Both 2013 and 2014 LS460 Brake Actuator failures + Detailed Info

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02-29-24 | 08:26 AM

#31

Dave144239

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2015

Posts: 771

Likes: 216

From: NJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckyle909

Hi Johnny Biscuits,
I have a 2012 LS460 and I am having brake actuator issue. Lexus is refusing to fix it for me under warranty. Can you please kindly look up that bulletin you mention for me so I can take it to the dealership. Appreciate you help.
Ckyle909

You're past the ten-year warranty for the brake actuator. It expires ten years after the in-service date of your car.

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10-13-24 | 08:58 AM

#32

jbtvt

Driver

Joined: Mar 2015

Posts: 68

Likes: 8

From: NH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aegean

Lexus/Toyota should provide an extended warranty on actuators as these are failing in several models. I suspect there are several reasons that they fail.

The brake fluid replacement maintenance is very complicated, needs 2 people and is very risky to create codes and issues. I suspect that sometimes dealers and other mechanics just replace the fluid on the reservoir and call it a day. Many advisors avoid writing brake fluid changes since they can not charge much and it is time consuming and a risky procedure. When we do DIY, not only we need a second person but we running risks of losing communication with Techstream, depleting the battery, having codes and or somehow manage to leave air in the system. Bottom line very few vehicles have replaced properly brake fluid every 30 months. For example on 2014 the fluid should be already replaced 3 times.
The Toyota DOT 3 fluid appears inadequate as actuators are failing. They seriously need to upgrade to the lower viscosity DOT 5.1 not only for max temperatures but more importantly for anti corrosion and lubricating properties.
The actuator and brake system needs to be redesigned so the brake fluid changing is straight forward for the average mechanic and actually being completed.

DOT 5.1 is more hygroscopic than even DOT 4, which itself is more hygroscopic than DOT 3. Given that the issues with this system arise from people not bleeding their brakes frequently or completely enough to avoid system contamination even when using 3, switching to 5.1 would almost certainly result in much higher rates of failure. I went back to 3 after using 4 for years and experiencing many caliper and other issues across several vehicles. Unless someone is taking their vehicle to the racetrack regularly there is no reason to use anything other than 3. It would be good if you would delete or update this, so others don't make the same mistake I did years ago and think they're getting better performance, much less increasing longevity, when in fact the opposite is true. Perhaps you meant DOT 5, but that cannot be used with ABS systems.

Regarding point 3, the easier an ABS system is to service, the lower performance it is. The early 90's systems were bulletproof but anyone who's driven one wouldn't want to go back. By 1998 the system was similar to what's in use today in at least some Lexus and those too were prone to failure.

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