Brake caliper diagram how to#

This will cause the brake calipers not to release properly when you release the handbrake. Water and other dust can come into the handbrake wires and cause them to rust. Many modern cars do not have the handbrake inside of the brake disc but on the brake caliper.

If your sticking caliper problem comes from the vehicle’s rear, there is a big chance of a problem with the parking brake. They can be a pain to remove when they have been stuck for a while – so a torch is a must to warm them up when trying to remove them. Check the rubber boots and remove, clean, and lubricate the guide pins again. These guide pins have rubber boots around them to protect them from water and dust. The brake caliper guide pins are located at the brake caliper bracket and help the caliper to slide forward and backward when you are braking.Ĭommonly, these guide pins will get stuck by rust, which will prevent the brake caliper from functioning properly and, therefore, cause sticking brakes. To fix this, you have to remove the brake pads and clean the brake pad bracket with a file or sandpaper and lubricate it with copper paste or something similar. When dust and rust get collected on these bracket slides, the brake pads will get stuck in the brake pad bracket and push at the brake disc. The brake pads have their guides, which should be lubricated for the brake pads to glide forward and backward on the brake caliper bracket easily. The second most common cause of a sticky brake caliper is actually rusty brake pads. Replacing the whole caliper is often not super expensive, and I do actually recommend it instead of renovating it. If it is rusty, you can push the piston out and clean it a little bit – but do not forget to replace the boot, which can be difficult without the knowledge. This will cause the piston to start rusting, and finally, it will stop moving completely – which will cause the brake pads to get stuck against the brake disc.Ĭheck for any damages around the caliper boot and try to lift it a little bit to see if you can see any rust. It is quite common for this boot to get damaged, and water and other dust will come into the piston. The brake caliper pistons have a rubber boot around them to prevent dust and other particles from coming into the brake system. They are pushing the brake pads against the brake disc to make the car reduce the speed. The caliper pistons are an essential part of the brake system. Here is a more detailed list of the 7 most common causes of a sticky brake caliper: 1. However, some other more rare things could cause a sticking brake caliper, so let’s take a look at these also. If it’s a rear brake caliper, it could be a faulty parking brake cable. It can also be caused by stuck brake pads pushing on the brake discs. The most common cause of a sticking brake caliper is a rusty caliper piston caused by a damaged piston boot.

Brake caliper diagram how to#

How to avoid a Sticking Brake Caliper Causes of a Sticking brake caliper