Brakes seem sensitive and I get some nose dive - GX470

[tymbo]

Just picked up my 2005 GX470 with 143k miles and I find that the brakes seem very sensitive through the pedal. If i press on them, it wants to stop quickly without a cushy feel of other cars I have driven. I also get some nose dive as well. Its like the brake are too good. I do have the P1445 check engine light and traction control lights are all on right now (my hewitt bypass kit arrives today). But the code was reset when I picked it up and they were sensitive before with all the lights came back on.

Is this normal? I have only ever driven a couple LX470's and I cant remember the feel of them, I kinda remember they were a little touchy, but its was a couple months ago.

 

[JLee]

My brakes are pretty grabby as well - I think that is normal. It's unrelated to your trouble codes, in any case.

 

[Jstawgn]

Non OEM brake pads can cause this. The brake on the GX is electronically boosted. The calibration might be off for some brake pads that have less linear feel to it.

I do not say non OEM is bad. I actually have never put OEM brake pads as replacement on any of my vehicle. With heavy and taller tire I kinda wanted the grabbiier pads.

The other issue is your shock absorber/spring condition. Weak spring and shock absorber would increase the nose dive feel. When you replace your suspension please do all corner with preferably matched set. Unmatched set would not work as good as matched set.

 

[MaverickFiveO]

When I started driving my GX (and during test drives of other GXes), the brakes seemed sensitive, too. As in, the engagement zone of the pedal seems short: once the brakes engage at all, the amount of pedal travel to full brake power is relatively short. You get used to it pretty quickly. I agree with JLee, I think it's normal for the truck, nothing is wrong with it. I think it's just the way the Lexus brakes are from this generation.

 

[tymbo]

Ok good, next brake job I will get OEM and I assume that is what is on it now but I dont know. Being new to the Gx470, I have seen that you can replace the front Air shocks/struts without doing the rear?

 

[scooterp7]

I had lots of brake dive in my 05 with 150k. The shocks and front springs were worn out. Much less brake dive after installing the TTUE suspension. Brakes definitely take some getting use to.

 

[Jstawgn]

Brake dive is combination of weak front spring and weak rear shock rebound. Highly recommended to replace with matched front and rear set. Replacing one end sometimes multiply the problem since stiffer front might cause the rear to lift even more.

I believe dobinson have stock height if you do not want any lift.

 

[TahoeLX450]

Mine did that too before I replaced the suspension. I had significant dive in the front and lift in the rear under hard braking. It kinda throws you into the brake pedal which made it harder to modulate the brakes in a panic stop situation. My 80 didn't do it. Most of my other cars for the past years have been more high performance oriented and tend to squat at all four corners when braking hard. So I was really shocked with my first freeway hard braking in the GX.

When I replaced the front shocks and springs and replaced the air bags with coils it went away for the most part
.
Also, check for warped rotors or fluid on the pads because that may cause a grabby brake and then is exasperated by the dive of a worn suspension.

 

[Trainwreck007]

My brakes are the same as you describe. A friend at work just bought a 07 4runner limited, his are also touchy. I've had my GX for a couple months and still not completely "used to it". Good luck!