2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer Brake Caliper Problems and Replacement

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

Most brake caliper trouble on a 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer comes down to a caliper that will not release fully: seized slide pins, a corroded piston, or a rear caliper whose parking brake mechanism has stuck. The result is a pull to one side, a hot wheel, a burning smell and one pad worn far faster than the other. Before buying parts, confirm whether your Lancer even has rear calipers, because many base cars left the factory with rear drum brakes.

How the Lancer Brake System Is Laid Out

Mitsubishi built this Lancer generation with several different brake packages, and the right replacement caliper depends on which one you have. According to Mitsubishi's 2008 press material, every front brake uses a vented disc clamped by a dual-piston caliper, and all front rotors are 1.0 in. thick. The car uses a single 10-in. vacuum brake booster with a long-stroke master cylinder, and ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) was standard on ES and GTS and available on the DE.

The practical takeaway: a Lancer ES on steel wheels with covers usually has rear drums, so a "rear caliper" problem on that car is really a wheel cylinder or shoe issue. Look through the rear wheel. If you see a round drum with no caliper, shop Lancer-compatible brake shoes instead. The GTS and Ralliart use the larger 11.6 in. front brake shared with the Outlander, which is why their front calipers and rotors are not interchangeable with the ES.

Symptoms of a Failing Lancer Caliper

A caliper that sticks applied shows itself in fairly predictable ways:

• Pull under braking or while cruising. A front caliper that grips harder or never lets go drags the car toward that side.
• One wheel much hotter than the others after a drive, often with a sharp burning smell and extra brake dust on that wheel.
• Uneven pad wear. The inner pad worn to the backing plate while the outer pad still has material is the classic sign of a slide pin that has stopped sliding.
• Loss of coasting and fuel economy, because the car is always braking a little.
• Brake fluid on the inside of the wheel or tire, which points to a leaking piston seal or bleeder. This one is urgent: a leaking caliper can lead to a soft pedal and a brake warning light.
• A parking brake that will not fully release or will not hold on rear-disc cars, where the parking brake works through the rear caliper.

To diagnose, lift the car and spin each wheel by hand in neutral. Some light pad contact is normal; a wheel that takes real effort to turn is dragging. Then pull the wheel, remove the caliper bolts and check whether the slide pins move freely in their bores and whether the piston boot is torn.

What Causes Lancer Calipers to Stick

These brakes are conventional single-sided sliding calipers, so they fail the same way most sliding calipers do. A tech tip from Brake & Front End sums up the usual list: bent or binding mounting pins, worn slides, bent or damaged mounting brackets, swollen or hardened guide seals, or a lack of lubrication. On a Lancer that has seen road salt, corrosion is the common thread. Water gets past a split boot, rusts the pin or piston, and the caliper can no longer retract.

Old brake fluid adds to the problem. Fluid absorbs moisture over time, and that moisture corrodes the inside of the caliper bore. If the fluid in the reservoir looks dark, plan on a full flush along with any caliper work. Use the fluid type printed on the reservoir cap and in your owner's manual.

The rear calipers on disc-equipped cars carry the parking brake mechanism as well, so a rear caliper can stick for two reasons: a seized piston or a seized parking brake lever and shaft. A parking brake cable that is rusted or out of adjustment can mimic a bad caliper, so free the cable and check it before condemning the caliper.

Recall Facts: What Applies and What Does Not

You will find websites claiming that the 2008-2010 Lancer had a rear brake caliper recall. NHTSA's records do not support that. A search of NHTSA's recall database for the 2008 through 2017 Lancer shows no recall for the brake calipers. Here is what is on file:

• Brake booster check valve (NHTSA 09V077000): 2008-2009 Outlander and Lancer. Incorrect material in the brake booster check valve could let it stick closed when the engine was shut off, reducing initial braking assist at very low speeds after a restart. Dealers replaced the check valve. If a 2008-2009 Lancer has a hard pedal right after startup, check this recall first.
• Front cross member corrosion (NHTSA 20V279000, Mitsubishi SR-20-003): 2008-2010 Lancer in salt-belt states. The front lower control arms could detach because of cross member corrosion. This is a suspension and structure recall, not a brake recall, but it is worth checking whenever the car is on a lift for brake work.
• The rear caliper recall people confuse it with (Mitsubishi SR-20-005, NHTSA 20V741): this covered rust on the rear brake operating shaft inside the rear caliper, and Mitsubishi's bulletin lists only certain 2016 Outlander and 2016 Outlander Sport/RVR vehicles. It does not include the Lancer.

