Lexus IS: Brake Pad Reviews

This article applies to the Lexus IS 250, IS 350 (2005-2014).

When it comes to stopping power, you'll want to rely on well built, track tested, low dust producing brake pads with a strong bite. With so many different styles and brands on the market, it can be hard to choose. Depending on your application, you might want a more aggressive brake pad. We'll walk you through the favorite options within the Lexus community.

We've organized this chart to be a quick overview of some of the most popular options for brakes in the Lexus Community. With brakes, their absolute performance in stopping the car is dependent on several factors, so we've evaluated in relation to the OEM units. Brake Dust will be less prominent on ceramic brake pads than organic pads in general. Brake life fluctuates wildly based on driving style, but typically sportier brake compounds won't last as long and will wear your rotors out more quickly. "Bite" is the initial feel from the brakes when the pedal is pressed. Whether you want this to be strong or not depends heavily on how smooth you want your braking to be.

Brake Pads

	OEM (Sewell)	Akebono	StopTech (Street)	Wagner	Hawk (Street)
Price per Pair	$70 front / $70 rear	$60 front / $50 rear	$85 front / $65 Rear	$60 front / $50 rear	$72 front / $72 rear
Brake Dust	Normal	None to Low	Normal	None to Low	Normal to High
Brake Life	30,000 miles	36,000 miles	10,000 - 12,000 miles	40,000 miles	30,000 miles
Bite	Normal	Normal	Strong	Comparable to OEM	Strong
Warranty	Manufacturer / 12,000 miles	3 years / 36,000 miles	90 days / 3,000 miles	Lifetime	Lifetime

OEM (Sewell)

Price - $70 front / $70 rear

Brake Dust - Normal

Brake Life - Averages 30,000 miles

Bite - Normal

Warranty - OEM Manufacturer warranty or every 12,000 miles

The general consensus on the Lexus forums advises that the stock pads supplied by the dealer are good. The ceramic version (low dust) produces less dust than the stock pads. With a Club Lexus discount, these are as affordable as some of the comparable brake pads available on the market today. Good mileage is gained from these pads as well. Recommended if you want a low-dust and low-noise brake.

Akebono

Price - $60 front / $50 rear

Brake Dust - None to Low

Brake Life - 36,000 miles or average 12,000 miles a year

Bite - Normal

Warranty - 3 years / 36,000 miles

The Akebono brake pad isn't far from being the favorite aftermarket pad in the ClubLexus community. Many think that Akebono sets the global standard for OEM ceramic brake pads. The added bonus with Akebono brake pads is that they come "pre-shimmed," meaning you don't have to grease and install brake shims separately. This part of the labor is already done for you, which can turn into some extra savings on labor or time if you're doing a DIY job. Recommended if you want a capable, carbon ceramic brake with great stopping power and minimal dust.

StopTech (Streets)

Price - $85 front / $65 rear

Brake Dust - Normal

Brake Life - 10,000 - 12,000 miles on average

Bite - Strong, noticeable improvement over stock

Warranty - 90 days / 3,000 miles

These are performance oriented street brake pads used frequently by IS-F owners. The forum's general consensus on these brake pads compares them as "better than stock." They are a good alternative for those who are looking for performance-oriented brake pads. They produce 30% less dust than stock pads. Multiple Lexus owners have advised noticeable improvement in brake bite and pedal feel. Recommended if you want a low-dust pad for track work.

Wagner

Price - $60 front / $50 rear

Brake Dust - None to Low

Brake Life - 40,000 miles

Bite - Comparable to OEM

Warranty - Lifetime

These pads are the best bang for their buck. They're priced relatively well and compare to stock brake pads and performance ceramic pads equally well. Forum members have attested to their use on several Lexus model platforms and definitely recommend them. IS-F owners have also found a brake pad made by Wagner, which is essentially the same exact Wagner ThermoQuiet pad. With long life, lifetime warranty, and little to no brake dust, these are definitely the Lexus owner's favorite. Recommended if you want a pad with long life, low dust, and OEM bite.

Hawk

Price - $72 front / $72 rear

Brake Dust - Normal to high

Brake Life - Comparable to OEM

Bite - Strong

Warranty - Lifetime

The general consensus on these pads is to use them on the track and advises against street use. OEM pads are suggested as an alternate to these performance-oriented pads. However, some have suggested using the Hawk HPS Ceramic pads, which could be used alternatively to OEM pads for daily use. These provide good results such as low-dust and stronger bite. These particular pads also come with a lifetime warranty. Recommended if you want to go racing.

Related Discussions

• Akebono Brake Pad Discussion - ClubLexus.com
• Wagner Brake Pad Recommendation - ClubLexus.com
• Brake Pad Discussion - ClubLexus.com