2010 Lexus GX460 brakes

375
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not use cruise control when you are towing.
●Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do
not make sudden downshifts.
●Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too fre-
quently.
This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
■Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Lexus dealer.
●Use only a hitch that conforms to the total trailer weight requirement.
●Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
●Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
●Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer. After removing
the hitch, seal any mounting hole in the vehicle body to prevent entry of any sub-
stances into the vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
●If the total trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb . (453 kg), trailer brakes are required.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s brak-
ing effectiveness.
●Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the
trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is
a risk of the trailer wandering into another lane.

376
2-5. Driving information
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
●Do not use axle-mounted hitches, as they can cause damage to the axle housing,
wheel bearings, wheels or tires.
■Brakes
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations.
■Safety chain
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehicle and the trailer.
Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns. The chain should cross under the trailer
tongue to prevent the tongue from droppi ng to the ground in the case that it
becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain installation proce-
dure, ask your Lexus dealer.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may dama ge your vehicle’s electrical system and
cause a malfunction.

378
2-5. Driving information
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)●
Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making
turns.
● Note that when making a turn, the tr ailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making a
larger than normal turning radius.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adve rsely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Periodically check the rear to prepare
for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may cause your vehi-
cle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel,
reduce speed immediately but gradua lly, and steer straight ahead.
Never increase speed. If you make no extreme correction with the
steering or brakes, your vehi cle and trailer will stabilize.
● Take care when passing other vehicl es. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of your
trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes.
● In order to maintain efficient eng ine braking and electrical charging
performance, do not use overdrive. Transmission shift range position
must be in 5, in S mode.
● Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over 85 °F [30 °C]) when driving up a
long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioning (if in use), pull
your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot. (
P. 74 4 )

379
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)●
Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the pa rking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so
only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in pl ace, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in the P posit ion, start the engine. Be sure
to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into 3, 2, L, or R position (if reversing).
Release the parking brake and br ake pedal, and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
STEP1STEP1
STEP2STEP2
STEP1STEP3STEP3
STEP1STEP4STEP4
STEP1STEP5STEP5STEP5
STEP1STEP1
STEP2STEP2
STEP1STEP3STEP3
STEP1STEP4STEP4

598
4-2. Maintenance
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator pedal
• The accelerator pedal should move smoothly (without uneven pedal
effort or catching).
Automatic transmission “Park”
mechanism• When parked on a slope and the shift lever is in P, is the vehicle
securely stopped?
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have appro- priate clearance from the floor?
• Does the brake pedal have the cor-
rect amount of free play?
Brakes
• The vehicle should not pull to one side when the brakes are applied.
• The brakes should work effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel
spongy.
• The brake pedal should not get too
close to the floor when the brakes
are applied.

676
5-1. Essential information
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)
Emergency towingIf a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using a cable or ch ain secured to the emergency towing
eyelet. This should only attempted on hard surfaced roads for short dis-
tances at low speeds. 
A driver must be in the vehicle to s teer and operate the brakes. The vehi-
cle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condi-
tion.
Towing hook (front)
Towing hook (rear)

5
When trouble arises
679
5-1. Essential information
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)
■Before emergency towingThe “ENGINE START STOP” switch must be in the ACCESSORY mode
(engine off) or IGNITION ON mode (engine running).
Put the four-wheel drive control switch in H4. (The center differential is
unlocked.)
Put the vehicle height in the N mode and press height control switch to
turn off the rear height control air suspension.
Shift the shift lever in N.
Release the parking brake.
CAUTION
■Caution while towing
●Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle. 
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which place excessive stress on
the emergency towing eyelets and the cables or chains. Always use caution for
the surroundings and other vehicles while towing.
●Do not turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch off. 
Doing so will lock the steering wheel and prevent operation, possibly causing an
accident and result ing in death or serious injury.
●If the engine is not running, the power assi st for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

5
When trouble arises
695
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
GX460_U.S.A. (OM60E69U)
CAUTION
■If both the ABS and the brake system warning lights remain on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact your Lexus dealer. The
vehicle will become extremely unstable during braking, and the ABS system may
fail, which could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■When the power steering system warning light comes on
The steering wheel may become extremely heavy. 
If the steering wheel becomes heavier than usual when operating, hold firmly and
operate using more force than usual.
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precaution s. Failure to do so could cause loss of
vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire inflation pres-
sure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pressure adjust-
ment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires. If the tire is flat,
change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired by the nearest Lexus
dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you could
lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning system may not activate immediately.