How Your Toyota Brakes Work

You press the pedal and you Toyota comes to a stop. Time and time again when you’re driving, you use the brakes to slow down and come to a halt. But do you know how your Toyota brakes work? And do you know what to do when something doesn’t feel or sound right?

What Makes Up Toyota Brakes?

Nearly all Toyota vehicles – cars, trucks, vans and SUVs use disc brakes on the front and on the rear wheels. Disc braking systems typically contain a brake caliper, brake pads, and a brake rotor or disc. Here’s how it works:

• When you press the brake pedal, fluid from the reservoir pushes through the brake lines and into the brake caliper.
• The hydraulic pressure inside the caliper forces a piston to extend.
• The piston pushes against an inner brake pad at each wheel with even side to side pressure.
• The brake pads squeeze on both sides of the brake rotor.
• The friction against the brake rotor causes your car to slow down and come to a stop.
• When you release the pressure on your Toyota brakes, the car can once again move.

Problems Can Happen

Toyota brakes are considered wear components, meaning it’s normal for them to eventually wear out. When they do, they require replacement. That’s something your Toyota dealer, Jay Wolfe Toyota can do for you. Symptoms of brake issues include:

• A squealing or grinding noise when you press the brake pedal
• A vibration in the steering wheel when you press the brakes
• A chirping noise when you’re driving normally
• Your brakes may not work as well as they used to
• The brake pedal might sink nearer to the floor when it’s pressed

Your Toyota brakes are your first line of defense, preventing you from getting into an accident. It’s important that they always work at their best to keep you and your passengers safe. If you need your Toyota’s brakes looked at or repaired, let us help. At Jay Wolfe Toyota, our factory-trained technicians will get your brakes working just like new!