Brake caliper
The clamp at each wheel that squeezes the brake pads against the spinning disc to stop the car.
In plain English
A brake caliper is a clamp that sits over the brake rotor, the metal disc that spins with the wheel. When you press the brake pedal, brake fluid pushes a piston inside the caliper, and the piston squeezes the brake pads against the disc to slow the wheel. When you let off the pedal, the caliper has to release again. It slides on small metal pins so it can clamp and let go evenly.
Why it's on your estimate
A shop recommends caliper work when one is sticking, seized, or leaking brake fluid, often because the piston or the slide pins have corroded. Signs include the car pulling to one side, a burning smell or one wheel that is much hotter than the others, pads worn unevenly, a soft or spongy brake pedal, or wet fluid around the wheel.
How urgent is it?
Don't wait
Brakes are a safety system, and a caliper that sticks or leaks can lengthen stopping distances and make the car harder to control. A fluid leak or a pedal that feels soft or sinks is the most serious sign, so do not keep driving on it.
Questions to ask the shop
- Is the caliper seized or leaking, or are the slide pins just stuck and able to be cleaned and lubricated?
- Which wheel is it, and can you show me the uneven pad wear or the leak?
- Do the pads, rotor, or brake hose on that wheel need replacing too?
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