Having brakes that work well is arguably the most important safety feature of your car. Having to stop suddenly and having brakes that do not respond or that do not respond quickly enough can be disastrous. However, when it comes to working brakes, being able to stop quickly is only one aspect to consider. Stuck brake calipers can be dangerous if left for too long.
If you are driving and find that your car takes longer to accelerate, that your car tends to drift to the side even when you are holding the steering wheel straight, or that your brakes feel very hot, then you may have a stuck brake caliper. There are simple and safe steps that you can take to fix this issue. Read on to find out how to fix a stuck brake caliper.
How Do I Fix a Sticking Brake Caliper?
One of the main reasons that a brake caliper may be sticking is that it needs to be cleaned. However, it can be difficult to reach the brake calipers. Even if you could, being able to properly clean them would be difficult as there is a lot in the way, so you will need to remove the wheel first.
Gather Your Materials
Before you do anything, locate the wheel that you suspect has the issue, and have some tools ready.
Gather these tools:
- Tire jack
- Lug wrench
- Caliper/brake grease
- Socket wrench
- Torque wrench
- Rags
- Brake cleaner
Next, take the following steps to remove your tire and the caliper.
Jack Up the Car
Put the jack under the wheel with the faulty caliper and follow the directions listed in the jack manual to lift it off the ground. To ensure that the car does not move or shift, place wheel chocks (small wedges, usually yellow in color) behind the other wheels.
Remove the Wheel
Use the lug wrench to turn counterclockwise the lugs holding the wheel onto the car. Have a bucket or a bug to place the lugs in so that they do not get lost or roll away. Pull the wheel away from the car and place it nearby.
Clean the Brake Pads
These are the black, slightly curved pieces attached to the rotor disc. Follow the instructions on the brake cleaner to thoroughly spray down the brake pads. This should remove any build-up that has accumulated from use and should make the next step a bit easier, as well.
Remove Brake Pads & Calipers from the Rotor Disc
You will need to unscrew the calipers with a torque wrench first to remove the brake pads. If you are having a hard time unscrewing the calipers whether they are rusted or screwed on tightly, you can use an air-powered torque wrench to loosen them. Lift them from the bracket, and then remove the brake pads as well.
Clean the Calipers
Spray the caliper with a brake or caliper cleaner and scrub off the oil or dust with the rag. As you are cleaning take a good look at the rubber boots that are covering the bolts. If there are any tears or breakage, they will need to be replaced.
Lubricate the Whole of the Caliper
Make sure there is enough that all the parts including the bolts, pistons, and sides are fully covered, but that it is not globby. You want just enough so that the parts will move smoothly over each other. You can use either a caliper-specific lubricant or white lithium grease.
Reassemble the Brakes
Put the caliper back in the bracket, put the bolts back on, and tighten with the lug wrench just until secure. Put it back on the brake pad, and then put the brake pad back on the tire.
Once the brake pad is back on, place the tire back on the axle, replace the lugs, and tighten them with the lug wrench by rotating them clockwise. Make sure not to tighten either the caliper bolts or the lugs too much.
Conclusion
Having brakes that work well is very important to a car that is both safe and long-lasting. Brakes taking a long time to respond when pressed is a common issue. Another issue that often happens is a stuck brake caliper. A stuck brake caliper can make it hard to accelerate which can lead to more fuel being used, as well as drifting, and overheated brakes.
One simple solution is to clean the brake caliper. Remove the tire, take the brake pads, bolts, and calipers off. Thoroughly clean the calipers, put a thin layer of lubricant over the whole thing, and put everything back on, making sure that you do not tighten the lugs and bolts too much.