Pads and rotors are wear items you replace regularly, but what about the caliper? Calipers are built to last much longer - yet they do eventually fail. Here is how brake calipers wear out and when to replace one.
Calipers last, but not forever
A caliper can easily last well over a hundred thousand miles, far longer than pads or rotors. But its rubber seals, piston, and guide pins age and corrode over time, and eventually one of those parts fails - so calipers are long-life, not lifetime, parts.
How they fail
The common failures are a seized piston or guide pins that make the caliper stick and drag - see sticking caliper - or a torn piston seal that leaks brake fluid. Corrosion on the guide pins is a frequent cause; see caliper slide pins. A leaking caliper drops fluid and pedal.
Signs a caliper is going
Watch for a pull to one side, a hot wheel or burning smell, uneven pad wear, fluid on the inside of the wheel, or a soft pedal. A dragging caliper also overheats its rotor; see brake heat.
Rebuild or replace
A sticking or leaking caliper can sometimes be rebuilt, but replacement is often the reliable fix - see rebuild vs replace. Always replace pads and service the rotor on that corner too. Fit quality pads and fresh hardware.