DIY brake squeal fix (maybe)

[Mu3rte]

I may have found at least a temporary fix for the squeaky brake problem. I did a brake bedding in procedure and the squeak has not come back for the last five days. For those that aren't familiar, bedding in brakes is a process that's normally used in performance or track cars. It "is a process where you heat up the brakes to transfer an even layer of brake pad material to the rotors, optimizing braking performance and preventing issues like brake judder" (from google). Here's what I did:
Find an empty road where you can safely drive fast and come to a stop several times.
Accelerate to 20 MPH, and brake as hard as possible without activating ABS to ~5/10 MPH. Don't lock your brakes, and don't stop completely.
Do the same as above but to 30 MPH.
Again to 40, then 50, then 60. I did the 60 MPH cycle a couple more times just to be sure. You might start to smell your brakes cooking a bit. This is ok.
Since then I've had a tiny squeak only one time in the last 5 days, and that was the day after I did this. I don't know if this is a long-term fix, but at least for now my luxury SUV doesn't sound like a clunker.

Side note... something neat I noticed while doing this: when I was standing on the brakes from 60 to 10 MPH and the GX's nose was pointed down, the headlights automatically aimed up, the re-aimed once it leveled out. I always wondered about the up/down thing the headlights do at startup.

 

[rangertrace]

Nice. Mine hasn't done it in a couple days, but the humidity is gone. The pads might not be glazing over during the night......

 

[Michael T]

That seems like a lot of work and possibly dangerous driving to maybe fix your brakes.

I know there are long wait times for parts for some, but I much prefer taking my car to Lexus, getting one of their loaners, and they swap out all the old stuff for brand new parts for free. Got mine replaced within a week of my phone call to dealership to have them switched out

 

[munkeeboi]

the bedding process is a normal thing if you've had any sort of performance pads. Not dangerous unless you are being reckless

 

[Michael T]

the bedding process is a normal thing if you've had any sort of performance pads. Not dangerous unless you are being reckless

Indeed, but this is a known, acknowledged, widespread issue that Lexus if replacing for free…

 

[TexasD-90]

I may have found at least a temporary fix for the squeaky brake problem. I did a brake bedding in procedure and the squeak has not come back for the last five days. For those that aren't familiar, bedding in brakes is a process that's normally used in performance or track cars. It "is a process where you heat up the brakes to transfer an even layer of brake pad material to the rotors, optimizing braking performance and preventing issues like brake judder" (from google). Here's what I did:
Find an empty road where you can safely drive fast and come to a stop several times.
Accelerate to 20 MPH, and brake as hard as possible without activating ABS to ~5/10 MPH. Don't lock your brakes, and don't stop completely.
Do the same as above but to 30 MPH.
Again to 40, then 50, then 60. I did the 60 MPH cycle a couple more times just to be sure. You might start to smell your brakes cooking a bit. This is ok.
Since then I've had a tiny squeak only one time in the last 5 days, and that was the day after I did this. I don't know if this is a long-term fix, but at least for now my luxury SUV doesn't sound like a clunker.

Side note... something neat I noticed while doing this: when I was standing on the brakes from 60 to 10 MPH and the GX's nose was pointed down, the headlights automatically aimed up, the re-aimed once it leveled out. I always wondered about the up/down thing the headlights do at startup.

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated! No matter what you post there will always be a keyboard hero out there to let you know they are smarter than you. Let us know if it solves the issue permanently.

 

[munkeeboi]

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Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated! No matter what you post there will always be a keyboard hero out there to let you know they are smarter than you. Let us know if it solves the issue permanently.

Not the OP and not sure if it's permanent, but my squeaking did go away after 3000 miles as I began driving and braking in a more spirited manner. It's been 4,500 miles since and they only squeak after sitting awhile after rain or a carwash, which i feel is normal. Since there was no squeaking at my 5,000 mile check-in, the dealership understandably did not want to replace them.

Some dealerships are taking months to get parts for this so it may at least offer a temporary solution so you stop getting awkward looks everytime you are backing out of a parking spot.

