How are your front pads holding up? Our 43,000 mile 06 RX400h's pads are still okay, although I haven't taken a good look at them in many months. My 2700-lb Mazda's front pads lasted 36,000 miles, so I am very happy that a vehicle that weighs in at 4700 lbs can be still using the OEM pads after 43,000 miles.

Dave

48,000 on the 400h, no brake repair or problems, dealer thinks i have another 10,000 miles left before brake job

According to a couple of magazine reviews, brake pad life expectancy is supposedly over 100,000 miles. Time will tell.

Tom

I'll buy that easily enough, as our 400h has over 40K & the front pads hardly look worn. If only the original tires (prior to the new Michelins) would have held up 1/2 as well.

Wow! That's good news. I just spent the most of my Saturday afternoon changing front and rear pads on my Mazda (the rear caliper pistons must be rotated into the cylinder bore using needlenose pliers - a time-consuming process). Having the factory service manual helps, but most of the procedure is common sense stuff. The next time I rotate the RX400h's tires, I'll take a better look at its calipers to see if this is something I'll tackle, myself. The last thing I'd want to see is popping spring clips or other hard-to-reassemble components.

I think the RX has a drum type parking brake built into the rear disc, so you won't have to worry about rotating the piston like on the Mazda (and other vehicles that use the caliper for the parking brake).

In the future, there is a tool you can use instead of fiddling around with needle nose pliers. Here's one - http://www.carparts.com/Brake-Tools/GP_200...22206_10618.car and here's a cheaper one - http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-Caliper-Pi...757561/10002/-1.

I've used both - they both work, but the expensive one is much easier to use, especially if the caliper/piston is older and doesn't move too freely.

There was a time when the auto parts chains had brake tool kits that they loaned out (with a deposit) if you purchased their brake parts. They may still but I have not done a brake job in quite a few years.

Tom

Just had Lexus check my brake pads and there is 7mm (70%) remaining on front as rear after 45K mi of not so gentel driving habbits. I get 21mpg because of my driving style.

I know the first one would work, but the second one may not clear the front side of the caliper. Still, I have to admit that I would've never thought those tools were available. The good news is that my last brake job lasted 9+ years. Somehow, I doubt I'll have that 1989 Mazda that long. Maybe some day I'll replace it with an MX-5 (Miata)!



Thanks, Tom; I probably should've asked when I was there (at the auto parts store) to buy the pads.



Fantastic news! I'll bet few RX350 owners can't wait that long before replacing their brake pads!

I was told by the dealer that because of the regenerative braking system, the brake pads are only used at speeds below 10 mph. This results in extremely long brake pad life for the 400h over other non-hybrid RXs.

Changed my front pads at about 70,000 miles.

Ron

Do you still have them? Did you measure the remaining pad thickness?

If my wear is any indication (approx 3mm per 45,000 mi) the pads on an RX400 should go to over 130K with 10% remaining.

I guess the pads' wear rate is directly related to the driving environment, since someone who travels more often in the city will most likely wear out their pads faster (fewer miles) than would a highway traveler.

I have 87000 miles on my 400H and hardly any wear. Looking forward to maybe 130 to 150K before changing. My driving style is equal in city and Hwy driving. Currently the overall mileage average is at 26.6 mpg, with the best I ever got was 32 mpg and the worse driving like I stoled it was 22 mpg.

I recently did all 4 brakes(and rotors) on my 2006 RX400h.... 72,000 miles.

My guess (from experience ... and from that of other hybrid drivers I've asked) is that pad wear is more related to driving "style" ... than highway vs "stop & go"-city driving environment. After all ... even in a regular ICE car, if you simply coast up to the red lights (anticipatory driving) in the city ... or drive slower on the freeway/highway where you don't have to brake for others in front of you ... then your breaks wear less. Now, put re-gen into that equation, and the anticipatory driver simply doesn't use the brakes as much.

btw, the pad & caliper maintenance is laid out in the pdf up in the sticky of this forum. Gawd ... I think it took me the better part of a day to blend all those pdf's into one giant adobe doc. Once again, a sincere "thank-you" dcfish, for those files

...somewhat true, but you have to admit that you are far more likely to have to apply the brakes, hard in the city (due to sudden yellow traffic lights and crazy motorists) than you are on a typical highway drive. I'm convinced that most of my brake pad wear originates in the city, especially since that's where all the steep hills are!

Dave

Just changed the original pads on my RX300 after 150,000 miles.

I know you don't care! I am lurking, testing the 400h waters, and couldn't resist.

Yes, and it never rains in Texas, either........

What was the first time you changed them?

Tom

That's it. I'm the original owner. First time @ 150k.