Does your vehicle pull to one side or the other with each braking? Do you have abnormal vibration, noise or odour from your brakes? It’s time to check your calipers. Bleeding the brake fluid is necessary after replacing the caliper. Remember to bring one or two cans before starting your procedure.
Tools required:
- A jack
- Candles
- Toolbox (all kinds of wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, etc.)
- A piston repeller or a clamp
- Assistant – a person who helps you purge
- The brake fluid recommended for your vehicle
The role of brake calipers:
The brake caliper is part of the overall braking system of a vehicle. It exerts pressure on the pads against the brake disc to slow the wheel. It is essential to differentiate between two types of stirrups:
The fixed brake caliper
The brake pads are pushed against the disc using one or more pistons on either side. Usually, the fixed caliper is used on performance cars.
The floating or sliding brake caliper
Only the inner pad is pushed against the disc by one or more pistons. The outer pad is pressurized by a sliding system connecting the two places. The floating caliper is the most widely used braking system.
Why change your brake calipers?
Brake calipers are essential parts of braking. There is usually one per wheel; however, there may be more on some very powerful or heavier vehicle models. In a malfunction, the calipers do not exert enough pressure on the pads, creating imbalance and a lack of braking power.
As a result, the vehicle risks becoming uncontrollable when braking.
Changing the brake discs and pads when changing the brake caliper is advisable.
Indeed, a defective caliper causes overheating of the brake discs and pads, which very often damages the latter irreversibly (icing of the places and warped discs).
When to change your brake calipers?
The brake calipers are changed when the caliper is seized or if it is leaking.
How to change your car brake calipers?
Removal of the brake caliper:
Raise the car on four jack stands and remove the four wheels, observing the safety instructions (see Safety instructions + placing a vehicle on jack stands ).
Floating rear brake caliper – sliding brake caliper.
In an intervention on the rear calipers, it is necessary to release the handbrake to unhook the cable actuating the parking brake on the caliper.
- In the case of floating calipers: unscrew the last caliper screw. The others are already unscrewed beforehand for the removal of the plates.
- In the case of fixed calipers, only two bolts are left to remove.
Installation of the brake caliper:
Ensure the piston is fully pushed in, or use the piston repellent (or clamp) if it is not.
Refit the brake caliper and tighten the two screws.
- In floating calipers: refit the pads (see changing the brake pads ), then reattach the caliper using the two screws.
- In the case of fixed calipers: you must first reattach the caliper using the two bolts, then reinstall the pads (see changing the brake pads )
Reconnect the brake hose (see changing brake hoses )
Reposition the handbrake cable on the caliper. If necessary, readjust its setting by referring to the technical review.