You can run your own VIN on nhtsa.gov to confirm any open campaign on your specific car.

Replacing a Lancer Caliper: Parts and Process

A caliper swap is a moderate DIY job for someone who has done a pad change, with one extra step: the hydraulic system has to be bled afterward. The typical sequence is:

1. Loosen the lug nuts, raise and support the car on jack stands, and remove the wheel.
2. Clamp the flexible brake hose lightly with a hose pinch tool to limit fluid loss, then disconnect the banjo bolt or line fitting at the caliper. Use new sealing washers on a banjo fitting.
3. Remove the caliper bolts and the caliper, then inspect the bracket and slide pins.
4. Install the new or remanufactured caliper with new pads, clean and lubricate the pins with high-temperature caliper grease, and tighten all fasteners to the values in the factory service manual.
5. Bleed the brakes at that corner until clear, bubble-free fluid comes out, check the pedal, and test drive at low speed.

On rear-disc Lancers, the parking brake cable connects to the rear caliper, so it must be disconnected and readjusted afterward. On many single-piston rear calipers with integral parking brakes the piston is retracted by rotating it rather than pushing it straight back; check how yours retracts before forcing it, as the wrong method can damage the internal mechanism.

Browse replacement brake calipers and remanufactured calipers, and match the part to your trim and wheel size from the table above.

What to Replace at the Same Time

• Calipers in axle pairs. If one side seized from age and corrosion, the other side has had the same exposure. Replacing both keeps braking even left to right.
• Pads. Pads that have been dragging or soaked in fluid should never be reused. See our brake pads.
• Rotors. A dragging caliper overheats the rotor, which often leaves it warped, glazed or blue. Measure it; if it is under the minimum thickness stamped on it or badly scored, replace it with new brake rotors.
• Hardware and hoses. New clips and pins from a brake hardware kit prevent the new caliper from binding the same way. A swollen or cracked rubber hose can trap pressure and hold a caliper on, so inspect brake hoses too.
• Brake fluid. A full flush is cheap insurance with new calipers.

If the pads and rotors on both axles are near the end, a complete kit such as the 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer front and rear brake kit handles everything but the calipers in one order. Confirm the rear-disc fitment for your trim first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a recall on Mitsubishi Lancer brake calipers?

No. NHTSA's database shows no caliper recall for the 2008-2017 Lancer. The rear caliper recall SR-20-005 covered only certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport models. The 2008-2009 Lancer did have a brake booster check valve recall.

Does my Lancer have rear disc brakes or drums?

It depends on the trim and options. The 2008 DE had rear drums, while the ES and GTS had rear discs. On later ES models, rear discs came with the alloy wheel package, and the SE AWC, GT and Ralliart used rear discs. Look through the rear wheel to be sure.

Can I drive with a sticking caliper?

Only as far as a safe place to fix it. A dragging caliper overheats the pads, rotor and fluid, which can fade the brakes on that wheel and damage the wheel bearing. A leaking caliper can lead to loss of pedal.

Should I replace one caliper or both?

Replace them in pairs on the same axle when the failure is from age or corrosion. A single caliper can make sense only when a relatively new unit failed from a one-off cause like a damaged bleeder.

Are GTS and ES front calipers the same?

No. The GTS and Ralliart use a larger 11.6 in. front rotor while the DE and ES use a 10.9 in. rotor, so the calipers and brackets differ. Order by trim, not just year.

Do I need to bleed the brakes after replacing a caliper?

Yes. Opening the hydraulic line lets air in, and air in the system gives a soft, low pedal. Bleed that corner at minimum, and flush the system if the old fluid is dark.

Sources

1. Mitsubishi Motors: 2008 Lancer overview - front and rear brake sizes by trim, dual-piston front calipers, GTS single-piston rear calipers, rotor thickness, 10-in. booster, ABS with EBD
2. Mitsubishi Motors: 2011 Lancer specifications - rear drum or disc by trim, disc with alloy wheels on ES
3. Mitsubishi Motors: 2014 Lancer pricing and features - ES rear drums, Alloy Wheel Package rear discs, SE AWC rear discs
4. NHTSA recall database: Mitsubishi Lancer - booster check valve recall 09V077000, cross member recall 20V279000, no caliper recall
5. Mitsubishi recall bulletin SR-20-005 (NHTSA) - rear parking brake caliper recall limited to 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport
6. Brake & Front End: binding mounting pins tech tip - causes of sliding caliper binding, replace hardware, high-temperature lubricant
7. Cardone: brake caliper function and installation - how caliper pistons apply and retract the pads