What Garages Think Of Forums

[Cotswold Pete]

Just wanted to get off my chest how annoying garage owners can be (I am sure they are not all the same), when they think that

1. Car owners do not know as much as garages

2. Forums are a waste of time.

So I am pretty sure my front pads (Blueprints on for 30 months) are vibrating, they have been for last 6 or so months, but sometimes worse than others. I have some brake squeal and sometimes on certain speed humps I get the every so gentle clump/thunk noise.

So in my head I have decided that the best way forward is to get Lexus pads on the car.

So here is how it goes the other day. (somewhat paraphrased)

Me: I was wondering if you could fit Lexus pads for me, you did the brakes 30 months ago, and I think this is best course of action

Garage: Well why Lexus pads, the blueprints are as good, in fact I had a guy the other day who wanted OEM parts fitted, so we ordered the OEM parts and other 3^rd party set, and we then showed the customer that they were made by the same company.

Me: Well I have got brake squeak, judder that varies, it seems to tie in with the speed I am driving, and I have asked on the Lexus forum for ideas

Garage: Well that is the trouble with forums, they are full of people who are not mechanics, and people end up spending money on things not needed because of these forums.

At this point I should have just left the building, but he started to suggest it could be the tyres, the suspension, or even me in my head
(what???) etc. What he wanted to do is to go out for a drive with me and listen to the sound etc. I replied that some days the problem was so slight not enough to worry about, and at other times it was more noticeable so we might need to drive around for a day or two.

At the end of the day the problem is live-able with but I really would like the LS to be as smooth as it should be.

So I have decided to find someone who will just do what the customer asks, in other words fit the parts I have asked for, not anything else, and no naffing debate about whether it could be the tyres or the suspension, or some dastardly plot by Jeremy Corbyn to ban luxury driving, or whatever.

BUT what annoys me is more than once (not just this garage) I have had mechanics say that forums are a pain, because people do not know what they are talking about. I trained as an engineer many years ago, so I have sought advice from this forum and put my engineering brain in gear and though about whether what the chaps on this site say, makes reasonable sense.

And if it turns out that the brake pads were not the problem, then at least I have new brake pads that will last a long time (given the blueprints have now done 25,000 miles) and the ruddy squeal should have gone at the very least.

Anyway I have got it off my chest now, so I just need to speak to the chap who does my wife’s Jag to see if he will just do what I ask, and I will not even mention the fact that I am on the Lexus forum.

[messi]

The garage I use sometimes asks me what the forum says as they don't get many ls400/430 in for repairs, and if it's a complicated job, and then go by what I tell them.

But I would say if your getting a vibrating and clunking noise sometimes too, it may be worth checking the calipers as I had this issue with a gs430 and it turned not only did I need new pads and discs, and I will advise to get the discs done too, but there was a little pin type of thing missing from the caliper hence why it was making a clunking noise when going over a bump as the pad was moving about slightly

[Bluesman]

Same as my garage, but its so rare that he ever gets to repair anything on the Lexus but on other cars hes always asked what the owners forum have said and always takes the advice given by them. Mike.

[Verbout]

You surely take advice from where you can. And then pick which pearl of wisdom you agree with and act on that.

[Spacewagon52]

I print out the advice on thge forum, just in case the garage mechanic starts to scratch his head.

[ambermarine]

In most cases the problems solved on this forum are from owners experience's and a lot of information is feedback from the garages they've used in the first place.

So if these guys are saying the people on forums know nothing are they referring to themselves,or are they to full of themselves that they can't take advice from anyone who is'nt a mechanic .

If I had gone through life with just one opinion on everything I would now be in the same position as Jeremy Corbyn " up a creek with no paddle".

[Malc]

....... I just refer my mechanic guy to the forum and certain postings for him to review how it might affect his actions with my car and he then tells me what he thinks and acts appropriately ........... he's never let me down in 8.5 years of looking after my Lexuses

Malc

[cleverdick]

I've had Blueprint pads on for about 3 years now, and really have found them to be OK. But I agree, OEM is always the safest course of action.

Before throwing good money after bad, however, I'd suggest thoroughly cleaning the caliper slide pins and re-lubing with genuine Toyota lithium soap-base grease. Also, if you have a dial-gauge, check the runout on each disc and rotate through all 5 positions to find that of minimum deflection. (+35 microns is the maximum permitted, I think, measured at the outer edge of the disc.)

[steve2006]

Slight problem there as the series III and IV use Sumitomo 4 pot caliper brakes and there are no slide pins involved as the pistons act directly on the pads each side.

I have found from experience that some aftermarket pads are poor in comparison to OEM with regards to brake efficiency, squealing and brake dust production,however Blueprint seem to have a good reputation.

Talking of Blueprint their lower ball joints for the LS400 are actually more expensive than OEM Lexus!

[Titch LS]

I've found Mintex brake pads to be good value and they give good braking performance too. They last ages and have never sqealed yet.

[mikeyv]

I've found Mintex brake pads to be good value and they give good braking performance too. They last ages and have never sqealed yet.

Mine never squealed, but groaned badly under light braking, to the point where I was going to bin them, purely on noise grounds, as the actual stopping power was fine.

Fortunately they quietened down after a few weeks, although you can still get them to groan at very low speed if you really want to, so two years later they are still on the car.

Next pads will be Ferodo though!

[Keynun]

I think my pads are doing the same thing, I had them changed from blueprint to pagid, same issue. Could be balljoints though (I did however change ALL ball joints 6 months ago)

[Titch LS]

Kenan, balljoints wearing out in 6 months? You must have bought the cheapest 'Made in China' ones, 'in the world'--as Clarkson would say!

