By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse
Most brake caliper complaints on a 2020-2023 Hyundai Palisade come down to a caliper that no longer slides or releases freely: one pad wears much faster than the other, a wheel runs hot, or the SUV pulls under braking. The usual fix is cleaning or replacing the slide pins and boots, and replacing the caliper only when the piston is seized or leaking. The rear brakes also carry the electronic parking brake, which changes how a rear job is done.
How the Palisade Caliper Setup Works
The Palisade uses disc brakes at all four wheels. Hyundai's owner's manual describes a disc brake wear indicator that makes a high-pitched sound from the front or rear brakes, and Hyundai's own recall 212 service procedure has the technician drain brake fluid at all four calipers. Each caliper is a floating design: the piston pushes the inner pad against the rotor, and the caliper body slides on two guide pins to pull the outer pad in. If those pins bind, the caliper cannot center itself and the two pads stop sharing the work.
The rear axle adds the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB). Instead of a hand lever and cables, a switch on the console tells the rear brakes to clamp. The manual notes that a clicking sound when the EPB applies or releases is normal, and warns that driving with the EPB applied can overheat the brakes and cause premature wear or damage to brake parts.
| Item | Palisade detail | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Brake type | Disc brakes front and rear, floating calipers | Owner's manual, recall 212 procedure |
| Parking brake | Electronic (EPB) with console switch and dash warning light | Owner's manual |
| Brake fluid | Fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4; Hyundai's recall 212 parts list uses DOT 4 | Owner's manual, recall 212 |
| Inspection | Check pads for wear, discs for runout and wear, calipers for fluid leakage; inspect pads whenever tires are rotated | Owner's manual |
Symptoms of a Sticking or Failing Caliper
- Uneven pad wear. One pad, usually the inner, worn much thinner than its partner. Brake and Front End and ADVICS both list this as a classic sign of a binding slide pin.
- Pull to one side when braking, or a steady drag while cruising if a caliper is not releasing.
- One wheel hotter than the others after a drive, sometimes with a hot-brake smell.
- Noise. Squeal or grind from one corner. The Palisade's wear indicator also squeals when pads get thin, so measure the pads before blaming the caliper.
- Fluid on the inside of the wheel or tire. A wet caliper means a leaking piston seal, and that caliper needs replacing.
- EPB warning light or message on the dash. Hyundai says this light comes on when there is an EPB malfunction. It can also light along with the ESC indicator when stability control has a fault, which by itself does not mean the EPB failed.
What Causes Palisade Caliper Problems
The Palisade is a heavy three-row SUV, and its calipers live in the same salt, water and heat as any other. The common causes are not unique to Hyundai:
- Dry or corroded slide pins. ADVICS traces sticking pins to rust once the original grease is used up, and to boots and sleeves that deteriorate from heat and friction.
- Torn or swollen pin boots. Brake and Front End points to swollen or hardened guide seals, bent or binding pins, worn slides and damaged mounting brackets. A torn boot lets water in and the pin rusts in place.
- Seized piston. Corrosion behind a damaged piston dust boot keeps the piston from retracting, so the pads drag.
- Driving with the parking brake applied. Hyundai warns this overheats the braking system. Heat cooks pads, rotors and caliper seals.
- Contaminated fluid. Fluid contaminated with the wrong oil swells rubber seals. That exact problem caused recall 212 on some 2021 Palisades (see below).
Recalls That Touch the Palisade Brake System
Neither of these recalls is a caliper recall, but both cause brake symptoms an owner might blame on a caliper, so rule them out first with a VIN check at nhtsa.gov or a Hyundai dealer:
- Recall 212 (2021 Palisade). Hyundai's bulletin says brake fluid in certain 2021 Palisades built from March 9 through March 31, 2021 may be contaminated with mineral oil, which makes the master cylinder inner cup seals expand. Symptoms are longer pedal travel, a change in pedal feel and longer stopping distances. The dealer drains the fluid, replaces the master cylinder and refills with DOT 4.
- Recall 245 (2023 Palisade). Certain 2023 Palisades built April 28 through May 11, 2023 have brake booster housings that can let the diaphragm unseat, causing a vacuum leak and loss of power brake assist, which lengthens stopping distance.
