Have you noticed your vehicle pulling to one side on its own? Does your brake pedal feel soft or spongy? These could be signs of a bad brake caliper.
While brake pads must be replaced periodically, calipers should last the life of the vehicle, but that doesn’t always happen. Calipers can eventually fail and compromise the overall safety of your car.
Being familiar with the symptoms of a bad brake caliper will help you address the issue right away.
What Does a Brake Caliper Do?
Brake calipers are fairly straightforward components. Most modern vehicles have a four-wheel disc brake system with a caliper at each wheel, while some cars have disc brakes with calipers in the front and drum brakes in the back.
When you push the brake pedal to apply the brakes, brake fluid flows to the individual calipers. The pressurized fluid forces a piston inside the caliper to squeeze a pair of brake pads against the brake rotor. Forcing the pads against the rotor creates the friction needed to bring your car to a stop.
Each caliper mounts (either directly or indirectly) to one of the car’s steering knuckles. A brake hose delivers pressurized fluid to the caliper.
Calipers also have bleeder screws that a mechanic can open to purge the brake system of air. They may have either one or two pistons, depending on the application.
There are two basic caliper designs: fixed and floating. Fixed calipers mount directly to the steering knuckle and do not move back and forth. Floating calipers (a.k.a. sliding calipers), on the other hand, mount to an adapter plate, which is bolted to the steering knuckle.
A set of slider pins or bolts allows the caliper to slide back and forth as the brakes are applied and released.
Symptoms Of A Bad Brake Caliper
The most common symptoms of a bad brake caliper include the car pulling to one side while braking, dragging brakes, and reduced stopping power.
You might also notice uneven brake pad wear, a soft or spongy brake pedal, strange noises, or even a burning smell caused by excessive friction. In some cases, a brake fluid leak may also be present.
Let’s take a closer look at these signs of a failing brake caliper and what they can mean for your braking system.
Still unsure what’s wrong with your car? Ask a mechanic now.
#1. Car Pulls to One Side When Braking.
When a caliper seizes, it won’t retract back into its original position. Therefore, it continues to push against the brake pad, leading to dragging along the rotor.
While the caliper is stuck, the vehicle inevitably pulls to the side, especially while braking, because the force is unequal. You may have to counteract the pulling by steering to the other side while braking.
#2. Dragging.
For the very same reason, you may also feel the car dragging on one side while driving. The stuck caliper pushes the pads into the rotor even when you aren’t braking.
It’s going to create a similar sensation to what it feels like when you have a foot on the gas and another on the pedal, even though you aren’t actually braking. Continuing to drive like this only creates unnecessary wear to the brake pads and rotors.
#3. Reduced Stopping Power.
According to the NHTSA, brake problems cause more than 20% of accidents. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your brakes provide the necessary stopping power they were designed to give you.
When any part of your brakes isn’t working as it was intended, braking power can be reduced. This puts you at a higher risk of an accident, so you don’t want to overlook the issue.
#4. Uneven Brake Pad Wear.
As the caliper pins stick, the brake pads will inevitably wear faster. With the brake pads engaged more than necessary, the material starts to wear prematurely.
It isn’t just the brake pads you need to worry about. Because the pads are dragging against the rotor, that surface is also going to wear down unnaturally.
#5. Brake Fluid Leak.
In normal operating conditions, you shouldn’t need to add any brake fluid. It remains intact in the braking system unless there’s a leak. When a caliper fails, fluid can start to leak around it. The fluid would be coming from the piston seal with the caliper activated.
In some cases, you may notice the brake fluid level dropping before noticing any other symptoms. A quick visual inspection would reveal where the fluid is coming from, leading you to the bad caliper.
#6. Soft or Spongy Brake Pedal.
The stuck caliper leads to a soft or spongy brake pedal, but usually, because the fluid is leaking. It can also be caused by air in the brake lines or occur when the pads become overheated.
There’s also the chance that you are feeling a strange pedal because of the additional clearance. A seized caliper creates clearance between the pad and rotor, which makes the whole system feel different.
#7. Brake Noises.
As the brake caliper sticks, you may hear some interesting noises. If the problem stems from the brake caliper bracket breaking, you may hear clunking. This can also cause the wheel to lock up.
The brakes may also squeal, similar to what you hear when the pads are low. Yet, you may hear this noise even when the brake pedal isn’t depressed because the caliper is causing the pad to remain engaged.
