Senior Member
You need to be more specific. Is the caliper bad? If yes, then replace it. Changing out rotors and new pads doesn't hurt anything if they need replacing. No need to replace caliper at the same time unless the caliper is bad.
How would you know if the caliper is bad? Every time I drove my car, a loud sqeaking noise would come from my right side. So I just took out everything......rotor, pads, and disconnected the caliper. Now when I spin the tire........no noise. How can I tell what is making that noise? Should I attach the caliper and try spining the tire again? Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks
Junior Member
Look at your brake pads and rotor. Does the rotor have any DEEP scratches in it... like something was grinding against it? Also, look at your brake pads... how much brake material is left on them? New brake pads have about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of material when they are brand new.
Does it look like the pads have been worn down to the wear indicator? The wear indicator is a metal tab that is on one corner of the brake pad and will start making a squealing noise when you apply the brakes, if the pad material has been worn down.
If you have completely worn out your brake pads your are making METAL to METAL contact and that would obviously be the source of your noise.
Generally calipers themselves don't make a constant noise like you describe. Do you have aftermarket wheels that could be rubbing against the calipers?
No offense, but it sounds like you are a bit of a novice with auto repair. Although replacing rotors and brake pads are fairly easy to do you may want to take it to a local mechanic and have them check out your problem.
Good luck.
Does it look like the pads have been worn down to the wear indicator? The wear indicator is a metal tab that is on one corner of the brake pad and will start making a squealing noise when you apply the brakes, if the pad material has been worn down.
If you have completely worn out your brake pads your are making METAL to METAL contact and that would obviously be the source of your noise.
Generally calipers themselves don't make a constant noise like you describe. Do you have aftermarket wheels that could be rubbing against the calipers?
No offense, but it sounds like you are a bit of a novice with auto repair. Although replacing rotors and brake pads are fairly easy to do you may want to take it to a local mechanic and have them check out your problem.
Good luck.
Well......my braking pad has deep scratches on it. As for the rotor, doesn't have any scratches. But like I said, my braking pads have deep scratches on them. Along with a lot of white powder dust.
Senior Member
It seems like you just need rotors and pads. If you see uneven wear of the pads or rotors, then it migt be the caliper, otherwise just replace rotors and pads.
Senior Member
Not to hijack this thread but when I brake then my steering wheel starts shaking from left to right a lot. It is very noticeable. Im pretty sure that I need to replace the rotors. If it is then should I also replace the brake pads? What do you guys think? Thanks
Tonight I will have some time to work on my car (finally) what should I look for if my caliper needs replacing? What kind of damage? Thanks.
No physical damage should be present, but if it's sticking then repalce the mothtrucker. Same goes for physical damage, but if there is physical damage thank god because you're lucky to be alive.
no need to get new caliper unless they are shot..and still they are fixable witha lot of wd40 etc...
So much lack of information in this thread.
1. How many miles are on the current brake parts/car?
2. Have you ever done any brake repairs in the past?
3. Having already removed the brake line from the caliper, you MUST now bleed the brakes no matter what parts you replace.
4. Isn't this something you would ask before you started just taking items apart?
5. Now that your caliper is disconnected from the brake line, you will have more of an issue trying to determine whether the caliper is actually bad due to not being connected to the braking system.
1. How many miles are on the current brake parts/car?
2. Have you ever done any brake repairs in the past?
3. Having already removed the brake line from the caliper, you MUST now bleed the brakes no matter what parts you replace.
4. Isn't this something you would ask before you started just taking items apart?
5. Now that your caliper is disconnected from the brake line, you will have more of an issue trying to determine whether the caliper is actually bad due to not being connected to the braking system.