Nevertheless, Hopefully I can get another 10,000 miles before they start squeaking again so I can get a free brake upgrade service at that time. lol

 

[Michael T]

Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated! No matter what you post there will always be a keyboard hero out there to let you know they are smarter than you. Let us know if it solves the

This is a forum where people exchange ideas regarding Lexus GX 550’s.

This is an already known documented problem with countless other threads. Someone advising to go get brand new parts for free with free labor and a loaner is not being a keyboard hero, its advising a person who may not know what is available. You seem offended by my response to the OP to offer him advice on the “known” free fix to the problem many 550 owners have had to resolve already. Is your advice to give him a thumbs up to repeatedly slam on his brakes until he smells burning for a “maybe” fix?

 

[munkeeboi]

Lexus has probably chosen to replace the brakes since it's easier than explaining the brake pad bedding process to its customer base.

It is not a dangerous or harmful and actually provides better braking in the long run if done correctly.

Re-iterating the above, the forum is a place to share ideas and this process can be helpful for those who need an immediate fix if Lexus is behind on parts

 

[Mu3rte]

I still plan on having my brakes replaced. I brought it up at my first service, just waiting on parts. But I figured I could try this out to alleviate the noise for now.
And yes, it can be dangerous if you're dumb about it. I drove out of town a bit, at night, on a straight road with no cross traffic.

 

[jeffhardee]

MANY newer Toyotas squeal. Either spend a day at the dealership (even with a loaner car, hours are lost) or lube the back of the pads like it should have been done at the factory. The squeal is a high speed vibration that needs to be damped. It's not rocket science or Asian science. (Should out to my Asian nerd friends.)

 

[killy]

It’s funny.

I’ve spent most of the last 10 years driving high performance vehicles that all have kindof weird quirks.

Brakes always squeal, shifts can be jerky, sound systems lacklustre, wind noise present.

Those were just life and not something you spent trips to the dealer trying to warranty.

Seems like Lexus people are a prissy bunch.

 

[rangertrace]

My wife was at Park Place Lexus yesterday for service on her 460. She checked on my brakes order and confirmed they were ordered in December.........still crickets.

 

[Michael T]

It’s funny.

I’ve spent most of the last 10 years driving high performance vehicles that all have kindof weird quirks.

Brakes always squeal, shifts can be jerky, sound systems lacklustre, wind noise present.

Those were just life and not something you spent trips to the dealer trying to warranty.

Seems like Lexus people are a prissy bunch.

Replacing old used parts with better new parts for free with no labor cost is prissy, lol?

Seems smart to me.

The prissy bunch seems to be the easily offended people who have hurt feelings about suggestions to have the “quirks” fixed for free.

You can’t take an hour out of your day to drop off your $70k vehicle at a dealer? Willing to drive with problems doesn’t make you tough, it just means you’re lazy when there is a known free manufacturer fix.

Your comment suggests people should not get this fixed through the dealer. Is that what you’re suggesting?

 

[killy]

That is absolutely what I am suggesting.

Brakes squeak sometimes. I’m not losing sleep over it.

 

[Mu3rte]

Dang, I didn't expect this thread to devolve into this. I was just testing an idea that I thought would help, and reporting my results. I encourage all squeaky brake sufferers to report the issue to your service center, but if you want a (maybe temporary) respite from the, in my opinion, embarrassing noise, try my fix.

 

[LucBroDude]

Good tip, I tried the same procedure when our GX started squeaking (I come from the BMW world where this is a common practice) but it came back after a couple hundred miles. I then used a brake pad gel on the shims called "brake disc quiet" by a company called CRC and the brakes were quiet for months until my wife told me she heard some squeaking while driving it to work. I wasn't able to replicate it myself but decided to just go ahead and buy a set of new pads from Advance Auto and replaced them myself. It has been dead quiet ever since. The pads were only $70 and took maybe 15 mins to swap out (literally took longer to get it on my lift and take off the wheels then to replace the pads). I know Lexus will replace them for free but 70 dollars and 15 mins of my time is a lot better than waiting months for parts and potentially dealing with the same issue even after replacing them.

 

[Garauld]

Luc - can you post what brand/model # pads you bought at Advance?

 

[LucBroDude]

Luc - can you post what brand/model # pads you bought at Advance?

Here you go: https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...-better-performance-quiet-pxd2442h/50168343-P