A backfire from your car’s engine or exhaust can be alarming but is usually easily fixed. A backfire is an explosion of unburned fuel in the engine or exhaust system, which causes a loud “popping” noise.
A backfire from the engine occurs when unburned fuel in the combustion chamber ignites violently instead of burning steadily. This is often caused by issues with the air-fuel ratio, ignition timing, or buildup of carbon deposits inside the engine.
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The exhaust manifold is crucial in ensuring your vehicle performs well and is safe to drive. If your vehicle’s check engine light comes on or you hear unusual noises from the engine, it could be a sign that your exhaust manifold has a problem.
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Your vehicle’s heater matrix, also known as a heater core, is a crucial heating and cooling system component. Situated behind the dashboard and connected to the engine’s cooling system through hoses, it transfers heat from the engine to air, which is directed back into your vehicle’s cabin.
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Any car enthusiast knows that oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Regular oil changes are necessary to ensure your vehicle’s optimal performance and durability. However, the pivotal role the oil sump plays often goes unnoticed.
The oil sump, also known as the oil pan, acts as a reservoir to store and protect your vehicle’s oil. It ensures oil is readily available to provide lubrication essential to moving parts within the engine, protecting them from excessive friction. It also plays a vital role in oil cooling.
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The cylinder head is a crucial component in any internal combustion engine. It’s responsible for optimising your vehicle’s performance, efficiency, and power output.
Housing the intake and exhaust valves, along with other critical components which control the intake and exhaust processes, the cylinder head maximises airflow to create the ideal air-fuel mixture for combustion.
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Your car window regulator is a device that raises or lowers your car windows. Usually made up of a motor, gears and a rail or track, it sits inside the door panel of your vehicle.
When you activate the car window regulator, either manually or electrically, it prompts the motor to turn the gears, moving the glass up or down along the rail or track. Depending on your vehicle, you may have a handle to rotate manually, or a switch to do it electrically.
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Your vehicle’s windscreen wiper motor powers your windscreen wipers. Without it, your wipers and blades won’t be able to move to wipe rain, snow or other debris from your windshield, significantly reducing your visibility. And this can be dangerous when you’re out on the road.
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Rough idling, engine misfires, performance issues, or check engine light flashing? You could have a clogged or failing fuel injector. A dirty fuel injector can affect your car’s performance, but it doesn’t always need to be replaced. Sometimes a good cleaning can solve any issues, at least temporarily.
We’ll take you through the warning signs of a dirty fuel injector, help you to work out whether you need to clean or replace yours, and give you an idea of how much it costs to replace a fuel injector.
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Your motor’s flywheel ensures that power from your motor is transferred smoothly, particularly during engine starting, idling and gear changes.
Bolted to the crankshaft at the rear of the engine, the flywheel stores intermittent rotational energy to boost power as needed. It also absorbs excess power, neutralises vibrations from the crankshaft and balances any fluctuations in your engine speed. The flywheel is what keeps your engine running when you take your foot off the accelerator, for example.
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Brake callipers are an essential component of your vehicle’s braking system, alongside brake pads and brake discs. When you push down on your brake pedal, a master cylinder in the engine compartment pressurises the brake fluid, activating a piston. This piston pushes against the brake calliper, which acts as a clamp that squeezes the brake pads against the rotating brake discs.
This pressure produces friction, slowing the wheels’ rotation and allowing them to come to a stop.
Brake callipers are sturdy, simple mechanisms that aren’t subject to as much wear and tear as pads or discs. However, they can sometimes go wrong. Here are the signs and symptoms that may indicate you need to buy new or used brake callipers.
If your brake warning lights come on, it’s a sign that something has gone wrong within your car’s braking system. Although it can mean several different issues within the braking system, it could be a sign that the brake callipers are failing.
If you’ve noticed brake fluid in your engine compartment or around your wheels, this may be a sign that your brake calliper has developed a leak and is draining fluid. Leaks can develop through the bleeder screw or piston seal.
Sometimes, callipers can get stuck as they press against the pads and discs. If you have a stuck calliper pulling too hard on one side of the vehicle, you may notice a dragging or pulling sensation when you brake or even when you’re driving. Replacing the stuck calliper should rectify this immediately.
As with pulling to one side, a stuck brake calliper can wear out the brake pad it’s pushing against, leading to uneven wear. It’s always advisable to have all four brake pads replaced, even if only one side is worn. Brake pads should be perfectly aligned with each other to work correctly.
A faulty brake calliper will reduce your vehicle’s ability to stop effectively. If it feels like it’s taking more effort to stop, such as you having to pump the brake pedal continuously, get your braking system checked out.
If the brake calliper fails to clamp down properly, your brake pedal may feel soft or spongy when you’re using it. Likewise, a calliper that’s leaking brake fluid can also cause the pedal to feel spongy.
Loose or detached brake callipers can bounce around, causing a clunking or rattling sound that worsens as your vehicle travels over bumps.
If you have a sticking calliper, it may be continually forcing the brake pads against the brake disc, resulting in a squealing, squeaking or grinding sound.
A stuck calliper can also cause an unpleasant hot brake smell as the friction and heat between the pads and the disc build up, or you may even notice smoke coming from your vehicle.
While brake callipers are sturdy components, they are continually subjected to heat, which causes wear and tear. They can also be affected by dirt, brake dust and debris, causing them to stick or eventually fail. Four other components within the braking system can fail, leak or stick, which impacts the brake callipers:
Regularly checking the condition of your brake discs and pads is a good idea to ensure there are no problems that could indicate a failing calliper or that an existing problem is affecting the callipers. Always replace both brake pad pairs when one pair is unevenly worn, and keep your brake fluid topped up to ensure every component works smoothly.
If you’re not confident about checking your braking system, ask a local mechanic to do it for you. As a rough guide, you should have your braking system checked every 6 months.
Changing a brake calliper is a fairly simple task for someone with basic mechanical knowledge, but make sure you leave enough time to fully drain and bleed the brake system safely.
When a brake calliper fails, it stops applying or releasing pressure properly on the brake pads. That means braking force can become uneven, inconsistent, or reduced altogether.
In real-world terms, a failing calliper can cause:
If left unchecked, a seized or leaking calliper can damage brake pads, brake discs, hoses, and even wheel bearings, turning a relatively straightforward repair into a much more expensive one.
Technically, yes – but you shouldn’t.
If the issue is minor, such as early pad wear or light noise, the car may still feel drivable. However, brake calliper faults tend to worsen quickly, especially as heat builds up.
You should stop driving and investigate if you notice:
Driving with a faulty calliper risks further brake damage and compromises your ability to stop safely.
Brake callipers are built to last and often survive the lifetime of the vehicle – around 100,000 miles or more in many cases.
That said, callipers can fail earlier due to:
Regular brake inspections, especially when changing pads or discs, are the best way to spot calliper issues early.
No. Unlike brake pads or discs, callipers don’t need to be replaced as a complete set, although some owners choose to replace callipers in axle pairs for peace of mind. Most of the time, only the faulty calliper needs to be replaced.
Replacing both callipers on the same axle can make sense if:
Brake pads, however, should always be replaced in pairs on the same axle.
Brake calliper replacement costs vary depending on the vehicle, the type of calliper, and whether you’re fitting it yourself.
Here are some rough costs you can expect to pay:
Replacing them yourself can significantly reduce your costs, especially if you’re fitting a quality used brake calliper and already have the basic tools.
Yep – brake calliper problems can lead to an MOT failure.
Common MOT-related calliper issues include:
Because callipers are a critical safety component, any fault affecting braking control or performance is taken seriously during the MOT.