If the problem gets too bad, both the pads and rotor are going to wear, eventually causing a grinding noise. This would be your last warning before brake failure occurs.
#8. Burning Smell.
The final warning sign is a burning smell. The burning smell created by a stuck caliper is unique because it’s reminiscent of the odor from overheated brakes. It’s not going to smell like burning electronics or an overheated engine.
With the brake pads constantly engaged, the material becomes too hot. The biggest problem after noticing this smell is that the brakes aren’t going to work as intended once they become too hot. This problem further leads to a loss of brakes.
What’s The Function Of A Brake Caliper?
The braking system in a vehicle is a complex arrangement of components whose sole objective is to slow down or bring the vehicle to a complete stop. The system has the brake pedal, master cylinder, brake lines, brake calipers, brake pads, and brake rotors (also known as brake discs).
The brake caliper is a housing for the brake pads and is responsible for transforming hydraulic pressure into mechanical force. When the driver pushes the brake pedal, the hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder is transmitted to the brake caliper.
As the hydraulic pressure reaches the brake caliper, it enters the caliper housing and exerts a force on the pistons inside. The pistons, typically made of metal or composite materials, respond to the hydraulic pressure by moving outward from their original positions within the caliper housing.
The outward movement of the pistons forces the brake pads to come into contact with the brake rotor on both sides. The brake pads, also made of friction material, grip the rotor tightly when pressure is applied. This action generates friction between the brake pads and the rotor, slowing down or stopping the rotation of the wheels.
The clamping force exerted by the pistons on the brake pads determines the effectiveness of the braking action. The more force applied, the stronger the braking power. This force is modulated by the driver’s input on the brake pedal, allowing for varying degrees of braking force depending on the situation.
Once the brake pedal is released, the hydraulic pressure in the brake lines is reduced. As a result, the pressure inside the caliper decreases, allowing the pistons to retract back into their original positions.
The retraction of the pistons creates a gap between the brake pads and the rotor, effectively releasing the clamping force. With the brake pads no longer in contact with the rotor, there is no friction, and the wheels can rotate freely again.
Where Are The Brake Calipers Located?
The brake caliper is a part of a disc brake system and is located on a caliper mount. The front brake caliper mount is on the steering knuckle, and the rear caliper mount is close to the rear wheels.
The brake caliper contains both pads and pistons, and brake lines run to the caliper to transfer hydraulic fluid.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Brake Caliper?
When it comes to brake replacement, the cost can vary significantly between DIY and professional repairs. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the difference.
Professional Repair Costs
For professional brake pad replacement, you can expect to pay between $115 and $270 per axle, depending on the parts and labor rates. This typically includes between $35 and $150 for the brake pads themselves and around $80 to $120 for labor per axle.
If you’re replacing rotors along with the pads, the cost increases to between $250 and $500 per axle. Rotors usually cost between $30 and $75 each, and labor for this service typically adds $150 to $200 per axle.
For a complete brake repair, which includes replacing pads, rotors, and calipers, the price generally falls between $300 and $800, with some vehicles easily surpassing $1,000 due to more expensive parts or complex labor.
DIY Brake Repair Costs
On the other hand, DIY brake repair can save you a significant amount of money, but it requires time, tools, and mechanical know-how.
If you’re comfortable with the process, you can purchase brake pads for $35 to $150, rotors for $30 to $75 each, and calipers for up to $130 each. While these parts add up, you eliminate labor costs, which can account for $80 to $200 per axle in professional repairs.
For a full DIY brake job, including pads, rotors, and calipers, you could spend around $150 to $400, depending on the quality of the parts and whether you need any additional tools.
Choosing the Right Option
While the DIY route is cheaper, it requires confidence in your ability to perform the repair safely. Brake systems are crucial to your vehicle’s safety, so if you’re unsure about doing the job yourself, it’s worth paying for a professional to handle the repair.
Many auto parts stores offer access to preferred installers if you decide to go the professional route.
How long do brake calipers last?
Brake calipers should last at least 75,000 miles. The average life span reportedly tends to hover around 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Don’t treat those intervals as gospel, though, because any number of factors could greatly reduce the life span of your calipers. Hard braking, salty roads, and a moist climate can all wear down your calipers much faster, so you shouldn’t necessarily expect them to last a full 10 years in all cases.
To put it another way, if your brakes are acting strange, pull over and have them inspected. Don’t convince yourself that it’s not your calipers because they’re too young.