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Everything You Need To Know About Brake Calipers!

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What is a brake caliper and how do they work?

A brake caliper houses your car's brake pads and pistons and Its job is to slow the car's wheels down by creating friction. Brake caliper by car wheel

The brake caliper is one of the most important things for stopping your car quickly and safely. They clamp onto the rotor so when you touch the brake the pressure firmly causes it press against the rotor making the car stop.

The caliper is fitted on the mounting plate which is found over the top of the wheel’s rotor. The brake shoes or pads are made of friction material then squeeze the rotor. This is forced to do so from the brake fluid pressure in the pistons to slow it down and allow it to stop.

How do I know If my brake caliper is faulty?

Due to brake calipers being one of the most important components in allowing the car to stop, it can be very dangerous if they are faulty. You may hear odd noises coming from the caliper when driving or freezing and sticking from the brake caliper itself when you try to brake. This may be caused by excessive brake caliper use causing the brakes to wear unevenly, which is why it would be wise to replace the brake pads also. This may be caused by the pistons being stuck in the caliper which will cause a seized brake caliper. Seized brake symptoms may include the car pulling to one side due to uneven wear.

How often should you replace your brake caliper?

You should look to replace your brake caliper(s) from around 70-100,000 miles or 7-10 years down the line depending on the type of car and how you have used it throughout the years.

man replacing a brake caliper on a car

This is due to the aging of the brake caliper which increases the risk of a seized caliper or sticking as it gets older which is due to the rubber seals hardening.

You also need to change the brake calipers in pairs instead of on its own because both brake calipers work with each other so it would be best if they were both at the same level of wear.

 

How much does it cost to replace your brake caliper?

To replace your brake caliper, prices usually range depending on the type of car and model from around £100-£200, which may be a little steep if you just want to get back on the road. However, if you’re confident doing it at home then you’ll save yourself some pennies. You can check out our other blog post to see how you can fit a brake caliper yourself at home. If you decide that you want to fit the caliper yourself and you need to buy one then look no further, here at Energized Customs we have a huge selection of quality brake calipers you can buy yourself on our website at some of the very best prices.

Check out our wide range of other braking components.

We do however recommend that you go to a professional if you’re not confident in fitting them yourself.

 

How to paint your brake calipers

You may think that painting your brake calipers is completely pointless, but people choose to do it as it gives your vehicle a neat and sportier look.

image of whole car with arrow pointing to caliper

This can also work as an extra protection layer from rust making your car look a lot cleaner. Although this can be quite beneficial to your car, if done incorrectly it can do a lot of damage, so we recommend doing it with care and seek assistance if you need help. 

FAQ

What will you need to clean your brake calipers? To  clean your brake calipers you will need a car jack to lift the car, some lubricant for the metal parts, a flathead screwdriver to get to the brake caliper, a rubber vacuum cap to block out any leaks, a wire brush to actually remove the rust, a scrubbing sponge to clean the pads and an air nozzle to make sure you’re letting in compressed air.

Red painted brake calipers being cleaned

Do you need new brakes if you hear a squealing sound? Squealing noise in the brakes may be due to the metal fibres being to close together on the pad. If these are new brakes don’t be alarmed as this is quite common. If you have old brakes and they are making an odd squeaking noise, we recommend you get it checked out immediately and replace them.

 

Do brake calipers need to be replaced in pairs? It is the best option to replace your brake caliper in pairs. However if your calipers are relatively new and it is evidently just the one caliper that is causing the issue you might want to go with just the one but replacing both will make sure you’ve got even wear on either side, a lot like replacing tyres.

 

What are the different types of brake calipers? There are a few different types of brake caliper, such a floating caliper which has one piston positioned on only one side and fixed calipers which has at least two opposing pistons fixed to the disc. You also get single piston and twin piston calipers, and ones that have an integrated parking brake. Also, if you need any more online car parts i would highly reccommend you check out the rest of our site, where we have a huge range of quality car parts available for the cheapest prices on the market!Porsche__911 red brake caliper on disc

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