Please help, what is this noise?

jenniferf45 · Lexus Owner Joined: Oct 06, 2006 Posts: 2

I just bought a 2002 is300 with 62000 miles a few weeks ago. When i start the car and start to go it makes a strange kind of crunch sound. it sounds like something might be resetting or adjusting. It only does it once, after that i don't hear it again until the next time i start the car and go. it does it in drive and in reverse. Please help!

Thanks!

02IS300 · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:

Does it make that noise after youve started moving and hit the brakes for the first time?
If so my '02 does that as well and I've never found a reason, but it doesn't seem to be bothering anything as I've owned it for three years and it has always made that noise.

mealexie · Lexus Owner Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Posts: 4

Here's the story on the IS300 brake-related noise that we have both experienced. According to two different service technicians at local Toyota and Lexus dealerships here in N.C., the noise is produced by the metal clips at each end of the brake pad holders. They can produce some noise early on in the vehicle's life, but it's usually after they have become fatigued that the noise becomes highly noticeable. "The Lexus engineers deliberately designed in some additional float for the brake pads, so when you change directions and apply the brakes, the noise that you're hearing is the metal brake pad holder clips coming into contact with the metal surface that they are adjacent to when they stop floating within the tolerance zone. I know it sounds terrible and leads the driver to think that their car is about to fall apart, but that's just the way that these cars' braking systems were designed. Toyota Avalons have been known to have the exact same problem. Every single IS300 that I have worked on here has had this same issue with the brakes. We can replace the weakened metal clips with new ones while your car is under warranty, and also install some spacers at one end of the brake pads to reduce the amount of float to some degree. This will help to cut down on the noise whenever you shift into reverse and then apply the brakes for the first time. And it will also help with the noise in the forward direction to a lesser degree. This procedure won't completely eliminate the noisy brake issue, but it will indeed help for a while. But the problem will eventually reintroduce itself over time."

jenniferf45 · Lexus Owner Joined: Oct 06, 2006 Posts: 2

Thank you mealexie for your detailed reply! I took it to the dealership and they said it's the ABS system and that it's normal. Also, I have aftermarket brake pads on the car so the clips aren't there. Any thoughts?