Noisy Rear Brakes

LexCrazy · June 21, 2005

I am having problems with me rear calipers, i can hear very light scraping noise, as the pads seem to touching the discs when i'm not even pressing the brake pedal.

I have checked the brake shoes, which were the original reason i was getting a louder noise and i have slackened off the brakeshoes a touch.

I'm not sure if the slight scraping noise i am hearing from the rear brakes when moving the car forward slowly is normal or whether it is the calipers which need replacing or some work doing on them.

I have tried to clean the pistons, and push them in and out a few times. I did notice a couple of very tiny holes in the seal of the outer piston, but nothing appeared to leak out of this until had the piston quite far out. The inner piston seemed to be the one that was sticking more on the way in, any ideas what i can do about this.

The noise seems to be because the pistons aren't going back in enough.

Does anyone know what is supposed to cause the pistons to pull back in, as pushing the pedal forces them out?

Could air in the brake line, cause the pistons to not retract fully?

Is anyone else suffering from this?

Can anyone help.

Thanks

GALLA_4 · June 21, 2005

I think Claire G has mailed you!

Claire G · June 21, 2005

Yes, certainly have!

hanman · March 14, 2006

Hi,

I am experiencing the same problem on my 1996 GS 300 Sport Mk1. When the car rolls forward slowly i also get the squeeking noise. Very annoying. What did Claire G suggest would fix this?

Thanks in advance.

Jase · March 20, 2006

Hi all,

I also have the same brake squeaking problem on the front right caliper on my '98 GS300. The strange thing is that it will only squeak at slow speeds when I brake at 5 - 10km/hr to a complete stop (ie. nudging forward in congested traffic).

I previously thought it was the pad wear indicator telling me its time to change the pad so I had all the pads changed (factory standard) on all four wheels but the problem persisted. The mechanic (non Lexus) told me its because of the new pads wearing in and should drive it for a week and see what happens. I was a little skeptical as the other 3 wheels didn't have a problem and as it turned out I have clocked more than 300kms since the pad change and the problem still exists.

I have done plenty of reading on the internet and unfortunately, I don't possess the mechanical skills to undo the calipers, inspect the pistons, disc for warping, hydraulic lines etc etc and I am aware that there are many factors causing the brakes to squeak from blocked vents to grooves in the ventilated disc. However, I do notice the brakes tend to squeak louder in heated weather.

I have made a visual inspection but cannot spot anything of peculiarity (ie no grooves on the disc) and yesterday I jacked the car up and try to spin the front wheels freely and I find the left one (the problem one) producing a louder 'scraping' noise than the right wheel when the wheels are rotating freely. (Should they even be scraping to begin with?)

I wonder whether the brakes can be adjusted to 'toe in' like you would with brake pads in a bicycle but I doubt its a 'wearing true' problem as the brake don't squeak when I brake at normal driving speeds.

I desperately need help before going back to the mechanic who already doesn't inspire my confidence. I could well take it to a brake specialist or the Lexus maintanance but I would love to learn a few things from you guys, and great choice to those driving the same car as I find the car to be excellent all around, especially the cornering and the grunt of the straight 6!

Happy motoring

Jase

Tango · March 20, 2006

Hi all,
I also have the same brake squeaking problem on the front right caliper on my '98 GS300. The strange thing is that it will only squeak at slow speeds when I brake at 5 - 10km/hr to a complete stop (ie. nudging forward in congested traffic).

I previously thought it was the pad wear indicator telling me its time to change the pad so I had all the pads changed (factory standard) on all four wheels but the problem persisted. The mechanic (non Lexus) told me its because of the new pads wearing in and should drive it for a week and see what happens. I was a little skeptical as the other 3 wheels didn't have a problem and as it turned out I have clocked more than 300kms since the pad change and the problem still exists.

I have done plenty of reading on the internet and unfortunately, I don't possess the mechanical skills to undo the calipers, inspect the pistons, disc for warping, hydraulic lines etc etc and I am aware that there are many factors causing the brakes to squeak from blocked vents to grooves in the ventilated disc. However, I do notice the brakes tend to squeak louder in heated weather.

I have made a visual inspection but cannot spot anything of peculiarity (ie no grooves on the disc) and yesterday I jacked the car up and try to spin the front wheels freely and I find the left one (the problem one) producing a louder 'scraping' noise than the right wheel when the wheels are rotating freely. (Should they even be scraping to begin with?)

I wonder whether the brakes can be adjusted to 'toe in' like you would with brake pads in a bicycle but I doubt its a 'wearing true' problem as the brake don't squeak when I brake at normal driving speeds.

I desperately need help before going back to the mechanic who already doesn't inspire my confidence. I could well take it to a brake specialist or the Lexus maintanance but I would love to learn a few things from you guys, and great choice to those driving the same car as I find the car to be excellent all around, especially the cornering and the grunt of the straight 6!

Happy motoring

Jase

I have had the same problem on my IS200 (nearside rear). Not really a problem, just a nuisance as I can only hear it with the windows down at slow speeds. The Lexus mechanic tells me he can fix it with a spring set as fitted to the later models (mine is on an X plate) to hold the pad off the disk. Not bothered to have it done yet.

Jase · March 22, 2006

Hi all,
I also have the same brake squeaking problem on the front right caliper on my '98 GS300. The strange thing is that it will only squeak at slow speeds when I brake at 5 - 10km/hr to a complete stop (ie. nudging forward in congested traffic).

I previously thought it was the pad wear indicator telling me its time to change the pad so I had all the pads changed (factory standard) on all four wheels but the problem persisted. The mechanic (non Lexus) told me its because of the new pads wearing in and should drive it for a week and see what happens. I was a little skeptical as the other 3 wheels didn't have a problem and as it turned out I have clocked more than 300kms since the pad change and the problem still exists.

I have done plenty of reading on the internet and unfortunately, I don't possess the mechanical skills to undo the calipers, inspect the pistons, disc for warping, hydraulic lines etc etc and I am aware that there are many factors causing the brakes to squeak from blocked vents to grooves in the ventilated disc. However, I do notice the brakes tend to squeak louder in heated weather.

I have made a visual inspection but cannot spot anything of peculiarity (ie no grooves on the disc) and yesterday I jacked the car up and try to spin the front wheels freely and I find the left one (the problem one) producing a louder 'scraping' noise than the right wheel when the wheels are rotating freely. (Should they even be scraping to begin with?)

I wonder whether the brakes can be adjusted to 'toe in' like you would with brake pads in a bicycle but I doubt its a 'wearing true' problem as the brake don't squeak when I brake at normal driving speeds.

I desperately need help before going back to the mechanic who already doesn't inspire my confidence. I could well take it to a brake specialist or the Lexus maintanance but I would love to learn a few things from you guys, and great choice to those driving the same car as I find the car to be excellent all around, especially the cornering and the grunt of the straight 6!

Happy motoring

Jase

I have had the same problem on my IS200 (nearside rear). Not really a problem, just a nuisance as I can only hear it with the windows down at slow speeds. The Lexus mechanic tells me he can fix it with a spring set as fitted to the later models (mine is on an X plate) to hold the pad off the disk. Not bothered to have it done yet.

Tango, thanks for the advice.

You mean the squeaking is caused by the pad sticking to the disk? I also heard adding grease to the spring washers that holds the pads may work. Any ideas?