Safety is one of the key things that count when defining car quality and reliability in the market. When we talk about safety, we mostly think about brakes since this is the part that makes your car stop.
What differentiates good brakes from bad ones is how fast and smoothly the car stops once you press the brake pedal. Some problems may happen in brakes if Brake Caliper Sticking when Hot. This may lead to vast damage to the car and risk the passengers.
In this article, we shall discuss the causes of sticking brake caliper, its symptoms, and how to fix this fault to return braking power to its original state.
What are brake calipers and how do they work?
Most modern cars use disc brakes to provide stopping power. These have three main components, the brake pads, the brake discs or rotors, and the brake calipers. Some vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, use an air-based system instead.
The calipers hold the brake pads and usually have hydraulic pistons that push the brake pads against the brake discs.
Brake calipers come in different designs. The most basic has a single piston and sliding configuration to provide clamping force. More advanced systems use two or more pistons and can be fixed in place.
The sliding pistons have pins that help the opposite side of the caliper move toward the disc. And nearly every brake caliper has clips and hardware to keep the pads secure. Rubber boots usually surround the pistons to protect them from the elements.
As you can imagine, all these parts are vital to the successful and efficient operation of the brakes.
Calipers can last much longer than pads or discs. But they are a sophisticated blend of metal, rubber, and grease that can fail.
What Is The Purpose Of A Brake Caliper?
The objective of a brake caliper is to enclose the brake pads that are used to stop your car. Your automobile or truck can slow down and stop when the brake pedal is pressed.
This hydraulic force forces brake fluid through the brake lines and causes your caliper piston to push the brake pads against the rotors.
The caliper is responsible for pulling the brake pad away from the rotor when the brake pedal is removed, allowing your vehicle’s wheels to travel freely. Brake rotors are being used in an increasing number of cars on our roads, both in the front and rear.
Brake drums and shoes are used instead of rear rotors on other current cars. Any braking system’s efficacy is determined by how effectively it is maintained so that your car can slow down in any condition.
What Would Cause Brake Caliper to Stick?
First, what does it mean to have a brake caliper stick? When you apply brakes and press on the brake pedal, the brake oil is compressed through hoses into the brake caliper that holds a brake pad.
Therefore, when the compressed oil goes into the brake caliper, it presses the caliper piston into the brake pad, making it touch the brake rotor.
Due to the high friction happening between the braking pad and the rotor, the car stops. This only happens in normal operation when brakes are in good condition.
If you have a sticking brake caliper, it means that the brake pad always touches the brake rotor, even if you do not intend to apply brakes. Why does this happen? This can be a result of several things. Let us not dive deep into the causes of this fault.
Three things primarily contribute to brake caliper sticking, including seizure of the slider pin and caliper piston. And the third one is obstruction in the brake line. However, this is a precise answer, but a detailed inquiry will benefit you more.
Let us have a brief on every potential cause of this fault.
#1. Brake Caliper Piston.
The caliper piston has a rubber boot at the end, which keeps it lubricated and keeps dirt and dust away.
When you install a new brake pad carelessly or by an untrained mechanic, the dust boot may get torn. This makes dust stick in the caliper piston and keeps it open. Therefore the brake and caliper piston will not go back in, but instead, it sticks to the braking pad.
#2. Brake Hose.
As time passes, the brake hose that transfers oil to brake calipers gets worn and dried out, leading to cracks. This causes the brake oil to flow into the pistons, making the caliper stick. Failed brake hoses may lead to brand-new brake calipers sticking after installation.
#3. Brake Caliper Slides.
This is quite a common cause for brake caliper sticking. The caliper slides when the brake line has rust. Each caliper has grooves where the brake pad slides into when the brake pedal is pressed.
When the brake pedal is released, the brake pad slides in these grooves back to its original place. Defects happen when there are corrosion or debris build-ups in the grooves or on the brake pads.
This makes the brake pad not slide back out from the grooves when you take your foot off the brake pedal due to the blocked way back.
#4. Brake Caliper Bolts.
Another cause that makes the brake caliper sticky is stuck bolts. These bolts are made to slide easily while braking and releasing the brakes. The bolts have rubber guards protecting them from rust and dust.
What happens when these rubber boots wear out? Rust and dust make the bolts stuck and do not move easily with caliper movements, making the caliper sticky.
What Are the Symptoms of a Sticking Brake Caliper?
When dealing with brake caliper issues, it’s important to be able to spot symptoms and understand their possible causes so you can address the problem as soon as possible. Here are some of the most common symptoms of a sticking brake caliper:
#1. Vehicle Pulling to One Side.
Having your vehicle pull to one side is one of the most common signs of a stuck brake caliper. You might have a hard time driving your vehicle in a straight line. This is a serious safety hazard that can lead to accidents and injury if left unaddressed for too long.
#2. Car Unexpectedly Slowing Down.
Sometimes, when brake calipers get stuck, the brake pads are in constant contact with your vehicle’s brake rotors. This can make you feel like your vehicle is slowing down even if you don’t have your foot on the brake pedal.
