High Pitched Noise That Goes Away With Tap Of Break

[fishman]

I have a 2000 RX300. When we are driving if there is a high pitched noise (sounds like crickets chirping). When you simply tap the breaks, the noise stops. However, it kicks right back in as soon as you take your foot off the break. Although the noise is not very loud, it is driving me crazy. Lexus dealership is clueless on this one. Any ideas?

[lenore]

Sounds like the caliper slide pins are hanging up and the pads are not making firm connection with the disc, The calipers pads should be taken out and the two pins cleaned, inspected for wear, and lubed and put back together. Another cause could be the spring plates that locate the pads in the caliper are worn or broken. A good brake mechanic should spot this stuff easily. So much for LExus.

[jbarhorst2]

Or, it could be that your pads are ready for replacement. This could be the "scraper" that glides against the rotor when the pads get worn down. The noise indicates that the brakes are in need of replacement. That was what mine was. Make sure you check the rear pads too. Once I changed my pads, problem solved for another 50,000 miles.

Tom

[COZ]

I agree with jbar. Its the wear indicator, change your pads. If this has already been done then the wear indicator may be bent or damaged.

[Grumpa72]

As suggested, it could be the BRAKE wear indicators but it could also be a glazed over pad. I can't imagine the dealer not being able to pinpoint this. If your pads are of adequate thickness try pulling them out and sanding them lightly with a medium grit sand paper. Often, the pads will glaze over and start to squeal. All you want to do with the sandpaper is to break this glazing up.

Gary

[SW03ES]

Yep, thats the wear indicators built into the pads. Time for new pads.

[Grumpa72]

I agree with jbar. Its the wear indicator, change your pads. If this has already been done then the wear indicator may be bent or damaged.

I question whether or not it is the pads for two reasons: one, he said the dealer is "clueless on this" and two, most of my other cars continue to make noise even when you step on the brakes, when the pads are low. If the dealer can't figure it out, one must assume that they checked the pad thickness.

[fishman]

Wow. I appreciate everyone's responses. I guess I should have mentioned that I had both the front and rear breaks replaced about 12 months ago. I used Midas instead of Lexus (maybe I got what I paid for). I am sure it is not a matter of the pads being low, but perhaps a damaged wear indicator?

[mikey00]

Wow. I appreciate everyone's responses. I guess I should have mentioned that I had both the front and rear breaks replaced about 12 months ago. I used Midas instead of Lexus (maybe I got what I paid for). I am sure it is not a matter of the pads being low, but perhaps a damaged wear indicator?

Sure sounds like the wear indicator to me. Whenever I took pads down to the wear indiicator in the past it did exactly as you say and stopped the second I touched the brake pedal. But pads should not wear out in 12 months, unless you went 70K +. I thought Midas offered a lifetime warranty on pads, you may want to check.

[LEXIRX330]

Wow. I appreciate everyone's responses. I guess I should have mentioned that I had both the front and rear breaks replaced about 12 months ago. I used Midas instead of Lexus (maybe I got what I paid for). I am sure it is not a matter of the pads being low, but perhaps a damaged wear indicator?

Did you go back to Midas and ask why your Lexus is making noise now? If not, I think I would take it there since they worked on your SUV not Lexus :whistles: ...Has it been doing this long?

[Rx330driver]

12 months doesnt seem that long, i get my changed like everytime i go in for 5K tune up lol

[SW03ES]

I'd take it back to Midas since they did the brake work in the first place. The brake pads you find at Midas are much lower quality than the pads Lexus uses and are far more prone to thing like grinding and squealing. 12 months isn't unusual to need brakes though depending on how you drive.

The dealer being clueless doesn't neccisarily mean that the pads aren't the issue. I don't recal any Lexus I've ever been involved in having wear indicators when the brakes needed to be replaced. Every other car though I've experienced exactly what you're experiencing and it was the wear indicators. Maybe Lexus OEM pads don't have indicators like that and thats why the dealer is clueless.

Anyways I'd always use Toyota OEM pads even if someone else does the brakes.