Are Brake Caliper Brackets Side Specific?

If you drive a car, the chances are good that it has disk brakes. And if you have disk brakes, then there is a good chance that the brake caliper brackets are improperly installed. The issue is not brand specific -- the majority of aftermarket caliper brackets do not follow proper torque specifications, and you must reinstall them in such instances. Is it true that these brackets are side-specific, or are they interchangeable?

Are brake caliper brackets specific to any side?

Yes and no. Caliper brackets are specific to the side of the vehicle, but they can be reversed so that they will mount on either side. Some cars have their brake calipers on the left, some on the right, and some on both sides of the vehicle. The caliper brackets will be installed differently depending upon where on the car they are located.

The mounting holes on the caliper bracket (in the US, at least) are identical in size and spacing. So, you can mount a caliper on either side of the fork.

However, there are some issues with this. The primary problem is that if you mount the brake caliper brackets to one side, you will have the brake line run across your vehicle, crossing over the top tube. This creates two problems: 

1) It causes extra friction in your brake system
2) It's an eyesore, resulting in a poor-looking design of the vehicle too.

Does it matter where the brake caliper is mounted?

It is a common misconception that the front brake caliper should be mounted. However, this is only true in most cases and not always.
The first and perhaps most common location is a "side-mounted," or floating caliper. This caliper type has rubber hoses connecting to the brake at the top and bottom, with a metal line connecting the sides. The second type of mounting is called a "tea-tray" mount, where the caliper is bolted to the axle housing (or center link). Finally, there is an "axle mounted" setup, where the caliper is bolted to the hub, and the rotor is bolted to the caliper.

Closing thoughts

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The Thing With Brake Calipers - Functionality and Operation

Brake calipers are important to your car's ability to stop. They are unarguably one of the most critical automobile brake parts. While most cars today have disc brakes for the front wheels, some vehicles use disc brakes in the rear, especially performance cars.

Therefore, in a disc braking system, the car's wheels are attached to metal discs or rotors that spin along with the wheels. The caliper's job is to progressively slow the car's wheels by creating friction with the rotors.

This blog is the ultimate guide to the functionality and operation of brake calipers in the motor vehicle.

In every motor wheel, there's a motion of wheels that needs to be controlled. Brakes do it. Brake caliper brackets form a part of the whole disc brake system, which happens to be the most common thing in today's automotive.

Two Functions of Brake Calipers:

Their first function is to house and guide the brake pads. It ensures that the brake pads are in the proper position to move onto the rotor every time you apply the brakes. In addition, brake calipers feature a design that ensures compensation for the wear on the brake pads.

Their second function is to provide a hydraulic actuation that converts brake fluid pressure into mechanical movement. It's this movement that enables braking actions in motor vehicles. Therefore, it can be said that a brake caliper is a stoppage device that helps to ensure safe driving. The disc brake system would be of no use without it.

What happens when a brake caliper goes bad?

When your calipers are worn out, the brake pads wear unevenly. If they are thinner on one side, this may be a sign of a run-down caliper. Another sign might be reduced brake power.

Approximate cost to replace calipers:

On average, the customers are required to pay around $300 to $800 to get their calipers replaced. Similarly, the cost of a caliper bracket kit ranges between $250 to $350 depending upon where you buy them.

Brake calipers and caliper brackets are also available separately by manufacturers. Again, searching online might help you in this case.