BMW M5 Disc 380*34mm 6 Pots Brake Caliper For BMW E92 335i Front

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6 Pots Brake Caliper BMW M5 Disc 380*34mm For BMW E92 335i Front

HOW A BRAKE CALIPER WORKS

The brakes on modern vehicles are a bit more complicated than you might expect but here's a simplified look at what happens in a disc brake system. Let's start with what happens when you press the brake pedal.

When you apply the brakes, you create a force that is sent to a hydraulic system. Hydraulic systems work on the principle that, unlike air, fluid can't be compressed. In a braking system, this means that brake fluid is pushed out from the master cylinder and moves to each wheel via brake lines. The force of the fluid then pushes on the brake pads, which create friction against the rotor and slow the vehicle.

The brake caliper is the point where the hydraulic and friction components meet. Inside the C-shaped caliper is a piston — or sometimes multiple pistons, depending on the needs of the vehicle. When brake fluid gets pushed to each wheel, it then puts pressure on the caliper pistons, which move against the brake pads that are held in place inside the caliper. The pads, in turn, make contact with the rotors.

Calipers are not meant to be replaced at regular intervals like brake pads and rotors. Ideally, they'll last the life of the vehicle, so you probably won't even think about your brake calipers until you have a problem.

SIGNS OF A BAD BRAKE CALIPER

You might first experience signs of a bad caliper while you're driving:

You might notice that your vehicle pulls to one side. This can happen when one brake remains engaged, causing a drag that pulls on one side of the vehicle.

Another common sign is that your brake pedal feels soft or spongy. Seized slide pins – which need to be able to move freely – can cause this condition.

It's possible you might also hear some abnormal sounds, like squealing or grinding as the friction pad is prematurely worn away. These are also the normal sounds you might hear when it's time to replace your pads and rotors, so don't panic just yet.

A burning smell coming from one wheel. The constant engagement of the brakes when the caliper is frozen can quickly lead to overheating and an alarming smell.

In fact, all of these symptoms could point to more problems than just the caliper, so you'll need to take a look at the brake caliper itself. Other signs of a bad brake caliper include:

Leaking brake fluid around the piston

Seized slide pins on floating calipers

Seized caliper piston

Rust or pitting around the piston

A frozen slide pin or piston will cause abnormal brake pad wear as a pad remains engaged and is dragged across the rotor. Checking a slide pin on a floating caliper is easy, as you should be able to move it by hand even without removing the caliper. A C-clamp or piston retractor is an easy way to confirm a piston is seized. For further confirmation here, keep in mind that with a seized piston you might see more wear on the inside pad, whereas a frozen slide pin often causes abnormal wear on the outside pad.

If you're wondering, yes, sometimes calipers can be rebuilt. However, we recommend replacing them instead. It's a real time-saver, plus given the importance of your brakes, we think evaluating whether a caliper can safely be rebuilt is best left to the pros.

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