A long, sinking pedal points toward fluid or the brake master cylinder; a hard pedal with little assist points toward the brake booster. A caliper problem usually shows up at one wheel, not in the pedal.
The Fix: Pins, Pads or a New Caliper
Start with the cheapest correct repair. Pull the caliper, remove the slide pins, and clean off all old grease and rust. If a pin is rusted, replace it; ADVICS recommends replacing a corroded pin rather than greasing over it. Replace deteriorated boots and sleeves, and lubricate the pins and sliding surfaces with a high-temperature caliper grease that is safe for rubber. A brake hardware kit covers the clips and pins in one box.
Replace the caliper when the piston will not retract with normal force, the piston boot is torn with rust underneath, or there is any fluid leak. Brake and Front End's advice is to inspect all mounting surfaces and hardware for corrosion, wear or misalignment at the same time. See our replacement brake calipers.
What to replace at the same time
- Pads on both sides of the axle. Hyundai says to always replace brake pads as complete front or rear axle sets. A dragging caliper usually ruins its pads, so do both wheels. For the front axle we carry Power Stop ceramic front brake pads for the 2020-2023 Palisade, or browse ceramic brake pads.
- Rotors if the dragging caliper overheated them: blue spots, glazed patches, or a pulsing pedal. Browse brake rotors.
- Brake hose if it is cracked or swollen. Hyundai's maintenance section says to replace deteriorated or damaged brake hoses and lines immediately. See brake hoses.
- Brake fluid. Any caliper replacement means bleeding that corner; use new fluid that meets the spec on the reservoir cap.
How Hard Is the Job?
Front caliper: a normal driveway job for someone with brake experience. Remove the caliper bolts and the hose fitting, swap the caliper, then bleed. Torque every fastener to the value in the factory service manual.
Rear caliper: harder because of the EPB. With an electronic parking brake, the rear pistons are applied by an electric actuator, so the parking brake must be put in its service or release mode, typically with a capable scan tool following the factory service manual, before the pads come out. Forcing the piston back with a clamp can damage the actuator. After the job, cycle the EPB and confirm the warning light goes out; Hyundai says that if the parking brake warning light stays on after the EPB is released, the system should be checked.
Bleeding: Hyundai's recall 212 procedure uses a scan tool air-bleeding mode for the hydraulic unit. If the system was opened and the pedal stays soft after a conventional bleed, it likely needs that scan-tool bleed.
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Shop Brake Calipers →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if it is the caliper or just worn pads on my Palisade?
Worn pads wear fairly evenly, and the wear indicator squeals from the axle that is low. A caliper problem shows up as one pad much thinner than the other, one hot wheel, a pull, or fluid at the wheel.
Can I replace just one caliper?
Yes, a caliper can be replaced by itself if the other side is healthy. Pads, however, should always be replaced as a full axle set, per Hyundai.
Why does my Palisade's rear brake click when I park?
That is the electronic parking brake applying. Hyundai's manual says a clicking sound during EPB application or release is normal.
Do I need a scan tool to do the rear brakes?
In most cases, yes. The rear brakes carry the electric parking brake actuator, and the factory procedure puts the EPB into service mode before the pistons are retracted.
Is there a caliper recall on the 2020-2023 Palisade?
We did not find one. Recall 212 (2021, contaminated fluid and master cylinder) and recall 245 (2023, brake booster) cover other brake parts. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for open recalls.
What brake fluid does the Palisade use?
The owner's manual calls for fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4, and Hyundai's recall 212 parts list specifies DOT 4. Check the reservoir cap on your vehicle.
Sources
- Hyundai 2022 Palisade Owner's Manual - disc brake wear indicator front and rear, axle-set pad replacement, EPB operation, warnings and warning light, brake fluid spec, brake inspection items
- NHTSA: Hyundai TSB 21-01-081H, Recall 212 - 2021 Palisade contaminated brake fluid and master cylinder seals, DOT 4 fluid, all-four-caliper drain and scan-tool bleed
- NHTSA: Hyundai Safety Recall 245 - 2023 Palisade brake booster diaphragm and loss of power assist
- ADVICS: Troubleshooting Caliper Slide Pin Sticking - symptoms, rust and boot causes, replace rusted pins
- Brake and Front End: Bent or Binding Mounting Pins - uneven pad wear, pin, seal and bracket causes, high-temperature caliper lubricant
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