Keeping your brakes working well is essential to safe driving, but at Fields Lexus of Glenview, we find many drivers aren’t clear about how they work. These precision Lexus parts are designed for high-performance driving, but they require regular service to work their best.

Hitting the Brakes

When you hit the brake pedal in your car, you are pushing a piston into the master cylinder. This piston increases the pressure of the brake fluid inside the cylinder, which then transmits the force to brake assemblies in the front and rear. Through these assemblies, the pressure from your foot is directly applied to your tires, bringing you safely to a stop.

Disc Brakes

Inside a disc brake, a caliper is attached to the spinning rotor of the wheel. When pressure is applied, the caliper clamps down on the rotor with its brake pads, applying friction and slowing down the spinning wheel. Because of the high amount of precise pressure calipers can apply, disc brakes are the standard design for modern vehicles.

Drum Brakes

Modern cars always use disc brakes for their front axle, but they may use drum brakes in the rear. Rather than only applying a caliper, drum brakes cover and apply pressure to the entire spinning rotor. While this tried-and-tested brake design has been around for more than a century, it generates more heat and friction than disc brakes and is more complicated to fix.

Get Lexus Brake Service in Glenview, IL Near Chicago

Your brakes are the first stage of protection against accidents, so if you’re having issues with stopping power, visit us at Fields Lexus of Glenview. Our expert Lexus service team will perform a complete inspection, including the brake system, to get you back in gear and driving your best in no time!