Brake calipers for your car

Only a functioning brake makes a car fit for use. Therefore it is very important to ensure optimal brake functioning at all times. Most important is having periodic inspections carried out for brake maintenance. New brake discs or brake shoes can be ordered in our online shop. Possibly, you might also need a new brake caliper. This car part is a metal part of relatively solid construction sitting on the brake disc. The brake caliper is part of the brake disc unit, fixed on the axle. In the brake caliper, brake linings can be found as well as the hydraulic-technical components responsible for its movement. The caliper itself is a massive cast steel element and generally does not wear down by itself as it is built to last a car's life span. Replacement of a brake caliper by a second-hand part poses no problem, on condition that its functionality has been tested. Defective brake calipers, on the other hand, constitute a high safety risk as they degrade the braking function. For several reasons, this can have fatal results.

Disc brake technology

A damaged brake caliper does not occur very often. A defective brake caliper will be noticed immediately. The braking function deteriorates instantly when the brake caliper is no longer intact. In the best case it is only a reduction of the braking function. In case of an unfortunate caliper breach, at least a partial failure of the braking function can occur. Fortunately this is an absolute exception, as brake manufacturers take great care that this shouldn't happen. Nevertheless you should never take any risks in case of brake problems.

Typical malfunctions

The most common defect of a brake caliper is a jammed guide piston. The guide piston absorbs the hydraulic power of the brake hose and transmits the pressure on the brake linings. Changes to the material, like swelling, dirt particle intrusion or abrasion can lead to a guide piston becoming stuck in its sleeve, no longer being able to transmit pressure to the brake lining. This is serious enough as the car no longer has its full braking power. What makes it worse is the fact that a defective brake caliper never occurs simultaneously on all wheels. The unbalanced brake function leads to a strong, sudden and unexpected loss of directional stability. During braking, the car steers in the direction of the side where the brake is still intact with the risk of driving against an obstacle or slipping, and in the worst case overturning. A brake caliper defect can be found with a brake test in a garage before it becomes apparent during driving. Especially in old cars, where the maintenance situation of the brake caliper is unknown, the brake condition should be checked periodically. For old cars, replacing the linings, discs and brake fluid is not enough. From a certain car age – we recommend 5 years – a yearly or half-yearly brake test is mandatory. Typical symptoms of a jammed brake caliper are grinding noises and a strong warming of the wheel. A new brake caliper can be found with our spare part search engine.