What is a brake caliper ?
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What is a brake caliper ?

A brake caliper is the housing that goes over the disc part of the brakes. The caliper holds the brake pad to the shoes. If you look into the wheel of your car you should be able to see them from the outside.

How the brake caliper works?

There are two types of calipers, there is floating calipers and fixed calipers. The fixed calipers does not move in relation to the disc. It actually uses one pair or more pair of pistons and a clamp from each side of the disc. The fixed calipers are a bit more complex that the floating calipers.

The floating calipers can be a pit dangerous because they can get clogged with dirt when the car or truck it has not been used in a while. This may cause the pad to rub against the caliper when the pad is released. Any heat that is caused by constantly rubbing against the pad can lead to rotor damage.

When you do remove the brake calipers?

The brake calipers only need to be removed or changed when the changing the brake pads. The calipers on most cars will simply slide out on top of the brakes. On very few cars made these days will the brakes come out without removing the calipers. There will be a bolt on both sides of the caliper, it will be a hex bolt. Remove the bolts, hold the caliper and pull wiggle the pads out . If they don?t come out them tap them out, tap gently. Out on new pads and reassemble .