Brake Caliper Repair

Brake Caliper Repair & Replacement

What is a brake caliper?

A caliper is an essential part of the disc brake system—a type of brake usually found on the front wheels of many kinds of vehicles. 

The caliper acts as a housing unit to hold your brake pads and pistons. When you press the brake pedal, the master cylinder in your brake system causes the pistons inside the calipers to fill with brake fluid, which then triggers your brake pads to clamp down on the brake rotors to create friction, slowing or stopping the vehicle.

LOCK IN THE BENEFITS FROM YOUR LATEST REPAIR

Once your brake caliper repair is complete, we make it easy for you to keep your vehicle in top shape with these additional services:

DO YOU NEED BRAKE CALIPER REPAIR?

If you’re maintaining your vehicle properly, usually your pads or rotors will need to get replaced far more often than your calipers. However, if you delay replacing these parts, the heat and friction generated when you use your brakes are not properly dispersed by your worn pads and rotors. This can damage the seals in your calipers. They can also become rusted, dirty, or damaged from exposure to the elements as you drive. 

Be sure to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the most accurate guidelines on maintenance for your vehicle, including brake caliper inspection. In the meantime, keep an eye out for any of the following issues, as they could signify a problem:

• A squealing, squeaking, clunking, or grinding sound around your wheels—especially when you press on your brakes.
• Vibration or pulling when you press on your brakes.
• A need to pump your brakes to get them to work as you desire.
• A change in sensation when you press on your brakes like the pedal feels unusually hard or spongy.
• Brake fluid leaking around your wheels or engine compartment.

The “ABS” warning light comes on and stays on, in your car’s dash panel. 

If you observe one of these problems, visit a trusted brake caliper repair shop right away. Prolonging repair could cause more problems in other parts of your vehicle.

HOW MANY BRAKE CALIPERS SHOULD YOU REPLACE?

Our experts recommend that you always replace brake calipers two at a time. In other words, if you need to replace your front-left caliper, you should be replacing your front-left as well, even if there is nothing obviously wrong with it. This is because, at best, the repair on the one side will cause an unevenness when you stop, potentially causing dangerous swerving as the new caliper and the older one fight to work together. 

This issue is usually not as severe with rear brakes. However, it can still happen. In addition, replacing only one rear brake can affect the reaction time when you attempt to stop, making deceleration slower and potentially affecting your safety.

THE BENEFITS OF BRAKE CALIPER REPAIR & REPLACEMENT

FEWER REPAIRS – When you take the time to repair your brakes right away, you can prevent related issues from occurring—and potentially saving you significant money. This includes uneven wear on brake pads, steering problems, and damage to other parts of your braking and steering system.

SAFER DRIVING – Damaged or worn brakes are a huge safety hazard that can impact your life and the lives of your passengers. You could have issues stopping your vehicle, putting you at risk for a serious accident—especially if you are driving at high speeds.

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE – Installing new brake calipers can improve your overall driving experience as well. This is because the new calipers can provide a firmer grip on your car’s rotors, allowing you to stop faster and more reliably.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR BRAKE CALIPER REPAIR

Once you’ve replaced your worn brake calipers with fresh ones, it’s important to maximize your investment by properly maintaining your vehicle. Here are some top tips from our experts:

We provide a variety of 4 wheel drive repair services at TLC Auto and Truck Repair Service Center, including 

• Inspect your brakes regularly
  Use your vehicle’s manual to guide you on how often you should check your brakes. In particular, pay attention to any signs of uneven wear, damage around the dust boots (the flexible cover that protects the caliper parts from dirt and moisture), and any other signs of damage.
• Replace pads and rotors on time
  Try not to delay replacing your pads and rotors. Use your vehicle manual to determine when you should get your brakes inspected and replaced.
• Find a trusted mechanic
  It’s always a good idea to have someone you can trust to take care of your vehicle at the first sign of trouble. Don’t wait until there is a problem to find a reliable auto service provider!

Time to give your vehicle some TLC

Noticing noises, vibrations, or other issues with your brakes? TLC Auto & Truck Repair Service Center is available to you! We are a family-owned shop that has been in operation since 1991—ready to provide excellent service, every time.

Stop in today at 230 NY-109 in Farmingdale, NY or call us at (631) 753-2211 to speak to a technician.