakes
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
2003 Lexus LS430 brakes
I bought my 2003 Lexus LS430 from my brother about five years ago. It has always bothered me that the brakes feel soft and go further towards the floor than I would like, but the mechanic at the place that specializes in Lexus and a few other expensive cars said they were okay. I can't ask my brother his opinion, as only his wife drove the car and she has passed away.
Of course, if the brakes were actually bad I would have had an accident by now. But they make me nervous.
I wrote this off as due to my having driven a car with no power brakes for decades (1969 Mustang.)
But this week I drove a rental car for several days and didn't even think about the brakes. Then I got into my Lexus with its soft near the floor brakes and the little voice in my head said The brakes are failing.
So it isn't a power brakes no power brakes thing.
Is this something a mechanic can adjust? I asked them when I brought it in for this problem originally, but either they said no or I forgot to follow up. I mostly cared that the brakes weren't dangerous. They are annoying, though.
Thanks.
Of course, if the brakes were actually bad I would have had an accident by now. But they make me nervous.
I wrote this off as due to my having driven a car with no power brakes for decades (1969 Mustang.)
But this week I drove a rental car for several days and didn't even think about the brakes. Then I got into my Lexus with its soft near the floor brakes and the little voice in my head said The brakes are failing.
So it isn't a power brakes no power brakes thing.
Is this something a mechanic can adjust? I asked them when I brought it in for this problem originally, but either they said no or I forgot to follow up. I mostly cared that the brakes weren't dangerous. They are annoying, though.
Thanks.
#2
Several things can attribute to this, a bad master cylinder, seized pistons in the calipers, ****ty pads, ****ty rotors, dirty fluids. I mean best thing to do is get your brakes replaced, and if there was a sticky piston you'd know it. Also flush the fluid completely and make sure there's no air in there. My brakes feel good, I own BMWs and Benz with huge brakes and the LS brakes are not too far behind.
#3
Moderator
I worry that the ABS unit has some trapped air inside. This needs to use the Techstream to bleed as is posted here.
#5
Instructor
I bought my 2003 Lexus LS430 from my brother about five years ago. It has always bothered me that the brakes feel soft and go further towards the floor than I would like, but the mechanic at the place that specializes in Lexus and a few other expensive cars said they were okay. I can't ask my brother his opinion, as only his wife drove the car and she has passed away.
Of course, if the brakes were actually bad I would have had an accident by now. But they make me nervous.
I wrote this off as due to my having driven a car with no power brakes for decades (1969 Mustang.)
But this week I drove a rental car for several days and didn't even think about the brakes. Then I got into my Lexus with its soft near the floor brakes and the little voice in my head said The brakes are failing.
So it isn't a power brakes no power brakes thing.
Is this something a mechanic can adjust? I asked them when I brought it in for this problem originally, but either they said no or I forgot to follow up. I mostly cared that the brakes weren't dangerous. They are annoying, though.
Thanks.
Of course, if the brakes were actually bad I would have had an accident by now. But they make me nervous.
I wrote this off as due to my having driven a car with no power brakes for decades (1969 Mustang.)
But this week I drove a rental car for several days and didn't even think about the brakes. Then I got into my Lexus with its soft near the floor brakes and the little voice in my head said The brakes are failing.
So it isn't a power brakes no power brakes thing.
Is this something a mechanic can adjust? I asked them when I brought it in for this problem originally, but either they said no or I forgot to follow up. I mostly cared that the brakes weren't dangerous. They are annoying, though.
Thanks.
#6
This seems to be a pretty touchy braking system as far as bleeding the air out goes. I did a brake system flush and accidentally introduced some air into the system when I ran the reservoir dry, and I had no luck getting it out with the usual methods. Had a local Toyota/Lexus specialist do the tech stream bleed and all was back to normal afterwards.
You may try a second opinion, as some shops seems to say "meh, it's good enough" and send you on your way. My dad was having a bunch of fabrication work done on his old 78 Landcruiser, and after he got it back, the brake pedal would sink to the floor slowly due to a bad master cylinder. I pointed it out the next time he brought it back and they argued with me till they were blue in the face that it wasn't an issue. Ended up ordering a new master cylinder and just replaced it myself.
You may try a second opinion, as some shops seems to say "meh, it's good enough" and send you on your way. My dad was having a bunch of fabrication work done on his old 78 Landcruiser, and after he got it back, the brake pedal would sink to the floor slowly due to a bad master cylinder. I pointed it out the next time he brought it back and they argued with me till they were blue in the face that it wasn't an issue. Ended up ordering a new master cylinder and just replaced it myself.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bagwell
Suspension and Brakes
23
03-18-06 10:01 AM