Brake calipers: common defects and their signs

1. Wear out.
   • Strange sounds from the wheel side are heard at brake pedal pressing.
   • Working travel of the brake pad increased.
   • Brake pedal pulsing when pressed.
2. Deformation.
   • The vehicle randomly changes its trajectory at braking.
   • Brakes lock if bigger force is applied.
   • The component has defects which can be determined visually.
3. Loosened fastenings.
   • One of the wheels brakes when the braking pedal is not pressed.
   • Unusual sound appears in the braking system.
   • The braking pedal vibrates at pressing.
4. Soiling.
   • The car diverges from the direct trajectory during braking.
   • Brake screeching is heard at braking.

How to repair or replace brake calipers?

If component defects are insignificant, you can try to repair it. You can perform the following work types:

• cleaning corrosion spots (if the caliper is not deformed);
• replacing sealing elements;
• disassembling the component, cleaning all the elements.

These procedures are rather easy, and you can perform them without specialist assistance.

If damage or wear out is significant, such a detail should be replaced. You can do this at any service station but if you have special skills you will be able to install new brake calipers on your own. For this, perform the following:

1. Unscrew wheel bolts or nuts, set wheel chocks in place. Lift the car body with the help of a jack and demount the wheel.
2. Disconnect the brake hose from the caliper and the shock-absorber strut. Put its end into the tank for brake fluid draining.
3. Push brake pads off with the help of a flat head screwdriver.
4. Unscrew the brake caliper off the center pin and demount it.
5. Install a new component and put the brake pads to their position.
6. Screw the brake hose to the caliper and the shock-absorber strut.
7. Pump the brake system.
8. Install the wheel and put the car down. Screw the wheel connections to the max.

Remember that many brake system elements including the calipers should be replaced in pairs on one of the car axles. It is also recommended to fill the system with new brake fluid along with caliper replacement.

Change brake pads while replacing the brake caliper. Thoroughly examine brake discs and brake hoses, replace them if necessary.
Lubricate the brake caliper guide pins each time when changing the brake pads (every 25 000 - 30 000 km).

Types:

1. By design:
   • brake calipers with a floating bracket;
   • brake calipers with a fixed bracket.
2. By material:
   • cast iron;
   • aluminium.
3. By axle:
   • front-axle brake calipers;
   • rear-axle brake calipers.
4. By mounting side:
   • right side;
   • left side.