Depending on how many miles you have on your brakes, the bigger problem is likely pads and rotor wear. Given that I know you like to drive 'spiritedly' you may have just worn your brakes down which won't get fixed with steel lines.

How many miles do you have on your current pads and rotors?

 

Lexus dealer said they still had 70% of pad left. And rotors were replaced when I got the car about 16,000 miles ago.

I was going to do pads and rotors but with this TC coming into my life I redirected some money to get that. If the brakelines don't work I'll be looking into getting new pads and rotors.

Brakelines are getting put on this morning so we will know in a few hours.

Thanks for the advice
Ivan
3dog

 

Bit,
How long did you run 'em like that. While more clamping force in the front brakes is good and you may not feel any problems. Anytime you mod like this, you change the way the system is designed to work. You compromised the ballance designed between the front and rear brakes. Your obviously more willing to take a risk more than industry standards would allow. I'm just glad it turned out o.k. for you.
Will

 

well basically he's not putting as much pressure in the front as that in the back?

 

Well, I know this is just anecdotal, but I figured I should pass this along. Your mileage (brakeage ) may vary.

I had stock brakes all around for about 40K miles. Then I put the huge StopTech front brake package on (14" lightweight rotors, 4 pot lightweight calipers, Axxis Ultimate pads, and steel braided lines). I *LOVED* the brake performance this upgrade provided but OCCASIONALLY, I'd press the brake pedal and see a slight 'hesitation' before the brakes engaged, which MAYBE (and I'm *NO* expert on this) was due to having steel lines in front and not in the rear. It could also have been due to the aggressive pads up front and stock pads at the back maybe. The reason I mention this is because recently I 'downgraded' the front pads to Axxis MetalMasters (to get rid of the insane dust and squeaks of the ultimates) and I put steel lines in back, and MetalMasters in back with new stock sized Brembo rotors there. So now I have the same kind of pads all around and steel lines all around. And ya know what? No dust and squeaks which is great, but also NO occasional 'hesitation' ever - it's perfect now. I am THRILLED.

Anyway, it's just one anecdote I know, but I thought I'd share.

 

After reading all the posts, it sounds like it would be best if ss lines were installed on both front and rear. Another couple hunderd more for ss in rear's won't hurt me. Its a Lexus not a Yugo, so may as well do it right.

 

Goodrich Brakelines cost me $110 thru Carson Toyota.
That is for front and rear lines. They come that way in one package.

Install takes an hour to an hour and a half.

It will not add up to several hundred more to do the rear. It will be around $220 - $250 total for the Brakelines and the labor.

This is for an independent shop charging $75 an hour labor.

If you have it done at a dealer you can add at least $20 an hour to that.
3dog

 

3Dog,
How did your SS brakelines install come out? Do the brakes feel better? That's a pretty good price on the lines. Those good deals just seem to be coming out of nowhere for you huh? He he he

Rheiy,
I recommend you call Steve at Carson for those SS brakelines. Good luck!

Bit,
Thanks for sharing Bud.

Henry,
The reason for SS brakelines is to eliminate the tendency for the rubber lines to expand during brake applications. This would cause you to have more pressure in front, not less. I don't know if you just got it mixed up or not. Hope this helps.

Will

 

actually around 100 bucks for the set of goodridge lines for front and back, that's pretty standard for the gs applications. i say that's pretty much like the market price

 

Will,
My brakes are better. But not as good as I was hoping for. They had some pin they could not get unstuck. It has a dust boot on one end so they were afraid to heat it. They are trying to locate some part and will finish the job (hopefully) tomorrow when I take the car in to get the TC put on.


Henry,
I saw these Brake lines in price all the way up to $169 when I was shopping for them.



Tomorrow is coming and I can hardly wait.





3dog

 

damn that's expensive. as long as you have a good deal now, that's all you need

 

Thanks. I'm going to be needing front brakes soon and I will most likely use the Lexus dealer. They replaced my rear brakes about 8 months ago and told me the front had about 40% left. I would consider an independent shop if I knew upfront they were competent. Like good doctors, good repair shops are hard to find. I have a buddy who used an independent shop and he ended up with a real mess. Long story short, he ended up going to the dealer to get ihis brakes fixed right.

 

Just got back with my rebuilt caliper. Brakes are much better. Really cut down on the amount of brake travel and the brakes feel really solid.

I'll update tomorrow as I haven't really got to drive the car much.

Oh yes got the Torqueconverter and the Tranny Cooler installed too. Car really takes off. Much easier to drive than I imagined.

3dog

 

I had to dremel out the mount points which was a pain because the dremel I bought for the job was broken out of box, and I returned it, my dremel knock off from pep boys is better, hell it lasted a year, and I fixed it recently still needs a new chuck

anyhow
it took us with blead and full system flush about 4 hrs, and that was with one persons help, 4 jack stands on my driveway.
did it in an hour on a chasis lift, and had a hand pump and no dremel required