Wednesday 9 June 2021

The Science of Brake Calipers

Like many of us, busy in the mundane routine of everyday life, we don’t always understand vehicle maintenance, but we do know its importance. While we understand the value of periodic maintenance of a car, we always focus on the performance of the engine, be it a two-wheeler or four-wheeler. But one important thing which, as a vehicle owner, you should keep in mind is that Wilwood brake calipers are also among the crucial parts of any vehicle’s engine. This blog will surely discuss the same in detail.

If your car or bike is equipped with a disc brake, then brake calipers are very critical to slowing and stopping your car. It plays an important role in the disc braking system and is usually firm with two functions. The first is to act either as a bracket to support the brake pads on either side of the rotor or to support the brake caliper itself. And second is that it uses pistons to convert pressure exerted on brake fluid to friction on the rotor. So, in simple terms, we can understand that a brake caliper’s purpose is to squeeze the brake pads against the rotor in order to stop the car.

In general, brake pads and rotor wheels tend to wear out with time. They need replacement far more number times than calipers. So, a leading cause that is said to damage calipers is to drive with worn-out pads. It can also be done by warped rotors. Typically, brake calipers are known to go bad after about 75,000 miles, and that too because the rubber seal hardens and crack over time, which can cause-

• The caliper to leak

• The caliper piston to not fully retract
 
• Guide pins sticking out, leading to uneven pad wear.

So, it is considered smart to check your calipers out at regular intervals. However, you can wait until you get to notice the signs of caliper failure, but it is generally advised not to wait for that moment because once a caliper fails, you no longer could stop your vehicle. Hence, replacing your calipers is the best idea at specific intervals so that you and your vehicle remain safe and sound.