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Crazy Brake Prices!!!! WTF

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57K views 73 replies 43 participants last post by  lowrider  
#1 ·
So, I just found out that my front brakes squeak like hell because they need to be replaced. The car only has 8600 miles on it and is 8 months old and apparently I have almost no brakes left, keep in mind I do not drive crazy..... My service guy quoted me on new brake pads and rotors for the front at $1300 with a discount because im a good customer... Normally should be around 1500-1700.... Is this normal? Im thinking about getting rid of the F just because he told me I will need to change the brakes every 8-10 months. That's insane!!!!!!!! Am I getting raped? Any info would help, especially if you've changed your brakes already.... THANKS
 
#2 ·
#3 ·
I'm at 21K and mine are still good... I'll probably have yo replace them on my next oil change
 
#9 ·
Unk, I was in the same situation a couple months back. On my 10k service they told me my front brakes were gone and need to be replaced along with rotors. The price quoted was also identical at $1300 w/labor. I also though I was being raped! but had given the ok before I found out most people haven't changed the F's brakes until 15K miles. I definitely am not a aggressive driver and never have tracked the car. However I'm going to see what happens during the 20k service. If they say the same thing I might have to complain to lexus corporate.
Those brake prices are absurd!:eek:
 
#10 ·
Thanks for sharing your experience and I agree with you that maybe it's not as expensive as i thought it was but on 8600 miles and never once on a track or taken above 90mph, why the sudden change? I guess i'll just have to bite my lip and pay the bill. It does annoy me that at this rate I will have spend almost 8 grand on front brakes by the time I give back my car.... I guess its the cost of luxury.... :confused::confused::confused:
 
#11 ·
just had my 15K miles oil change at dealer. And I'm on my third set of front pads and rotors, second set of rear pads and rotors. But of course with 30 track days, that's normal for me. It's a price I paid for fun.
Raybestos make better and cheaper front rotors for ISF.
Carbotech make better and cheaper pads. Try them to see if you like them.
 
#13 ·
My ISF only has 3700 miles but the brake prices are definitely scaring me. I looked up the Raybestos rotors and they are only 107$ each on Rockauto.com. I imagine I will be trying those when my fronts need replacing. Those and the Hawk pads for the front. Any leads on rear rotors?

______________________________________________________________
'08 UBM ISF - Joe Z exhaust and intake - TOMS drop in filter - Hawk front pads
 
#15 · (Edited)
I just had my 10k service this morning and I was told my front brakes are down to just 3mm and would need to be replaced, along with the rotors, at the next service (15k). I was quoted $1,400 and after reading this post, it seems to be slightly higher than other quotes.

Either way, I do not drive aggressively and often downshift to slow the car down versus constantly having the foot on the brakes. This seems to be a ridiculously high price considering how often they will need to be replaced. What suggestions are out there for having a longer brake life, as I noticed some chap is getting 21k miles on his set? Any chance of buying Brembo brakes and rotors elsewhere and saving some cash?

Also, the brakes started squealing at 4k miles so paying that much for squeals is making me reach the breaking point with the car (in addition to not being able to use the nav screen while in motion).
 
#17 ·
At 16K with aggressive driving and I still have pretty good pad life. I plan on changing out with Hawk HPS pads and they are no where near that pricey. These calipers are made to make brake changes easy, so I would never have the dealer do it.

Still looking into other rotor options.

Fig
 
#20 ·
Thanks, Hope Lexus is Listening!!

I was about to pick up a 2010 ISF today and then read this thread! Who in their right mind thinks that 8600 miles is normal brake pad wear? How did Car and Driver magazine manage to flog a car for a year put almost put 40K miles on the car before it needed front pads?? 8600 miles for that matter 15000 miles sounds insane!! and the repair costs!! I called 3 seperate service depts. and every one had a different price from $1100 to $1700 for a Front brake job. Why would ANYONE think this is normal and why do the Lexus service reps seem to go along with it being normal. Your all Insane!
I was about to sign a 3 year lease which would mean 3 brake jobs according to most of the people in this thread! This thread was enough to make consider another vehicle BRAND altogether.
Good Luck at the Lexus Dealer! and doing the brakes yourself is Hardly Any Consilation! Lexus should face it has a Problem with the brakes on this Car!!! plain and simple!!
 
