drbob

All I can say is that it works for me for the past couple of years of usual very high mileage being suitably mechanically sympathetic, rather difficult after racing sports cars for 30 years, but coming off the power long before previously necessary, flicking off the o/d, giving a brief throttle blip before 3rd engages and the same to 2nd is gently seamless extending brake life and has removed the judder when braking completely. Ridiculous to have to compensate at all in this day and age. I didn't mean using the handbrake to slow down, just when stationary in preference to the footbrake as using the footbrake when stationary keeps the pads on the discs so the heat retained in the pads distorts the discs. In Europe astbestos is no longer permitted in pads and whatever is used now eats discs by comparison.

Wish I could offer a suggestion; I have similar problems when driven hard. Keeping off the brakes by changing down - o'drive off under 80 then coasting, down the auto box and using brakes only when necessary they last about 6,000 miles. Using foot-handbrake instead of footbrake when stopped helps reduce rotor distortion as the new pads hold heat a lot more. Have had my LS400 since 1992 - 380,000 miles - and have replaced countless rotors (discs) but only in the last four years which corresponds to hardened pad material as asbestos removed. Basically the hard driving days are over as unfortunately these early 400s are under-braked at the front and a nightmare with new pad material regrdless of rotor type / cross-drilled/whatever. Any suggestions also welcomed.