Bad Brake Caliper Symptoms

Whether you enjoy working on your car or not, there are a few essential things to know as soon as you get behind the wheel. Knowing how to determine signs of a bad brake caliper is key because when you don’t have the ability to stop your car, it’s a serious safety concern.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common bad brake caliper symptoms, the most common causes of brake caliper failure, and what to expect regarding the brake caliper replacement cost. 

Thankfully, there are numerous signs of a bad brake caliper that you can notice well before it becomes a huge problem. Some of the following symptoms point directly to a bad brake caliper, while others might be from a different failing part. Still, either way, it’s recommended to check your brakes and brake calipers if you notice any of the following symptoms.

Common signs of a bad brake caliper include:

• Uneven brake pad wear
• Soft brake pedal
• Fluid leaks
• Vehicle pulling to the side while braking
• Warning light on the dash

Unfortunately, cars typically don’t have sensors on brake calipers, but a warning light on the dashboard may come on in cases where there’s something wrong with the brakes. It’s usually from the master cylinder when it detects low brake fluid. As soon as you notice the warning light on your dash, make sure to check what caused it.

A warning light might also indicate that your brake pads are worn out, but it’s also possible that your brake calipers aren’t functioning.

One of the most distinctive signs that your car has a brake caliper issue is when it pulls to one side when braking. This happens when the force in the brake calipers isn’t equal on both sides, and it’s a pretty serious issue that can lead to serious damage and injuries.

Having unequal braking force on each side of your vehicle can lead to losing control at high speeds. Driving on wet or icy roads significantly increases the risk, so if you notice your vehicle is pulling to the left or right while braking, don’t ignore the issue and have the brake calipers checked as soon as possible.

The most certain sign that your car has an issue with brake calipers is when the brake pads wear unevenly. When brake calipers don’t apply the same pressure to the left and right sides, the pads will wear unevenly. The side with more pressure will have more worn-out pads.

Uneven brake wear is usually accompanied by the vehicle pulling to one side when braking.

Aside from noticing signs of a bad brake caliper only from outside your car, it’s common to feel a bad brake caliper, too. Drivers can notice a softer or spongy brake pedal when braking. This happens when one of the calipers gets stuck or leaks brake fluid and requires more force to achieve the same braking power. 

If you notice brake fluid near your wheels, check brake calipers for leaks thoroughly. Having less than the optimum amount of brake fluid in your vehicle’s system may lead to catastrophe, so never take your car for a drive before addressing the leak.

If the brake caliper is dragging, the added friction could cause one wheel to heat up significantly more than the others. You could detect a burning or hot smell, or there might be heat radiating off of it that you notice. 

Many things can cause brake calipers to fail, and one of the most common causes is rust buildup. Depending on your location, your brake calipers might be exposed to salt, which significantly speeds up rust buildup on metal parts of your car. Rust will make it difficult for calipers to slide back and forth. Aside from rust, dust and debris can have the same effect as rust if it makes its way to the caliper guide pins.

This can be easily verified just with a simple visual inspection. Fixing faulty brake calipers caused by rust or dust and debris isn’t too complicated, and there’s no brake caliper replacement cost as the calipers require only cleaning and lubrication.

Regular wear is another cause of faulty brake calipers. Although brake calipers are made to last as long as the car, brake fluid seals are known to crack, causing brake fluid leaks that ultimately result in brake caliper failure. 

Driving with worn-out pads and warped rotors can also cause bad brake calipers. This mostly happens in vehicles that aren’t maintained properly. Worn-out pads cause longer caliper extension, while warped rotors cause extreme vibration and faster wear and tear. Aside from causing caliper failure, driving with worn-out brake system elements is extremely unsafe.

The cost of replacing a brake caliper depends on several factors, one of the biggest ones being the year, make, and model of your car. The next factor that can significantly affect the price is whether you’ll replace the parts yourself or have a certified mechanic do it.

In most cases, it isn’t necessary to replace entire brake calipers but certain parts that are causing the issue. Entire brake calipers are replaced in case they’re significantly damaged beyond the point of repair or when they need to be upgraded with larger, performance brake calipers.

The brake caliper replacement cost is around $100 to $200 for most aftermarket original-style calipers; however, if you’re upgrading your car with larger calipers, you can expect the brake caliper replacement cost to set you even more. If you’re unsure how to replace these components, it’s best to leave it to a trained professional, as the braking system is one of the most important in any vehicle.

If you decide to replace them, check out the offer at PartsHawk. We carry many brake calipers and other replacement parts for many vehicles. Some of the brands you can find in our catalog include ACDelco, Hawk Performance, StopTech, and many more.

Aside from having millions of parts in stock, we’re dedicated to shipping parts to you as fast as possible so you can work on your vehicle within a day or two!