Don?t Meddle with the Pedal (Brake Caliper Replacement)
November 23, 2025
If you drive a newer vehicle, chances are it has disc brakes, and one of the components of that type of brake is called a brake caliper. The caliper allows the pressure from your foot on the brake pedal to eventually move brake pads against discs in your wheels, which then slow and stop your vehicle.
If you have disc brakes on all 4 wheels, your vehicle will have 4 calipers. If you have them just on the front wheels, you’ll only have 2 calipers. Because your wheels and brakes do their work outside and on the road surface, they are exposed to a lot of dirt and debris, as well as enduring heat, cold, moisture and tough treatment in daily driving.
Your calipers have seals that are susceptible to the heat generated during the repetitive stops in normal driving, which can take a tough toll on those seals. If you drive when your vehicle’s brake pads and rotors are worn, you can ruin your calipers in the process.
Here are a few signs that a caliper might be failing: Your vehicle is pulling to one side when you apply the brakes. Your pedal goes down to the floor when you push on it. You hear squeaking from the wheels while braking. You notice brake fluid on the pavement underneath your vehicle after you’ve parked it for a few hours.
If you are getting any of those warning signs, it’s important to have one of our technicians determine what’s going on. There are several brake components that contribute to your vehicle’s safe operation, including the calipers, pads, rotors, brake lines and brake fluid.
Regular brake maintenance is recommended in your vehicle’s owner’s manual to prevent dangerous surprises. And when you see issues, have your brakes serviced as soon as you see signs of trouble.
Tire Warehouse Depot
250 N. Lapeer Rd.
Lake Orion, Michigan 48362
248-929-0699
Need Service?
More articles from Tire Warehouse Depot

Why is My Vehicle Overheating?
July 19, 2026
When it comes to your vehicle overheating, the signs can be loud and clear when you have a problem. You may see a thermometer-shaped warning light come on or a temperature gauge whose needle is pointing in the red zone. When either of those happen, its important to take quick action to avoid se... More

Control Arms: Small Part, Big Impact
July 12, 2026
Heres one part of your vehicle you may never have heard of: the control arm. Its the part that connects the wheel hub and steering knuckle to your vehicles frame. What it does is lets your wheel move up and down while keeping it aligned with your vehicle. Most control arms have things called ... More

Spend Less, Drive More: Go Synthetic
July 5, 2026
Oil changes are vital to your engine because clean oil is essential to make it efficient, reliable and last a long time. One of the big breakthroughs in oil technology is synthetic oil. It does a superior job of protecting modern engines and makes them perform better than conventional oil. The ... More
