Rear Brakes

[is200 Newbie]

I would like to meet the guy who put this car together - probably last minute Friday night shift worker using spare parts picked up from the canteen!!!

Latest problem on the car ... Had the two rear tyres replaced tonight. Got to the tyre depot and when the wheels were off the car the guy changing them came over and said that there was a problem with the rear passenger side as it was hot, could feel the heat just standing there next to the wheel arch.

You could actually smell the heat if that makes sense!

Got it home and stripped it down - I know there was an issue on the old IS200 calipers where the slide pins used to seize on the fronts so thought it was something along those lines.

Cleaned / greased as best as I could and put it back together - took it for a blast down the road to see if it would heat up again, got it back home and it was steaming hot again.

I have put some pictures below but questions I have for this are ....

1/ by the looks of it both pads are seizing onto the disc with the inner most pad in the worst condition - you can see the wear just on the edge of the pad below in what looks like a crack - that is actually a slither of pad - both are the same but innermost pad has worn more

I took the pads out and cleaned the slide pins which are now a lot easier to slide in and out. I also cleaned what I can only describe as a large slide pin at the top of the caliper - picture below (small piston sized)

I took this pin out / cleaned and greased with Castrol LM grease (just a small covering on it - cleaned inside the chamber and screwed the pin back in. I thought there should be one on the bottom - there is, but there no noticeable way of removing it. Picture below

There is a rubber seal but its not removable - I am guessing this will come apart when the calliper is removed from the car? (ignore the oil mark - I had used a bit of WD to release)

As with the IS200 does this 250 have brake shoes within the drum?

Anyone know the likely cause of the pads seizing and if its actually worth stripping the calliper down - I am thinking its the piston seizing although when I pumped the brake pedal it did move out slightly - I could not however get it back in that easy.

Looks like the money pit will be having a bit more spent on it - anyone know the cost of a new caliper !!??

[james250]

Slider pins seizing are very common on these cars. I just got into a habit of cleaning all my brakes every service. I take apart the pads and clean and slider pins and re-grease them. I once had the front caliper seizer and also the back. The front one i managed to get free, but it damaged the rubber boot while doing it so just purchased a new boot for about £6. The rubber boots and the bushings do come apart

[is200 Newbie]

I don't think its the slider pins - by slider pins I mean the two pins that go through the pads themselves as these are now free after having a good clean.

[james250]

I don't think its the slider pins - by slider pins I mean the two pins that go through the pads themselves as these are now free after having a good clean.

never experienced these getting stuck, whens the last time you gave them a clean? could be buildup of brake dust that corroded onto the pin?

[is200 Newbie]

Done a bit of digging on this subject and found a PDF file from Lexus regarding this.

The pins I have just cleaned are the pad guide pins (2 of) and the top slide pin. It looks like I have to remove the caliper itself to get at the lower slide pin if that has not seized in place.

I am pretty sure with how the pads have worn that its the slide pin that's the problem (the one I have not removed) - hope so anyway - job for the weekend !

[blackcts]

My 2008 IS220d (59k) has had the following over the 6 six months under lexus warranty:

2 rear brake calipers @ £500

new 3/4 engine @ £6500

Dual Mass Flywheel and clutch @ £2050!

Ouch!

[is200 Newbie]

There goes another £340 (Caliper / Carrier / Pads)

[blackcts]

Unlucky mate but that's cars for you! Mine had to have new rear discs and pads after the calipers! Any car can bankrupt you outta warranty, especially prestige ones - but at least you have a lovely motor to show for it - the IS250 is a stunning car

[is200 Newbie]

Can anyone recommend what discs to put on the back - I had fitted brembo on my last IS and they were fine with Mintex pads. Doesn't look like brembo make for the 250 so its a choice at the moment of Mintex discs and pads or original Lexus ones and pads.

The ones on the car are vented yet there's a lot being sold for this model on the web that are solid - I would like to stick to vented as that's what was on the car but is there any difference in fitting solids to vented if that's all I can find?

Also any recommendations on what drum pads to buy?

Also - if I can remember correctly, on the old IS200 there is a service hole on the rear drum discs to enable you to spin the drum pads in so the disc itself is easier to come off. Does anyone know what direction to turn the cog in the drum in order to do this (it was either up or down I think?)

[is200 Newbie]

Had the caliper and carrier delivered today

Looks like an easy job to replace - also looks like an easy part to maintain so I will strip the other side down and clean etc. Will be using Castrol high temp LM grease for the sliders

Have gone for Mintex rear pads, will replace these for the time being - need to do the discs at a later date and will go for OEM vented ones when I do.