Technical Rear calliper

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Technical Rear calliper

ElkyElky

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Had my brake pads replaced today and the mechanic said my rear calliper is a little stiff and that I should keep an eye on it and have it replaced if it gets worse.

I don't know what a calliper is, or what exactly I should be keeping an eye on. I'd be ever so grateful if someone could translate this in to something I may understand?

Thanks :D
 
Your rear caliper is like a hyperdermic syringe in reverse. Instead of a push rod pushing the fluid out, you push the fluid in with your footbrake and that forces the caliper brake piston out which pushes the brake pad onto the disc and makes the disc and car slow down

Image00008.jpg
Here's a rear brake caliper with new disc

Image00005.jpg
Here's the caliper piston

You can't really "keep an eye in it". What he meant was be aware if it feels like the brake is staying on, clues might be dragging brakes, a lot of heat there after driving, disc turning blue colour, very hot brake smells etc
 
Ah right. Thank you very much. (y)

Do you think it would be best if I had it replaced now, however minor the problem may be? As I read that it is part of the braking, my first incline would be to replace it immediately despite the mechanic telling me it'll be fine for the moment.
 
Impossible to give a judgement on something as important as brakes. Maybe obtain a second opinion?

If the caliper doesn't retract when you release the brakes then the pads stay in firm contact with the disc so brakes get very hot, disc overheats, probably warps becomes useless and you'd need new pads and discs
 
It would be silly to replace something still functional (and expensive) but you could perhaps ask the mechanic if he can 'free up' the calliper a bit - although that should really have been done whilst the pads were being fitted.
 
It would be silly to replace something still functional (and expensive) but you could perhaps ask the mechanic if he can 'free up' the calliper a bit - although that should really have been done whilst the pads were being fitted.

Usually I'd agree. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.

However would it be worth risking the braking performance should the problem get any worse, for the sake of saving some money? Like I said, I don't know much about cars so I wouldn't know if it would be possible for the problem to escalate to something much more serious.

Car is due an MOT next month so I'll take it to another garage for a second opinion while they do the MOT.
 
take calipers apart,clean behind the seals ( change seals if you want to-but its not really needed ).Its not that there is anything wrong with the calipers , its just corrosion behind the seals forcing the seals onto the piston ,not allowing them to retract ,due to poor quality metal used.
 
can you just buy seals for callipers been quoted £97 for a replacement plus £45 deposit and all thats wrong is a split seal. :(

Hi Welcome to the FF.

Fiat don't supply the seal seperately but they are probably available from motor factors.

You'd be a braver man than me to attempt replacing seals in a rear caliper. The handbrake mechanism is a nightmare to reinstall correctly.
 
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