Ultimate Brake Calipers Buying Guide
Brake calipers are an essential component of a vehicle's braking system. They work in unison with the brake pads and brake rotors to bring a car to a stop and ensure safety and control on the road.
There are multiple types of brake calipers available online. Not all will fit the model and spec of your motor. At Parts Avenue, we've created a comprehensive guide to help our customers understand brake calipers and find the best option available on our website.
We'll cover:
- What Are Brake Calipers?
- Why Do They Matter?
- The Common Causes of Issues With Brake Calipers
- The Types of Brake Calipers Available Online
- The Best Brake Caliper Brands and Options
- How to Choose the Right Brake Caliper Parts
- Frequently asked questions about brake calipers
What Are Brake Calipers?
Front brake calipers typically sit on the steering knuckle. If you look for the spinning brake rotor behind your alloy wheel, you'll see the brake calipers are fixed to it, almost looking like they're clamped over it. Within the calipers, you'll also find two brake pads opposite to each other—the material designed to cause friction and ultimately bring a motor to a stop.
There are two sets of brake pads: the outboard on the outside of the rotors (curb-facing) and the inboard pads inside (vehicle-facing). Brake calipers also have a piston (or pistons, depending on the design of your motor) that forces the calipers out to create the squeezing motion of the brake pads against the rotor.
It works using hydraulic fluid (brake fluid) that travels from the master cylinder, creating enough pressure to move pistons within the brake caliper outwards and squeeze the pads against the rotor. As the rotors stop, so do the wheels in motion.
The caliper's full surface area isn't clamped onto the brake rotor; it's only attached. The rotor still spins at full capacity during acceleration. When you press down on the brake pedal, the full clamping motion activates.
Why Do They Matter?
Your brake calipers are an integral part of the braking system. Technically, the braking system works from the pedal to the end point of the brake rotor, but it's the calipers, pads, and rotors that function in unison to generate the stopping force.
Without high-quality brake calipers, the entire stopping mechanism won't function as it should. The issues you're likely to experience are:
- Grinding noises
- A soft brake pedal
- The car pulling to one side
- Overheating
- Total brake failure
Now you know how your brake calipers work; it's easy to understand how a faulty brake pedal would impact the rest of the braking mechanism. Without correctly functioning brake calipers, there's a reduced or total loss of the squeezing motion of the pad against the rotor.
The Common Causes of Issues With Brake Calipers
The most common cause of faulty brake calipers is corrosion or dirt that creates sticking or seized calipers. If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side during braking, it's most likely due to one of these two reasons. Dirt is easier to fix with a simple clean. If your brake calipers are seizing or sticking due to corrosion, you'll ideally need to replace both sides (front or rear, depending on where the issue is).
It's less likely to be the case that leaks appear in the caliper seals, causing brake fluid loss, or sticky pistons that prevent even pressure application. If that did happen, the uneven spread of pressure is what causes the vehicle to pull to one side.
With all that said, brake calipers are the least likely to fail out of your braking system. They're designed to last between 7 and 10 years on average, or 160,000 to 190,000 km. If you buy a new car model or a motor with a mileage under 100,000 km, the brake calipers are likely to last longer than you will own the vehicle for unless you're using it for regular long journeys.
The Types of Brake Calipers Available Online
There are multiple types of brake calipers online. Here's a breakdown of them and how they work.
Floating Calipers
Most standard light vehicles and everyday modern cars use floating (or sliding) calipers. They're small, light, and efficient.
The system works using a single-piston hydraulic system to press one brake pad against the rotor. The calipers glide along guide pins, causing the brake pad on the opposite side of the rotor to clamp. So, although it's only a one-sided piston, it's still a dual-sided clamping action with one piston creating the friction needed to slow the vehicle.
Types of brake calipers using this system rely on the pins for even pad contact. Note that it's essential that these pins are well lubricated on installation so that they slide effortlessly.
Why they’re good:
- Cheaper to replace
- Easy to maintain
- Proven design for normal driving
Where they struggle:
- Not great under heavy loads
- Can wear unevenly if the slide pins stick
Best for: Everyday cars and commuters that don’t do performance driving or towing.
Fixed Calipers
Floating calipers move; fixed calipers don't. Fixed caliper systems remain in position as multiple pistons on both sides of the brake disc are simultaneously pushed by hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid then squeezes the brake pads against the spinning rotor, and that action creates enough friction to stop a car. And as it's all a simultaneous action, there's even braking force across all four axes.
We'd say fixed calipers are more popular for high-performance vehicle models. There's an increased requirement for consistent power and control that fixed calipers deliver. That said, they're also commonly installed on bigger SUVs and heavy vehicles that need more stopping power.
Why they’re good:
- Consistent brake pressure
- Even pad wear
- Stronger braking under heat
Things to know:
Replacing fixed calipers costs more. It also takes more time and expertise.
Two-Piece Calipers and Monoblock Calipers
Fixed or floating calipers can either have a two-piece or monoblock design.
With two-piece calipers, two halves of a caliper body are forged together. It's actually an easier process to manufacture than monoblocks because they avoid the need for complex, single-piece machining processes.
