Martynn's sticky brakes fix generates a fault code | Haynes' World is a regular feature that takes a look at what the staff at Haynes are doing with their vehicles. This time, Martynn has triggered a âVSCâ warning on his Lexus after working on the rear brakes. | | | Car: Lexus RX400h hybrid
Owner: Martynn Randall, Haynes Technical Editor | |  | The RXâs annual MoT examinations are usually a breeze, with nothing worse than an occasional advisory about tyre wear. But this year there was a âNearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))â advisory.
After jacking up the rear of the vehicle (supporting it securely with axle stands), and removing the nearside rear wheel, I could clearly see some discolouration of the disc. The brake had indeed been binding.
I unscrewed the guide pin bolts, and easily pulled the caliper from place, which suggested that the piston in the caliper wasnât the problem. However, just to be sure, I used a retraction tool to fully push the piston back into the caliper body. It moved easily and smoothly, so no problem there.
Looking at the pads, I could see that the outer pad friction material was significantly thinner than the inner pad, which suggested it wasnât moving freely. | | Sure enough, the outer pad was well seized in the caliper mounting bracket, and took a few minutes of gentle persuasion before it would release.
With the pads and shims removed, all of the dirt and debris was cleaned away. The shims were refitted and new pads were slid into place. I refitted the caliper, lightly greased the guide pins bolts and tightened them to the specified torque.
I did the same on the other side of the vehicle, pumped the brake pedal a few times to move the pads against the discs, then checked that the pads werenât binding any more â all good! I refitted the wheels, lowered the vehicle to the ground and tightened the bolts.
Job done â or so I thought. Upon turning on the ignition, I was confronted by a âbeepâ and a warning on the dash: âCheck VSC system!â, accompanied by the ABS and TC warning lights flashing.
The brake pedal felt ok, so I drove the vehicle for a few miles, hoping the warning would disappear â it didnât. What to do?! | | | We want to see how you got on, and how you dealt with any âissuesâ when working on your car or bike. If you used your Haynes manual in the course of your repair or maintenance, all the better.
Simply reply to this email with the following details: - Your name
- The county/region you live in
- The vehicle youâre working on and the nature of the repair
Weâll be in touch to discuss photos (a general shot of your vehicle plus two or three close-ups of your work would be ideal) and your project could end up being featured at Haynes.com and on our social media channels (see below).
Need to contact us about something else, such as an order? Check out this page. | | | | | | |  |
