GX460 front rotor and pad selection

[Boondoggle]

Just picked up a 2015 GX460 w/92K for the wife and the front pads are ready to be replaced and I was going to do new rotors too as under hard braking there's a little shimmy/pulsing. I was going to do Centric rotors and Akebono pads as that seemed like the most popular option for standard (not drilled or vented) rotors but it looks like they are no more. I was thinking of just going with OEM rotors and Akebono pads. She's not going to be towing anything and quiet would be the priority.

I'm also looking at the PowerStop Z23 option but there are some mixed reviews regarding noise which would be the first thing she notices regardless of stopping power.

I've got an 06 LX470 but this is our first GX and any help and advice is most appreciated.

 

[Rednexus]

Lots of people have had bad luck with Power Stop products - myself included. They have a D rating from BBB, and in my experience that is a well-deserved rating.

IMO OEM Toyota/Lexus rotors are the way to go. They are not that expensive from the dealer (around $70/each for fronts when I did the GX460 brake upgrade last year), and they are made in Japan. I personally run EBC Green pads which stop awesome but are dusty. Akebono makes the OEM pads, so for a daily driver, those are totally fine as well.

 

[tech703]

i got ebc yellow pads and they stop well with low dust but are quite a bit noisy

 

[BC11SVT]

I went with EBC Ultimax blank rotor (RK7578) and Akebono ProACT pads (ACT976) and would buy the same setup again.
Zero complaints, just smooth, zero noise, low dust braking.

I swear braking feel and effort improved too, at least that was my impression for at least a week after the swap so I really don't think it was placebo.

 

[thescreensavers]

Akebono pads and brembo blanks on rockauto is popular .

Advic makes the front pads and Akebono on the rear stock

 

[r2m]

Factory have been just fine for me and I'm running 35" tires with a very heavy rig.

 

[Arailt]

FWIW, I've always run factory rotors and pads. I just changed my 460 today with old Duralast pads (gold rear and elite front) that I had left over from my 470 years ago. They feel great. My old fronts were at 25% (remaining) and my rears were probably 1-5% (near dead), so anything would have been an upgrade. I'll check back after a few K, but they seem just as good or better as if I would have changed with factory pads.

 

[volklflip88]

I’ll chime in another option for those looking. I haven’t installed yet but the NAPA Adaptive one rotors (apparently very good) with Akebono pads (top tier also from NAPA). The NAPA rotors are coated (unlike OEM). Slightly more expensive but realistically a better product than OEM, especially because most dealers carry the low tier stuff for brakes.

 

[IdleTheory]

I've use EBC Sport discs paired with Bosch pads. No noise or vibration with great stopping power.

 

[Boondoggle]

Finally finished up the job. When I got in there, one piston on the right caliper wouldn't compress or move. It was going to take too long to get factory calipers with the 12mm bolt holes so I went with TRQs. Fitment was very good and everything buttoned up nicely.

So far very good performance and no noise at all and happy with the results. One tip I got from YouTube that really helped and I did not know was pinning the pedal to the floor to keep the fluid in the master cylinder which made the swap and bleeding much easier.

Greatly appreciate all the help and recommendations.

 

[r2m]

Finally finished up the job. When I got in there, one piston on the right caliper wouldn't compress or move. It was going to take too long to get factory calipers with the 12mm bolt holes so I went with TRQs. Fitment was very good and everything buttoned up nicely.

So far very good performance and no noise at all and happy with the results. One tip I got from YouTube that really helped and I did not know was pinning the pedal to the floor to keep the fluid in the master cylinder which made the swap and bleeding much easier.

Greatly appreciate all the help and recommendations.

Can you post the Youtube you caught that tip from?

 

[yosshaa]

DO NOT BUY HAWK BRAKE PADS.
They do not stand by their products.

 

[RJinVA]

DO NOT BUY HAWK BRAKE PADS.
They do not stand by their products.

I run Hawk HPS 5.0 pads in both my vehicles, my GX and my autocross/daily driver. Never had a problem with them and the braking performance improvement I noticed on the GX is very significant. It's the only pad I'll use.