diy for brakes on gen 3.5?

[sssgood]

ok, so I have to do my breaks real soon, and I have the front calipers from a 92 ls400 (twin piston) so i was wondering if any one can tell me how the calipers are switched. like its bolt on but connecting the brake lines is where am stuck, like do I have to bleed it or something (don't know how to do), or just connect the brake line and thats it?

thanks

[71Corolla]

What wheels do you have? Because I'm pretty sure the stock wheels will not clear the Lexus calipers.

Assuming you do have the clearance, to do this job you first crack open the 14mm bolt on the caliper, then tighten it back up enough so it does not leak. Then remove the 14mm bolts holding the caliper on, set that aside safely so it does not hang on the brake hose. Then go ahead and remove the brake pads, and remove the bolts holding on the caliper bracket to the backing plate. You will have to get a bit creative with the top bolt, the strut to steering knuckle bolt head gets in the way.

Once you've got everything off, bolt up the Lexus caliper bracket. Cover the disc with a rag, and swap over the brake line to the new caliper as quickly as possible. Make sure the brake line is not twisted, and pay attention to the two copper washers, one goes on each side of the banjo. Pop your brake pads in, and bolt up the new caliper. Complete the other side, at this point you will have to bleed the air out of the lines. Start by doing the passenger side first, then drivers side.

edit- seeing as you have a Gen3.5, is it a 4 cylinder or 6? Because the V6 already has twin piston front calipers.

[Silent Runner]

^+1 Conventional wisdom on the Forum seems to suggest that you need at least 17" wheels to provide clearance for the LS400 calipers.
Just a curious note, I checked out two, 98', Gen4 Camry's at the local Pick-n-Pull on Wednesday, they were were both non-ABS cars and had single piston front calipers? I thought that after Gen3.5 ABS, (twin), all models had twin piston front calipers.

[Chris Crash]

Both my gen 4's (one ABS and the other non-ABS) had single piston calipers.

[71Corolla]

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

Both my gen 4's (one ABS and the other non-ABS) had single piston calipers.

Yep. Toyota did some cost cutting I guess, even my Lexus does not have dual piston calipers.

[uibalnme]

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

^+1 Conventional wisdom on the Forum seems to suggest that you need at least 17" wheels to provide clearance for the LS400 calipers.
Just a curious note, I checked out two, 98', Gen4 Camry's at the local Pick-n-Pull on Wednesday, they were were both non-ABS cars and had single piston front calipers? I thought that after Gen3.5 ABS, (twin), all models had twin piston front calipers.

How much bigger are the LS400 twin piston calipers vs. the Camry twin piston calipers? I snagged a pair of Camry twin piston calipers and installed them a long while ago. I, of course needed larger wheels, but I only needed 15's to clear the calipers. Stock 15" Camry alloys to be exact. As a matter of fact, weren't 15" wheels the largest available from the factory for the LS400? I really don't see the need to go right to a 17" if you're not doing the twin turbo Supra front rotor mod.

But, since you will have to get bigger wheels, why not upgrade to a 17" if you have the cash. If money is an issue right now, grab a set of 15" from the bone yard. You'll pay about $100 or so. That how much I payed for the set i got. The new tires for 15s are also less expensive than tires for 17s.

Just food for thought.

[Silent Runner]

Originally Posted by uibalnme

How much bigger are the LS400 twin piston calipers vs. the Camry twin piston calipers? I snagged a pair of Camry twin piston calipers and installed them a long while ago. I, of course needed larger wheels, but I only needed 15's to clear the calipers. Stock 15" Camry alloys to be exact. As a matter of fact, weren't 15" wheels the largest available from the factory for the LS400? I really don't see the need to go right to a 17" if you're not doing the twin turbo Supra front rotor mod.

But, since you will have to get bigger wheels, why not upgrade to a 17" if you have the cash. If money is an issue right now, grab a set of 15" from the bone yard. You'll pay about $100 or so. That how much I payed for the set i got. The new tires for 15s are also less expensive than tires for 17s.

Silent Runner:
The twin piston, front calipers off of a Camry so equipt. will fit with 15", wheels, I'm looking for them my self right now. I think that 71'Corolla just told me a while back that the calipers off off an LS400 would not fit with 15" wheels, and just this Wednesday, I had the oportunity to try and put a 15" wheel on the front of an SC400 at the PnP, and it was a no-way fit. (darn that 4.0L V-8 looked sweet). Maybe they (the LS400), calipers would fit with 16" wheels, IDA know, but we did invent larger rim sizes quite awhile ago, they just didn't commonly put them on little tiny cars like they do now.

Just food for thought.

[uibalnme]

Originally Posted by Silent Runner

...I had the oportunity to try and put a 15" wheel on the front of an SC400 at the PnP, and it was a no-way fit. (darn that 4.0L V-8 looked sweet). Maybe they (the LS400), calipers would fit with 16" wheels,...

Yeah, that makes sense. V8's need bigger brakes, and are very sweet. Which is why (going way of topic) I've got a 302 with a 4-barrel carb in my '65 Mustang.

[sssgood]

thanks for the responses guys, I got the v6 model, but its got the single piston. my wheels are 15 inches (205/65/15) I thought the ls400 caliper was the same as the one on es300, therfore equal to a camry? anyway I looked at the caliper bracket before and I think the bolts are gonna be a b**** to get out.

[sssgood]

hey guys,

I was wondering if 16 inches with 215/55/16 tires be good?