Aluminum Infiniti 8 Pots Brake Caliper Fit 410*36mm Brake Disc Rotor Kit

The brake caliper is a part of your car’s disc brakes that houses the brake pads and pistons. When you apply the brakes, the brake caliper forces the brake pad to clamp down on the wheel rotor to cause friction. This friction is what slows down your car.

If you’re using a damaged caliper, your brakes won’t generate enough friction, which can make them less effective and compromise your road safety. It’s one of those situations where you need to take your car to a mechanic right away.

What Is A Brake Caliper?
The brake caliper is a crucial component of your car’s disc brake system since it houses the brake pads and pistons.

How does a brake caliper work?

When you apply brakes, the following usually happens:

A small piston inside the car’s master cylinder exerts pressure on the brake fluid.
Brake lines carry this pressurized brake fluid to your brake calipers.
A large piston housed inside the brake caliper multiplies this hydraulic pressure. It pushes the brake pads against the brake rotor.
The brake pads clamp down on the rotors to cause friction and slow down your car.
Essentially, a brake caliper’s job is to help create the friction that brings your car to a halt.

But, what if your brake calipers don’t work, or what if they’re damaged?

Then, your calipers won’t be able to exert the necessary pressure to create sufficient friction, making it challenging to slow down your car. This compromises your road safety.

When Do You Need A Brake Caliper Replacement?
Here are some tell-tale signs indicating you need a brake caliper replacement soon.

Consider getting them replaced if you experience any of these brake caliper issues:

1. Leaking Brake Calipers
When the caliper piston seal gets worn out or damaged, brake fluid starts to leak onto the caliper.

This affects your brake system performance since you’re losing brake fluid — which ultimately reduces the braking force that a brake caliper piston can generate.

So, if you notice a brake fluid leak, take your car immediately to a mechanic and get the brake caliper piston and its seal inspected.

2. Your Car Veers Off To One Side When Braking
Sometimes, when you slam the brakes, you’ll notice that the car veers off to one side.

This usually indicates uneven brake pad wear on either side of your vehicle. It could also mean that you’ve got bad brake calipers that can’t exert uniform braking pressure on both sides.

To be safe, take your car to a mechanic to inspect both your brake pads and brake calipers to determine which component might warrant a replacement.

3. You Hear Noises When Braking
If you notice high-pitched squealing or groaning noises whenever you hit the brakes, it usually means that the brake pads within the caliper have worn out.

When the brake pads wear out entirely, the backing plates behind them start grinding at the discs and produce brake dust that sticks to your car’s wheels. Eventually, this can damage both your brake caliper and brake rotor.

Have your brake system inspected to verify whether you need just a brake pad replacement or must replace the brake calipers as well.

4. The Brake Pedal Feels Soft
When your brake pedal feels soft when you press down on it, it can mean that air has seeped into the brake fluid.

Since air is compressible, it reduces the pressure that your brake line can transmit; and reduced pressure results in lower stopping power.

If you feel like you’ve got a spongy brake pedal, chances are you’re dealing with failing brake calipers. Be sure to call a mechanic as soon as possible to inspect your brake assembly and see if you have a damaged caliper.

5. Your Brake Warning Lights Are On
Some cars come with a built-in warning light that alerts you if your brake system isn’t working as expected.

However, the warning light is usually representative of your entire brake system. So it can light up when any of the brake components aren’t functioning properly.

If your brake warning lights are on, take your car in for a full inspection, so your mechanic can determine whether you have a bad brake caliper or another issue.