Brake Calipers Stuck? Here’s What To Do
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Brakes are an important part of your car, not only for you but for other drivers on the road. There are several parts that make up your breaks, all of which play an important role in the way that they function. One of the parts is the brake calipers, which work to slow down your car.
Are your brake calipers stuck and you’re unsure of what to do about it? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll discuss the top reason why they fail and what you can expect to get them back into working shape.
How to Tell if Your Brake Calipers Stuck
If you’re not sure what’s going on with your car but you start to notice any one of these signs, you could have issues with your brake calipers sticking.
1. Drifting to one side
With brake calipers stuck, your car will tend to pull to one side. The side they will pull toward is the one with the caliper that’s stuck, letting you know where the issue lies. While you may notice a small tug at first, over time, this will start to become a huge issue and could be dangerous for you and other drivers on the road.
2. Slowing down
Without pressing the brake, if you notice that your car starts to slow down, you could have an issue with your brake caliper. Because of their role in squeezing the brake pads, they may get stuck and put pressure on them continuously. This will cause your car to slow even when you don’t pump the brake.
Failure to replace your calipers when this starts to happen could result in damaged brakes and brake pads, so you’ll need to replace more than just the caliper if you continue to drive with them too long.
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3. Terrible gas mileage
Gas is already one of those costs that weigh on you each month. Because the calipers will slow your car down even when you’re not pressing the brakes, your engine will need much more power to work, resulting in lower mileage.
With brake calipers stuck, you might have to go to the pump more often, which is something that can weigh heavy on your wallet over time.
4. Brake position
Because pressures are not applied and relieved correctly, there may be a change in brake position. When things are working correctly, you may notice that your brakes go back to a neutral position after you press them. When your brake calipers are stuck, the brake will stay lower than normal, continuously applying pressure to your brakes.
Why Do Brake Calipers Get Stuck?
If you’re good about keeping your car and brakes maintained, then you’re not likely to have an issue with them getting stuck. Still, you could have an underlying issue that causes your calipers to stick, including any one of the following.
Faulty pistons
Pistons are wrapped with rubber that, if torn, is a breeding ground for rust. When this happens, your brakes will stop working properly and cause the brake pads to wear out faster than normal. Because of all the extra work put on other parts due to faulty pistons, not enough fluid will get to your calipers and they will stick.
This issue is most often caused by mechanics that don’t properly replace brake pads, so always make sure you’re going with a trusted mechanic for your brake issues.
Buildup
Your brake calipers and brake pads work together to slow your vehicle down. If your brake pads stop sliding properly due to the buildup of debris and dirt, the calipers too will stop sliding. When this happens, they will stick and stop doing their job effectively.
Bolting issues
Calipers are attached to your brakes with bolts that have a rubber topper that helps them slide properly. Without the proper lubrication, the rubber can wear down and collect near the caliper. Though this won’t produce immediate effects, the calipers will stick over time due to the buildup.
This issue is another that’s most often a result of a bad brake job.
Unsticking Your Brake Caliper
When you have symptoms of a sticky caliper, your next move depends on what’s causing it. For instance, you may be able to add some lubricant and clean them up if it’s a simple issue of caked-up debris. However, if the issue affects other parts of the braking system or is directly caused by worn-out brakes, you may need to replace them.
Replace vs. Rebuild
Replacing your caliper is the last option you have and should be saved until you’ve tried everything else. If after you’ve tried to lubricate, clean, or even rebuild your calipers and they keep on sticking, you’ll need to replace them, making sure that you don’t cause additional damages to your vehicle.
Rebuilding is an option if your caliper sticking is something new and hasn’t damaged any other part of your vehicle. If you’re a handyman, replacement is something that you can do on your own, only requiring that you take them apart, clean them, lubricate them, and bolt them back on.
If you choose to replace them on your own, look for signs of corrosion and know when enough is enough. Also, choose the brand of the brake caliper to replace wisely, making sure that you have the correct size and shape for your brake system.
What’s the Cost?
As far as how much it will cost you, you’re looking at investing in parts and paying for labor. Parts, on average, fall over $700 and labor can be anywhere from $130 to $170 per hour depending on your location and the make, model, and year of your car.
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Be Mindful While You Drive
A sticky caliper might not seem like a huge issue at first but, if left alone, you could experience issues further on down the line. While driving, look out for:
- Drifting to one side
- Slowing speeds without pressing the brakes
- Reduced gas mileage
All of these will help you diagnose your vehicle for sticky calipers.
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