Brake pads

May I ask how much you paid for the various parts? The local stealership wants 1200 for a complete 4 wheel brake job on a LS430 which seems a bit high to me. I think they charge the same for the ES300. So a good question is how do your parts compare to the official Lexus dealership parts. Could you tell us?

I read the reviews on the rotors which are Brembo and they are made to tighter specs than OEM and cost $86 for the pair at "Place For Brakes" in Miami. Hundreds of reviews all saying the same thing. The rotors perform as well as if not better than OEM with durability. The pads are Akebono Ceramic and the best they have. Akebono manufactures for the high-end auto makers. Free delivery and the total was $142.98 for the front. I'm gonna do the job this weekend so I'll post how it goes. The Customer Service at Place For Brakes is exceptional. I mean they are back with you on the phone in under 10 minutes of an e-mail. The guy even said to call him on his cell this weekend if I wanted him to walk me through the installation. I really won't know how the brakes and pads are until I have a few miles.

It is hard to say what the clips are for without seeing them. They are probably anti-rattle clips. Can you post a picture somewhere or send me a picture?

the metal plate attached to the back of the pads are anti-squeal shims.

If the stuff is a grease, then it is probably for the caliper slides and slide bolts.

Brembo and Akebonos are an excellent combination for typical driving. Brembo rotors are used on premium cars worldwide. Good choice.

The OEM Akebono ProAct ceramics are not performance brake pads like the ones used on premium cars like BMW and Mercedes. But they do have good modulation and initial bite, with no fade in typical driving. I like to spec them whenever available.

Brake jobs are low-end jobs normally given to new technicians. Unless all rotors are replaced $1200 is a joke. (Are you getting Brembo rotors with that $1200? No.)

Brembo rotors are definitely better than OEM Toyota. Brembos are also used on Maserati, Ferrari, Scaglietti and other Italian premium cars (of course).

Toyota uses Akebono ceramics in their Lexus line and also Sumitomo brake pads. So Sluggo got a very good deal in terms of parts.

Hard to tell without seeing. But I think those little clips are wear indicators. They're supposed to go on the leading edge (of disc rotation) on the inner side.

The small tube is enough only for the caliper contact points with the pads (none goes on the friction surface of course). If you need more for the caliper pins Permatex has a synthetic grease for that purpose (most of the time there is no need).