If you’re out driving and the ABS warning light suddenly appears on the dashboard, it usually means that something‘s not working properly within your anti-lock braking system. Sure, you can still drive the car, but there’s a risk your wheels could lock under heavy braking, reducing your level of control in an emergency stop or slippery conditions.
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If you’re thinking about fitting a new or used ABS wheel sensor, or you’re considering buying a used car and want to know what to watch out for, understanding how this small component affects safety is pretty important.
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Brake pads are essential to the safety of your vehicle and other vehicles on the roads. Failing and worn-out brake pads reduce the efficiency of your brakes and can lead to more costly repairs later on. We’ll guide you through the symptoms of failing brake pads, the types of brake pads available, and how to make your replacement brake pads last longer with good driving habits.
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Brake discs play a vital role in making sure your vehicle stops safely. When you press the brake pedal, the brake pads clamp onto the spinning discs, generating friction that converts your car’s kinetic energy into heat, slowing it down.
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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.
Brakes slow your car by applying pressure through the callipers and discs (or a similar system). The force behind the pressure is generated by the brake master cylinder when you depress the brake pedal. As one of the main components in the braking system, if the cylinder develops a fault or stops working, then this could have some severe and potentially dangerous consequences.
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Putting your foot down in the car to slow down, only to find your brakes aren’t working, has to be one of the scariest experiences behind the wheel of a car. Hopefully one that most people will never have to face.
Whilst most modern cars have the latest technology, safety features and are rigorously tested to prevent and warn of braking issues, it’s worth knowing what to do in case there’s a failure. So if the worst does happen, how can you quickly reduce your chances of injury and creating danger to others out there on the road?
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Smoke coming out of the brakes? It might be funny in cartoons, but it’s never a laughing matter when it’s your car. In fact, if you do notice a burning smell, or worse still, start seeing smoke floating around your vehicle cabin, it can be a more than unsettling experience.
Brake smoke is one of those situations where you need to act immediately. Even if you have put on new brake pads that can in rare cases smoke when you wear them in – it’s still something that you need to check. So what are the causes (and some of the fixes) of smoking brakes?
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Skids are more likely to occur when there is a loss of friction and therefore traction on the roads. Snow, ice and water can cause a lack of proper grip on the tarmac causing your car to slip and slide.
Throw understeer, oversteer, acceleration and braking into the mix and you could have difficulty controlling your vehicle. When this happens it’s vital you remain calm. Even if you can’t avoid an accident, you can reduce the danger to yourself and others – by taking remedial action.
How can you avoid getting into a skid – and more importantly, what can you do if you should find yourself in one of the two different types of skid, oversteer or understeer?
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Many car parts have a limited lifespan such as the oil filter and lights. However amongst the most important are the brake pads, which are responsible for slowing and stopping your moving vehicle. Old and degraded pads will put metres on your braking distances, which in a worst case scenario could be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Brakes wear out quickly and depending on your use can only last a short while, especially if you drive frequently around inner city areas during peak times. As a result regular checks will help you ensure that your brake pads are in good reliable working order.
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