Disc brake caliper problems
Warning signs of a disc brake caliper problem. Vehicle manufacturers put a lot of time in making their brake calipers safe for obvious reasons. Generally this is one system that they do not want their customers to have a problem with. With this said it is still possible to have problems with brake calipers. A couple common problems would be a binding caliper or one that develops a leak. In the first example if you have a binding caliper this is where the piston does not move smoothly out of its bore and winds up applying a different amount of force than the other ones on the vehicle.
When this happens the most common complaint from the driver would be a pulling condition when applying the brakes. With this type of disc brake caliper problem usually the harder the braking the harder they pull. In the case of binding brake calipers greatly accelerated pad wear can usually be found. This can help isolate the problem area. Sometimes the inboard pad will be worn more than the outboard pad but overall the pads on that wheel might be wearing at a faster rate than on the other wheels of the vehicle.
Brake fluid leaking
In the case of a caliper leaking brake fluid most often the driver complaining would be illuminated red brake warning lights. When fluid leaks out of the brake system there is a float in the master cylinder that will turn on the red warning light in the dash to notify the driver of a problem. If the caliper begins leaking brake fluid the most likely cause is a failed piston seal. However on very old vehicles the rubber brake lines can also leak out near the calipers. Some shops recommend overhauling the caliper by replacing all the seals. I prefer to replace the caliper assembly with either a new or re-manufactured unit that would carry some kind of warranty (just my opinion).
What are loaded brake calipersLoaded calipers are completely assembled with new friction pads and all mounting hardware included. Besides the convenience and savings on installation time these completely assembled calipers also reduced the odds of human error that are commonly incurred during a caliper overhaul.
Sometimes mistakes made when replacing calipers include forgetting to bend the pads securing tabs that prevent the pad from vibration. Vibration can cause brake pad noise in the form of high pitched squealing. Sometimes mechanics as they rush to complete the repair will leave off anti-rattle clips, pad insulators or even worse reuse corroded caliper mounting hardware. Corroded slides can cause a floating caliper to bind up or wear the brake pads unevenly. In the case of the loaded replacement assemblies the pads are installed the anti-rattle clips are in place, the brake pad insulators are installed and new caliper slides with bolts are installed and properly lubed and ready to go. This will greatly increase the chance of quite brakes that stop as per design intent.
For more information about automotive braking systems and more common problems associated with them visit my car disc brakes section. I have also put together a page that outlines a few common problems with disc brake rotors that are also important for quiet braking. This next link takes you to the rotors page from this page about disc brake calipers. Search through this car repair website and the Net at the same time.  Custom Search The home page is up next and is a good place to go for a rundown of the information cover on the you fix cars website. You can also find out how to get answers to auto repair questions. |