My Drivers Side Calliper Is Dead :(

[el_gencer]

Interesting drive to and from work today. On the way to work the steering wheel started vibrating quiet harshly so i slowed right down and tootled off to work. Once at work i checked the tyres, pressure and looked if balancing weights had dropped off. Even checked the coilovers to see i could spot any leaks. On the way home the car did the same thing again. Once on the drive i took another look. Lets just say you could smell something wasn't right. Then i felt the heat coming off it and then i noticed it was smoking. For a quick test i poked the calliper with my finger (which was really hot) and then checked the the passenger side which was a lot cooler and not smoking.

What does this usually indicate ? Currently i'm making the assumption that i'll need new brakes up front. If i do is it worth just installing standard lexus stuff again or should i use it as an excuse to put on a bbk ?

[donmar]

Interesting drive to and from work today. On the way to work the steering wheel started vibrating quiet harshly so i slowed right down and tootled off to work. Once at work i checked the tyres, pressure and looked if balancing weights had dropped off. Even checked the coilovers to see i could spot any leaks. On the way home the car did the same thing again. Once on the drive i took another look. Lets just say you could smell something wasn't right. Then i felt the heat coming off it and then i noticed it was smoking. For a quick test i poked the calliper with my finger (which was really hot) and then checked the the passenger side which was a lot cooler and not smoking.

What does this usually indicate ? Currently i'm making the assumption that i'll need new brakes up front. If i do is it worth just installing standard lexus stuff again or should i use it as an excuse to put on a bbk ?

hi i had same problem a few weeks ago,my local garage found that i had seized calliper, i had it referbished for 100 notes a lot cheaper than a new one

[el_gencer]

referbishing sounds like a much cheaper option. i think i might try that option instead.

[flyeris]

Had the same problem with mine - seems it becomes an ofter problem, when the IS starts to age. The reason is a sticking brake piston. Donmar, how was yours refurbished? What this procedure consists of? I have changed mine with other used one. What shuld we do to avoid such problems in the future?

[el_gencer]

well i've booked the car in at local jap car specialist for a refurb. lexus said they could refurb it but the cost was a little higher and recommended to replace the calliper. roughly 300 for a new part and then fitting. referb is 95, which is a little cheaper.

[JollyRoger]

referbishing sounds like a much cheaper option. i think i might try that option instead.

Just refurbed my own L/H/F caliper today, fully sorted in under an hour, ordred a seal kit from Brakes International, Click on buy online as it will give you better search options via thier online cataloge, also check out

, Tools needed are 14mm socket & ratchet, flexipipe clamp,large vicegrips, T50 TorX, the T50 TorX is to split the caliper and let you see what you are doing, youtube should be good for anything you need help with?

This is also my first post, so hope that it helps, i realise now the i should have taken some pic's but hey if hindsight wa foresite i'd be a rich man?