Another potential result of this issue is an irritating, high-pitched grinding sound. This typically happens when the pads’ braking material has been entirely worn out.
#3. Poor Fuel Economy.
A sticking brake caliper can slow down your vehicle. To compensate for this, your engine will work harder and consume more fuel than usual just to maintain your vehicle’s speed.
Bad fuel mileage can be caused by several different issues, not just a sticking brake caliper, but it’s important to pay close attention when this happens.
#4. Unusual Heat from Affected Wheels.
Another common symptom of a sticking brake caliper is excessive heat coming from the affected wheels. The more you drive with a sticking caliper, the more heat is produced. After driving your vehicle, you might notice that your wheels are radiating heat.
Note that you should avoid touching the rims when they’re hot because they can cause severe burns and injury.
#5. Burning Smell.
Another symptom of a stuck caliper is a burning smell caused by the excess heat produced by the affected wheel.
#6. Uneven Brake Pad Wear.
A stuck caliper causes continuous contact between the brake pad and rotor. This results in accelerated damage, causing uneven brake pad wear.
How Do You Know If Your Caliper Is Sticking?
Every fault has symptoms that help you to identify it. Brake caliper sticking can be identified through these clear symptoms.
#1. Vehicles Pull To One Side.
This is among the most obvious sticking brake caliper symptoms. When one side of the brakes is stuck and the other is not, the car always pulls to the side with sticky brakes. You may confuse it with misaligned wheels, but you will feel the difference.
#2. Car Slows Down By Itself.
With sticky brakes, the brake pads are always in contact with rotors. This means that the car is always braking without pressing the brake pedal.
Therefore, the car will slow down by itself as it is braking automatically. This wears out the brake pad and rotor faster, and you may hear some brake caliper sticking noise.
#3. High Fuel Consumption.
If your car has bad fuel consumption, one possible cause has stuck calipers. Since the car will be braking regularly, the engine will work harder to maintain its speed. This increases the consumption of fuel.
#4. Excess Heat from The Wheels.
When braking, the brake pad touches the rotor. This contact causes friction that results in slowing down the car. If this process itself produces heat, imagine what happens when the brake caliper is stuck to the rotor.
When the brake caliper sticks to the rotor, it produces a huge quantity of heat, and you may feel it on the wheels. Be careful not to touch the wheels after the ride because it will be extremely hot and may hurt your hands.
How Do You Fix a Sticking Brake Caliper?
If you suspect a sticking caliper, address the issue promptly. Here are some steps you can take:
- Visual Inspection: Inspect the caliper and surrounding area for signs of corrosion, leaks, or worn-out components.
- Caliper Cleaning: In some cases, cleaning the caliper piston and slide pins and applying proper lubrication can resolve the issue. However, this might be a temporary solution, and worn-out parts might still need replacement.
- Caliper Replacement: If the caliper is severely corroded, the slide pins are seized, or the piston seals are leaking, replacing the entire caliper is often the safest and most reliable solution.
How Can I Prevent My Brake Calipers from Sticking?
To keep yourself, your passengers, and other people on the road safe, you need to make sure that your braking system is in tip-top shape. Here are some great tips to help prevent your brake calipers from sticking:
#1. Change your brake fluid regularly.
Different vehicle manufacturers have different service intervals for brake fluids. Consult your owner’s manual for the recommended service interval for changing brake fluid and stick to a regular schedule.
#2. Clean brake pads, guide pins, and pistons at the recommended service intervals.
Brake components such as brake pads, guide pins, and the like have different recommended service intervals. This information is commonly found in your owner’s manual or in a vehicle-specific repair manual.
It’s important to stick to the recommended service intervals and do regular maintenance checks to avoid major problems down the line.
#3. Use your parking brakes.
Even if you have an automatic transmission, you need to use the parking brake from time to time to prevent the cables and the bracket from sticking.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Sticking Brake Caliper?
This depends on repairs that will be done on the vehicle. Is it just cleaning and repairing the old brake caliper or replacing the caliper with a new one? Generally, the cost ranges from $50 and may go up to hundreds of dollars to replace the caliper.
FAQs.
Q: Is It OK To Drive With a Sticking Caliper?
If you have a sticking caliper, the brake pad does not return to its original place after pressing the brake pedal.
This means that your car will always be applying brakes, and it will keep on breaking. As a result, it stresses out the brake pads, rotors, and transmission system leading to failure. It is, therefore, not a good idea to drive a car with a sticking caliper.
Q: Can ABS Brake Cause a Caliper to Stick?
Yes, the ABS sends pulses of braking. Therefore if you fault the brake caliper, it will make the brake caliper stick to the rotor and fail to disengage.
Q: Can I spray WD40 On My Brake Calipers?
No, it would be best if you only used special brake cleaner spray or brake grease for the brake parts to avoid slippage.
Final Words
When it comes to brakes, things must be taken seriously because no one wants to drive a car without or with weak brakes.
Everyone needs a ride safe for him and his family. We advise you if you notice any of the above symptoms, get your car checked and get it fixed immediately.