The front brake rotors on the Lexus RX330 model vehicles are the main component that the front brakes compress against to stop the vehicle. The front rotors on the Lexus RX330 are also vented to allow the heat to escape from the brake rotors. This venting design on the front brake rotors helps prevent warping and cracking from extreme heat. Once the front rotors start to crack and warp, the rotors will need to be replaced.
Park the Lexus RX330 in the area that you are going to be working in and set the emergency brake.
Open the hood and remove the cap from the brake fluid reservoir.
Loosen all of the lug nuts on the front driver side of the Lexus RX330 with the lug wrench.
Jack the front of the Lexus RX330 up and put a jack stand under each frame rail behind each front tire. Lower the jack so that the Lexus RX330 is resting evenly on the jack stands.
Finish unscrewing the lug nuts from the lugs and pull the wheel off the hub. Set the wheel to the side.
Locate the brake caliper that is sitting on top of the brake rotor. Take the pry bar and stick it between the rear brake pad and the brake rotor. Pry the rear brake pad toward the back side of the brake caliper. This will compress the cylinder inside of the brake caliper enough for you to be able to swivel the brake caliper.
Remove the lower, caliper-mounting bolt on the rear of the caliper with the 1/2-inch breaker bar and a socket. The brake caliper on the Lexus RX330 has a bolt on the rear bottom of the caliper and a swivel pin on the top of the caliper. Once you remove the bottom bolt from the rear of the caliper, swivel the caliper upward. Put the bungee cord on one end of the caliper and hang the other end of the bungee cord on the frame rail. This will give you the room needed to remove the brake rotor from the hub.
Remove the Allen-head bolt that is holding the brake rotor in place. The Allen-head bolt is on the facing of the brake rotor. Insert the Allen wrench inside of the Allen head bolt and turn the Allen wrench counterclockwise to loosen and remove the bolt.
Slide the old brake rotor straight off of the hub. Set the rotor to the side and slide the new brake rotor onto the hub. Screw the Allen-head bolt back into the facing of the rotor and tighten the Allen-head bolt down tight with the Allen-head wrench.
Unhook the bungee cord and slide the brake caliper back over the new brake rotor. Screw the rear bottom-mounting bolt back into the caliper. Tighten the rear-caliper bolt down tight with the 1/2-inch drive breaker bar and a socket.
Slide the wheel back onto the hub. Screw the lug nuts on and tighten them down with the lug wrench. Then, jack the Lexus RX330 up and remove the jack stands. Lower the Lexus to the floor.
Finish tightening the lug nuts down tight with the lug wrench. Screw the cap back onto the brake fluid reservoir. Follow these same steps for replacing the brake rotor on the front passenger side also.