Only a single piece of caliper made using high-strength aluminum or titanium makes monoblock calipers.
Why two-piece calipers are good:
- They're reliable for most vehicles.
- They're easier to rebuild.
- They're a cost-effective alternative to monoblocks.
Downsides of two-piece calipers:
They're slightly heavier and not as rigid compared to single-monoblock versions.
Best for: Standard vehicles needing dependable braking without a big price tag.
Why monoblock calipers are good:
- They have better strength and stability.
- They're better with braking consistency.
- The lightweight design improves handling.
Downside: They’re expensive.
Best for: Performance or luxury vehicles.
Single vs. Multi-Piston Calipers
A single-piston caliper is better for small vehicles or a relaxed driving style. When there's added speed or weight, multi-piston calipers are the better option. Multi-piston designs distribute the clamping force more evenly across the length of the brake pad. The result of that is reduced pad flex, improved heat dissipation, and less brake fade.
Multi-piston calipers can have two, four, six, or more pistons, but it is more common for aftermarket brake kits to include calipers with dual pistons. The result is less wear and tear and a smoother performance.
Best for: Trucks, SUVs, and cars that need a bigger braking force.
The Best Brake Caliper Brands and Options
At Parts Avenue, we only stock CMX brake calipers. They're one of the most superior brands on the market.
CMX
CMX parts use 100% new, high-grade carbon-enhanced XCast™ (G3000) iron castings to deliver the reliability you need from brake calipers. That premium material also gives you braking stability under high stress and heat. They're not necessarily designed for performance vehicles, but you do get better stopping power and less fade than with other brands.
The precise engineering for an original equipment-level performance and fit is one of the best on the market.
Why CMX brake calipers stand out:
- High-grade carbon-enhanced iron casting for reliability
- Can withstand high braking temperatures
- Better stopping power than some brands on the market
You have the option to buy the CMX calipers that we stock as standalone units. However, you will also notice that most of our CMX calipers are included as part of a bundle with pads and rotors. Within those brake kits, we provide high-quality parts from brands such as TEC and DS-One to match the superior CMX brake calipers.
How to Choose the Right Brake Caliper Parts
If you search the model of your vehicle on Parts Avenue, you can see the full stock list of parts we have that should be suitable. However, parts might not fit depending on the model and year of manufacturing. For a more accurate check, you can use our fitment checker tool.
When you select a part, just under the part name, you can see the option to edit the vehicle you're searching for. You'll then see our fitment checker, which will ask you to select the year, make, and model of the motor.
If you have any concerns or questions about whether the brake calipers you're interested in will fit the make and model of your vehicle, you can send us an email at info@partsavenue.ca for a faster response.
As we only stock CMX calipers, your considerations for selecting the right brake calipers are
Do you need single- or multi-piston calipers?
At Parts Avenue, we stock single- and multi-piston calipers. As we said previously, you don't necessarily need multi-piston calipers unless you have a heavy vehicle or a high-performance model.
Most of our daily driver customers only need a single-piston design. Single-piston calipers are just as reliable and high-quality as multi-piston calipers, so the option really depends on your motor and your driving requirements.
Note: Some of our brake calipers are only designed for one side of the car. In the description, look for the 'position' stated. It might say "right-sided," "left-sided," or "left/right-sided," but it is suitable for the front or the rear of the motor. Always thoroughly check the part title and product description so you know you're getting exactly what you need.
We have a 30-day refund policy if you realize you've ordered the wrong part when it arrives, but only if the package remains unopened.
Do you need your brake calipers as part of a kit?
You will see that many of our brake calipers come as part of a brake kit to ensure our customers have an affordable way of purchasing all the parts they need without making individual and more expensive orders.
In the brake kits, you'll likely find these combinations:
- Brake calipers and brake pads
- Brake calipers and brake rotors
- Brake calipers, pads, and rotors
The most complete kits contain front and rear calipers for both sides of the vehicle, and the same with pads and rotors. You also have the option of purchasing front or rear kits, and we do recommend changing both sides at the same time to ensure even braking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brake Calipers
1. Do I need to replace all four at once?
No, but you should always replace both on the same axle—front or rear—for even braking.
2. Can I drive with a leaking caliper?
You can, but it's risky. Loss of brake fluid means less pressure, which means slower stopping or no stopping at all.
3. Are rebuilt calipers safe?
Yes. When done properly, rebuilt calipers work like new. The seals, pistons, and internal parts are all replaced and pressure-tested. Unless you have the equipment, you'll need a mechanic for this.
4. Can I install new calipers myself?
If you're comfortable doing brake work, yes. But always torque them correctly and bleed the system properly. If you don't know what any of that means, we'd recommend taking your motor to a mechanic with your Parts Avenue brake calipers and asking them to do the work for you.
We only partner with the best brake caliper provider to ensure you receive the highest-quality original equipment-level parts without needing to invest in original manufacturer parts.
If you need any help or advice, send us an email at support@partsavenue.ca. Start your search today with Parts Avenue, the most-trusted car parts provider in Canada.