Has your car ever pulled to one side when braking? Or have you noticed a burning smell coming from your wheels? These symptoms often point toward a caliper that has stuck and is not moving, which can pose many safety risks.
If you have problems with a brake caliper that is sticking or stuck, you should ensure that you are aware of the right symptoms and the possible causes to sort out the problem.
Common Symptoms of a Stuck or Frozen Brake Caliper
#1. The Vehicle Pulls to One Side.
When there is one brake caliper that is stuck, the vehicle will tend to be pulled towards that limb. This gives the impression that you have an alignment problem, but it will tend to be much worse. This is something that not only occurs when braking, but also takes place when driving, right?
Continuing onward when your car is pulling sideways and isn’t going straight is insane, risky. Just take your car to the nearest mechanic because they will inspect the calipers to rule out the problem of having a faulty caliper. If you are lucky, then the car would just require a simple wheel alignment.
#2. The Vehicle Slows Down on Its Own.
In the case of a car with a sticky caliper, the mechanism is most probably in a state where the brake pads are in constant contact with the brake rotors. In a way, it gives off the feel that the brakes are always being engaged even while the foot is taken off the pedal.
Moreover, the vehicle will use up the brakes at an accelerated pace, which in turn leads to high-pitched noise or grinding if the vehicle has low brake pads available. Make sure the calipers are clean and not stuck; otherwise, the caliper has to be replaced along with other parts that are around them.
#3. Excess Heat From Wheel Area.
Applying continuous pressure to the back of the brake pad will result in friction against the brake rotor, causing heat to become a byproduct. Driving with a brake caliper stuck will cause an increase in temperature within the area due to friction.
After coming to a stop, you might take a slow walk around your vehicle. If you do, you might notice that one of your wheels is significantly hotter than the other. If you feel heat radiating from the wheel that is significantly hotter, these are symptoms of a seized brake caliper.
#4. Bad Gas Mileage.
Poor gas economy can stem from a wide variety of reasons, and one of those could be your brake calipers.
A sticking brake caliper that does not break fully disengaged and is stuck in the closed position, will result in braking that is done without intention. Everything said will make the engine harder to maintain speed, increasing fuel consumption.
#5. Burning Smell.
A sticking brake caliper never disengages brake control, leading to dragging and rubbing against the brake rotor, whether the brakes are applied or not. This caliper and or brake pads and rotor will overheat almost instantly.
The heat produced from the parts grinding against each other is the very same burning smell that happens when parts are overheated.
Such constant friction increases the wear of the brake pads and rotors. When they wear out, the metal backing of pads and rotors creates a sound and odor that resembles either burning chemicals or shooting rubber.
Built-up debris, as well as brake dust on the calipers and rotors, can ignite due to excessive heat and add to the burning smell.
Top 3 Causes of a Sticking Brake Caliper
Unlike sticking brake calipers, which are not that common, there are only a handful of reasons that can be the culprits. Let’s go over the three most familiar ones.
#1. Brake Caliper Piston and Brake Hose.
More often than not, the reason why a brake caliper tends to stick is due to the bracketed piston along with the hose that comes with the brake.
The piston is equipped with a rubber boot that protects and lubricates it, but problems arise when we talk of torn rubber boots. A loose-fitting boot allows dust and rust particles to collect over time, which then debilitate the piston’s nonsliding capabilities.
Since the rubber boot of the piston is torn due to a lack of caution while replacing a brake pad, they can very well fall victim to the elements, too.
The brake hose will just wear down with time. As the hose starts to crack or break, it will allow brake fluid to leak onto the pistons, which fosters deceleration within the system. To make matters worse, the fluid will not reach the master cylinder, and as a result, the caliper will become stuck.
#2. Brake Caliper Slides.
With the caliper slides, there is another rather common issue. Each caliper contains slots in which the brake pads will fit when the brake is engaged. In other words, when you step on the brake pedal, the brake pads shift into the grooves, and when you release the brake, the brake pads shift out of the grooves.
In this case, if there is debris or corrosion within the grooves or on the brake pads, the pads are bound to get stuck inside those grooves. Therefore, the brake pads do not slide off the grooves when the brake is released, which causes the brake calipers to feel sticky when the brake is applied.
#3. Brake Caliper Bolts.
Another possible reason for a brake caliper to freeze up is due to the caliper bolts. These bolts are also supposed to slide, but if they happen to be too dry, the lack of lubrication will make them sticky.
The bolt is constructed with a protective rubber sleeve designed to retain the lubricant within the bolt. However, this rubber sleeve can become damaged, resulting in lubricant leakage. Most of the time, this occurs inadvertently when mechanics replace the brake pads for a particular vehicle.
Once the bolt is allowed to dry out, it will lead to rust and debris accumulation, which will further impede the sliding action it can perform.
How to Unstick a Stuck Brake Caliper?
For issues caused by the parking brake cable, a misaligned pad, or the pads adhering to the disc, the solution is quite straightforward.
In this case, lubricating the parking brake system should solve the problem, along with removing the misaligned pads and adding a bit of grease along the edge. In the case where pads are stuck onto the disc, resurfacing the disc and replacing the pads is the best solution.
There is a specially designed tool that can be used to apply force to the pad and retract it, which is necessary for the seized caliper pistons or slide pins. In many cases, a simple C-clamp will do the trick. To unfasten a stuck caliper piston, the hydraulic pressure of the vehicle’s brake system can easily be employed.
First, detach the caliper from the disc, then pump the brake pedal to shift the piston over the corroded area. After this step, it should be able to be taken apart and put back together.
How Can I Prevent My Brake Calipers from Sticking?
Keeping the entire braking system in good condition is essential for the safety of yourself, passengers, and other road users. Here are some of the best methods that can help avoid stuck brake calipers:
1. Replace your brake fluid periodically.
Every car manufacturer has its own prescribed intervals regarding servicing of the brakes. Ensure that you check your owner’s manual for instructions regarding the servicing of brake fluid, and keep a regular check.
2. Clean brake pads, guide pins, and pistons at the recommended service intervals.
The various parts that make up the brake system, such as the brake pads and guide pins, have different recommended service intervals. Sticking to the recommended service intervals and doing maintenance on the vehicle early is very important, and it can prevent major issues in the future.
3. Engage the parking brake frequently.
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the parking brake must be used intermittently to mitigate the risk of the cables and bracket from becoming stuck.
Brake caliper rebuild vs replace
Even if you manage to free a stuck brake, there is still a high chance it will get stuck again if the brake caliper piston or slide pins are the cause. The infliction that made the unit freeze is still present.
It will only be a short period before it completely sticks again. It is always possible to replace the stubborn caliper, but oftentimes it can be rebuilt at a fraction of the price.
Rebuilding can easily be done by an average DIYer. It includes disassembling everything, cleaning, and replacing the rubber components, as well as the piston. Rebuilding is worth considering as long as the internal corrosion is not too great. The only special tool you might need is a brake hone, which is used to clean the internal bore of the caliper.
If yours is badly corroded, then you’d want to purchase a good used caliper and rebuild it with new seals. Just bear in mind that the replacement caliper from the junkyard might even be more corroded than your original.
A new caliper is always the simplest yet wisest option for someone who wants to save money. In the end, it all depends on what your budget allows.