LWR Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 We just had the 40000KM service on our 2001 LS430 and were quite astounded to hear that its rotors were under specification and had to be replaced.New pads front and rear were expected but front rotors too? Is this normal on a 430? Our '97 LS400 has 75000KM on the clock and still has the original rotors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper_daddy Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 We just had the 40000KM service on our 2001 LS430 and were quite astounded to hear that its rotors were under specification and had to be replaced.New pads front and rear were expected but front rotors too? Is this normal on a 430? Our '97 LS400 has 75000KM on the clock and still has the original rotors. there are a lot more experienced fellas with this car and imports, but that doesn't sound right even for a domestic vehicle. unless something was really out of wack, tires, suspension? you might want to do a search on the forum. also is it the fronts and rears? or just fronts? check out this really long thread....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nc211 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Well gosh, I'm flattered that you would recommend that thread sapper-daddy. I would figure your front rotors life span would depend on your driving style...but...I would also say that you would wear out your pads long before you would wear out your rotors. Have you had your rotors turned a bunch of times already? If you're still on your original pads, then I SERIOUSLY doubt your rotors are bad. Let me guess....you had this service done at your local Lexus dealership?? To give you an idea on rotor life. My car has 110k miles on it, it's 11 years old. At 103k miles I finally replaced the ORIGINAL rotors, and my car has had a hard city driving life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKperformance Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Anything is possible when it comes to brakes. Unless it is less than 2 years since the the last service then it is normal wear and tear. I change my wife's brakes every 8 months , i only change mine once on all my cars. I also do lots of highway and avoid traffic like the plaque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KY350 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 We just had the 40000KM service on our 2001 LS430 and were quite astounded to hear that its rotors were under specification and had to be replaced.New pads front and rear were expected but front rotors too? Is this normal on a 430? Our '97 LS400 has 75000KM on the clock and still has the original rotors. Have a close look at the front brake rotors. If you can see a 1mm lip on the outer circumference of the rotor, then it is out of spec. If the edge of the rotor is flush with the rotor face, then the rotor is fine and Lexus may be attempting to fleece you. Where abouts in Aust are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LWR Posted January 19, 2006 Author Share Posted January 19, 2006 We just had the 40000KM service on our 2001 LS430 and were quite astounded to hear that its rotors were under specification and had to be replaced.New pads front and rear were expected but front rotors too? Is this normal on a 430? Our '97 LS400 has 75000KM on the clock and still has the original rotors. Have a close look at the front brake rotors. If you can see a 1mm lip on the outer circumference of the rotor, then it is out of spec. If the edge of the rotor is flush with the rotor face, then the rotor is fine and Lexus may be attempting to fleece you. Where abouts in Aust are you? We just had the 40000KM service on our 2001 LS430 and were quite astounded to hear that its rotors were under specification and had to be replaced.New pads front and rear were expected but front rotors too? Is this normal on a 430? Our '97 LS400 has 75000KM on the clock and still has the original rotors. Have a close look at the front brake rotors. If you can see a 1mm lip on the outer circumference of the rotor, then it is out of spec. If the edge of the rotor is flush with the rotor face, then the rotor is fine and Lexus may be attempting to fleece you. Where abouts in Aust are you? Thanks everybody for the quick replies.My father drives it very carefully and there's definitely no track work going on here! The original rotors looked fine to us and our independent mechanic who sprecialises in M-B and other German cars.He was very surprised too. We live in Brisbane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 If this is the first time the factory original pads have been changed on the vehicle then it would be extremely unusual for the rotors to be worn too thin already. I'd get another shop to measure the rotors and I'd bet money they are only 15-40% worn. Or you can measure the rotor thickness yourself using a hardware store micrometer or vernier caliper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nc211 Posted January 19, 2006 Share Posted January 19, 2006 I agree with Monarch . Sounds like someone was trying to "sell you" something that you don't need. Brisbane.....be flying through there in a few months on my way to Sydney for vacation...Bad Joke Ahead Alert!!!! "...knife? that's not a knife.....this is a knife!" Dundee baby...Dundee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KY350 Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 We live in Brisbane. OK, I'm in Sydney and if you were here, I would have recommended an independant mechanic (he owned LS400 and SC430) to see about the rotors. Anyway, sounds like Lexus changed your rotors already, so there's nothing you can do now. Next time, tell Lexus to call you if any work outside of a handbook service is required. Then you can instruct them not to change the rotors and you can get an independant shop to check the rotors - just incase the dealership was trying to rip you off. BTW, my other car is a 350Z. I read about another 350Z owner that was quoted $5,800 to replace all rotors and pads by his Nissan dealer after just 30,000km. After having the brakes checked by a speciallist brake shop, he was advised that just the front pads needed changing - total cost $250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LWR Posted January 21, 2006 Author Share Posted January 21, 2006 We live in Brisbane. OK, I'm in Sydney and if you were here, I would have recommended an independant mechanic (he owned LS400 and SC430) to see about the rotors. Anyway, sounds like Lexus changed your rotors already, so there's nothing you can do now. Next time, tell Lexus to call you if any work outside of a handbook service is required. Then you can instruct them not to change the rotors and you can get an independant shop to check the rotors - just incase the dealership was trying to rip you off. BTW, my other car is a 350Z. I read about another 350Z owner that was quoted $5,800 to replace all rotors and pads by his Nissan dealer after just 30,000km. After having the brakes checked by a speciallist brake shop, he was advised that just the front pads needed changing - total cost $250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadcutter Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 We live in Brisbane. OK, I'm in Sydney and if you were here, I would have recommended an independant mechanic (he owned LS400 and SC430) to see about the rotors. Anyway, sounds like Lexus changed your rotors already, so there's nothing you can do now. Next time, tell Lexus to call you if any work outside of a handbook service is required. Then you can instruct them not to change the rotors and you can get an independant shop to check the rotors - just incase the dealership was trying to rip you off. BTW, my other car is a 350Z. I read about another 350Z owner that was quoted $5,800 to replace all rotors and pads by his Nissan dealer after just 30,000km. After having the brakes checked by a speciallist brake shop, he was advised that just the front pads needed changing - total cost $250. LWR; $5,800.00???.......... I say we all take up a collection for this guy......You know, "Biggest Minerals" award..... Wow, I'm still shaking my head. That Stealer is something else . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW03ES Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 Typically a Lexus brake job includes replacing the rotors as a matter of course, I'm sure this is why they did it and they probably were fine. Lexus reccomends that dealers replace rotors rather than resurface them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sha4000 Posted January 22, 2006 Share Posted January 22, 2006 either your rotors were defective or i smell the dealership doing what they do best, trying to make you spend more than you have to spend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LWR Posted January 24, 2006 Author Share Posted January 24, 2006 either your rotors were defective or i smell the dealership doing what they do best, trying to make you spend more than you have to spend [/quot Thanks everybody.Strangely enough,we were not shown the rotors............ What gets us is that we have had many high performance cars from Germany and Italy and not one has required rotors anywhere near as early as the 430. They needed to be replaced as a 'safety procedure'. Might be time to check out a CLS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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