[Keynun]

Kenan, balljoints wearing out in 6 months? You must have bought the cheapest 'Made in China' ones, 'in the world'--as Clarkson would say!

;)

I actually bought Meyle upper arms and blueprint lower ball joints, so not exactly the cheapest **** you can buy but not the best either.

[Cracksta]

Not surprised the garage said that, he must've had a lot of people say that to him often that "x y z said this is what needs to be changed etc."

The correct approach would've been lets find the cause of the problem and work from there rather than get annoyed with how someone else thinks what or how it should be fixed.

Most things can be done at home, I only ever go to a garage if i dont have the time to work on the car (i.e. servicing), dont have the tools to do the job (suspension change etc) or not experienced enough (engine build etc).

[Cotswold Pete]

Not surprised the garage said that, he must've had a lot of people say that to him often that "x y z said this is what needs to be changed etc."

The correct approach would've been lets find the cause of the problem and work from there rather than get annoyed with how someone else thinks what or how it should be fixed.

Most things can be done at home, I only ever go to a garage if i dont have the time to work on the car (i.e. servicing), dont have the tools to do the job (suspension change etc) or not experienced enough (engine build etc).

The garage owner was questioning me to start with, which is what I find annoying.

To be honest if I had the time I would do the brakes myself, as I have done it on my previous cars, but got too many other things to do at weekends, the car has not had any love and attention from me in last 9 months, so looking more like a dirty farm car (inside and out) rather than the luxury barge it should be.

The other thing I have discovered is that this garage has mucked up two of my neighbours cars by doing his own thing rather than listen to what the car owner was saying, so maybe the garage is only good for 'general service' rather than specialist fault finding.

I do appreciate some of the issues are a bit of a dark art to bottom out, and if I lived near Japex I would probably take the LS to them to see what their thoughts are, but cannot see that happening, unless I get new pads and the problem still manifests itself.

[Cracksta]

In my opinion, easy money for the garage, he could of just said "i dont think this will fix your issue but i'll do it anyway since you are paying me to do this".

Yes you are right, brakes are not hard to swap but its the time and hassle of doing it yourself, I cant bring myself to spend 2-3 hours in the cold under the car working on it. I could be sat indoors with the heaters on and my feet up. :D

[WarwickT]

Hi All

I had a lot of work done on my Irish import in May this year from JGS Autos in Redditch - a very well known and highly rated indy in the area. Sourced all the parts myself, the guys there - Jason and Mark, the main mechanics and Wayne - the receptionist are very friendly and professional. Labour rates are 45 plus vat. They look after my LS 400, RX 400h and Honda civic, never had any complaints.

I had all the work done that I mentioned in the following post by them and payed under £500 in labour,which I think is good value

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/topic/100821-mega-service-and-mpg/?view=getnewpost

Can recommend them without any concerns.

btw I am using Akebono ceramic pads that I ordered via Rockauto along with the timing belt, water pump, tensioners and spark plugs. Very happy with those break pads

Tarun

[brendangeorge]

Mechanics are like forum posts: some are good and some are rubbish; some forum posts are opinions and some are facts and there is everything in between.

You need to look at the information you have available and make a decision based on facts and experience but make sure the experience fits the facts. Also try and understand why the other person said or wrote what they did - I have to do this for a living. I am an engineering consultant not a psychiatrist :)

Look at the recent posts on here about engine oil. There are some basic and simple technical facts to follow and for a good result follow the manual - that did not stop an 'interesting' discussion here.

Breaks are a great topic - I swear by Green Stuff pads and EBC disks that in my experience work really well and last well on my car (430). The mechanics who maintain my car said I was wasting money - I won the argument because I was paying.

I had some break problems that were resolved when I replaced a caliper. The car was not stopping as well as it should but was OK. When the car was serviced no faults found and the pads were OK. At pad replacement time we found out why the brakes were a little soft: a stuck piston. I replaced caliper and the brakes frightened me to death for a day :)

Red faced mechanics but no harm done. The lesson here is check your calipers are in good order.

Always bear in mind professionals or trades men hate self diagnosis by amateurs - try going to your GP, with a load of internet prints outs and tell him you know what medical condition you have :)

and everybody knows the 430 is better than the 400 - that's a fact not an opinion :)

Bren

[Titch LS]

The Mk4 has less known faults than the LS430. Fact.

[Keynun]

The Mk4 has less known faults than the LS430. Fact.

You forgot to mention that the LS430 is ugly in comparison to the mk4 LS400

[cruisermark]

The Mk4 has less known faults than the LS430. Fact.

You forgot to mention that the LS430 is ugly in comparison to the mk4 LS400

partly agree - the facelift ones look nicer though

[brendangeorge]

The Mk4 has less known faults than the LS430. Fact.

You forgot to mention that the LS430 is ugly in comparison to the mk4 LS400

partly agree - the facelift ones look nicer though

I never look at the chimney pots when poking the fire. If cars never went wrong we'd have nothing to moan about - I am not sure weather this comment is a fact, an opinion, a theory, a logical fallacy or me just being annoying :)

When it comes down to good looks both models are darn ugly. However I have sat in 5 of them - I don't look at the outsides much......the insides are fine.

Bren

[Cotswold Pete]

I would say that the LS400 and 430 are distinctive, and both designs grow on you even though the 430 take a bit longer IMHO

I find the 430 was the car that tried to look a bit like a Merc - when it did not need to.

I really think the 460 (first generation) nailed it in terms of looks, but not so sure I really want a car with all those gizmos surrounding me.

But I am sure when I get around to swapping my 400 for a 460 then I'll take a different view.

One thing for sure, the next car will be a LS