How to Tell if Your Brake Caliper is Bad

Most drivers know the importance of healthy and well-maintained braking systems. The braking system of a vehicle is essential for safety. For this reason, it is vital to know the parts that go into safely stopping your vehicle and telltale symptoms of malfunctioning parts. Below is information about brake calipers, why they are essential to your car's braking system, and signs that they may need servicing or replacement.

What is a Brake Caliper?

The brake calipers on your car are part of the disc brake system. The brake caliper is what houses the brake pads and pistons. By creating friction with the brake rotors, the brake calipers can slow the car's wheels. Essentially, the brake caliper on your vehicle is in charge of squeezing the brake pad against the rotor to stop the vehicle. Because of this critical function, it is essential to maintain and replace the brake caliper when needed.

How to Tell if your Brake Calipers are Bad:

There are telltale signs of malfunctioning or old parts for most issues in a car. For brake calipers, a few signs can signal to you as a driver that it may be time to replace it. Other parts of your vehicle's brake system are worn out, improperly replaced, or old can also lead to similar symptoms and damage the brake calipers in the long term. A failing brake caliper can result in uneven brake wear by being stuck open or stuck closed. Diagnosing this before it becomes a problem will help your brake system and your safety, which is another reason that regular maintenance and inspections are valuable. Depending on how you drive, the frequency of maintenance or inspections can vary widely.

During Inspection or Maintenance

You may be lucky enough to have malfunctioning calipers discovered during scheduled brake maintenance or car inspection. If thoroughly done, these problems will be discovered before they pose a serious risk to you or other vehicles on the road. Whether this is during your brake system inspection or a brake replacement, technicians are capable of noticing early warning signs of a bad brake caliper.

Your Vehicle Pulls to One Side

If you find that your car is pulling or steering to one side while driving, this may be a sign that you need to replace it or some other part of the vehicle's braking system. When you press the brake pedal, the brake pads squeeze, and they release when you let go of the pedal. If the caliper is stuck, then the brake pad may not release or may not even grab the rotor in the first place. If this were to happen, then your vehicle will pull to the side of the caliper that will not release, and your car will pull away from the caliper if it does not grab. While driving, one way to test this is to safely remove your hands from the steering wheel momentarily. If you find that your car pulls to one side of the road while trying to maintain a straight route, it may be time to get an inspection.

A Fluid Leak

If you notice the brake caliper of your vehicle leaking fluid, this is a sign to get your car inspected and fixed if necessary. This can be dangerous because it may mean that your car's brake system loses hydraulic pressure because of the leak. If you see signs of a leak on the ground by the inside of your tire, it is essential to address the issue immediately. In addition, it is necessary to avoid driving the car if this problem presents itself, as it can create a dangerous situation for you, your vehicle, and other drivers on the road.

An Abnormal Sound

Although most cars and car issues can cause a variance of sounds, it is vital to know the sound that bad brake calipers may produce. Brake pads, for example, make a squealing noise when they are getting old and worn out. A seized brake caliper will release a similar squealing noise to worn-out brake pads. This sound will start as a rubbing sound and, if neglected, will escalate to a metallic grinding, scraping, or rubbing sound. This sound indicates metal-on-metal contact within your brake system. In a different, more uncommon, and extreme circumstance, you may hear a clunk sound when you press on the brake pedal. If this sound is present when braking, it may be a sign that your brake caliper or caliper bracket is broken, and it is essential to stop driving to avoid causing more damage. A brake caliper replacement is necessary to prevent further damage to you or the vehicle if this issue occurs.

What to do if your Brake Caliper is Bad:

If any of these signs are present in your vehicle, it is important to schedule maintenance or repair. However, even if you are unsure of the severity or extent of the issue, Wrench offers diagnostic services to help you figure out what the problem is and solve it!

How to Book an appointment with Wrench

Wrench has hundreds of ASE-certified mobile technicians across the country to help make car maintenance and repair simple. With our online booking platform, it has never been simpler to book an appointment with Wrench.

To get started, the button located at the top and bottom of this page will lead you to our booking service. From there, you will be asked to enter the VIN of your vehicle, or you will have the ability to manually enter the year, make, and model of your car. Once this information has been entered, you have the opportunity to select from the list of services that Wrench offers. An automated quote will appear after selecting the services you need, including a cost breakdown for parts and labor. Next, you will be asked to enter some basic information. At this point in the booking process, you will have the chance to choose the date, time, and location for your service. The only thing that we ask you to keep in mind when selecting the site is to choose an area that is safe and flat so that our technicians can complete the process efficiently. Once you are all booked, you can sit back and relax while Wrench completes your car maintenance or repair. You will not be charged until the service is completed to guarantee exceptional service. So get started today with Wrench and our outstanding mobile auto technicians!