#21 ·
Direct quote from Lexus

High-friction brakes are standard equipment for the front brakes only and require periodic inspection and measurement as outlined in the Warranty and Services Guide. The pads and rotors are expected to experience greater wear than conventional brakes. Pad life "may" be less than 20,000 miles, and brake rotor life may be less than 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

So WHY are Babied vehicles needing brake pads and ROTORS at 8000 to 10000 miles?
 
#25 ·
High-friction brakes are standard equipment for the front brakes only and require periodic inspection and measurement as outlined in the Warranty and Services Guide. The pads and rotors are expected to experience greater wear than conventional brakes. Pad life "may" be less than 20,000 miles, and brake rotor life may be less than 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

So WHY are Babied vehicles needing brake pads and ROTORS at 8000 to 10000 miles?
have you considered the possibility that maybe the dealer had been lying, incompetent or both? my tire dealer lied to me last week that i needed new front tires which have about 50% of the tread left. many business people are no different from predators and some of them are incompetent on top of that.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I have some hard numbers to share with all of you from today. I did a pad inspection on my vehicle with 18K miles. Here are the results.
Driver's side outer measured thickness 0.265"
Driver's side inner measured thickness 0.250"
Squeal warning tab measured 0.100"
New Hawk HPS measured 0.375"

My conclusion is that your dealers are either unfamiliar with how to measure pad wear on these pads, want to take your money, or you have not babies the car as much as you lead on. I am only 1/3 through the total pad thickness and my guess would be I could carry these pads out to 30K no problem. I drive my car pretty hard, I did not get to the track this year but I would anticipate track driving would wear these out at a higher rate. The brake inspection took only 30-40 minutes, these pads slide right out, one nut, two spring pins and a little pressure on the pistons to free them up.

I had expected more wear and I was going to swap in my hawk HPS, but I think I will do new rotors at the same time and let these runout a little more. I am pretty picky about proper bed-in and would prefer a fresh surface to evauate the new pad compound. Here are the pics.

Image

Image

Image
 
#26 ·
OP: Check into rotors from StopTech and DBA with a different set of pads.

Comming from the Subaru STi world, that car uses a 4 piston Brembo brakes on the front and it's the same deal, people getting quoted crazy prices for replacements.

The truth of the matter, you can get some aftermarket rotors (brands I just mentioned) with great pads, and even upgrade to stainless steel brake lines for less than $1000.

The Brembo stuff is EXPENSIVE, especially from the dealership. Don't panic and sell the car because of what the dealer quoted you, just research it out and you'll find great alternatives.

* If you're doing Stainless Steel brake lines upgrade, make sure to check what brake fluid your car calls for before swapping fluids with aftermarket fluids. Different brake systems have different needs.

Peleg.
 
#30 ·
From my experiences the dealers usually are overeager on replacing parts but so far I haven't used my local dealer yet so we'll see.
 
#31 ·
I love how everyone claims they dont drive their car hard but yet they need pads and rotors at less than 10k... Either they are hallucinating on the way they drive or their dealer is trying to lie their azz off and trying to rip everyone off. Seriously, I do alot of local driving and my F has 7300 miles on it now and I am nowhere near needing pads... And trust me, I dont drive like grandpa....
 
#34 ·
Last time I checked... Lexus is a premium car... Brembo is a premium Brake product...
Check the pricing on Porsche / Ferrari / Lambo / Corvette Z06 parts and service.
You get what you pay for unless you do the work yourself...
Welcome to the real world of high performance...
You play... You pay! Wait until you have to replace your tires...
 
#35 ·
I have 30,000 miles on mine and was just told they measured 3/7 and said I should replace pad. They said nothing about rotors but am pretty sure if i was to get the pads done with them they will surely recommend their 330 doolar each rotors which is funney since I called a different dealer and both pads and rotors were cheaper. so if someone could recommend a different pad and rotor that are equal to oem. I am debating on ferodo or hawk performance ceramic but seen the post about the ones that burnt the rotors. was wondering if it was just cheap ceramics. need more info