Why Rebuilt Brake Calipers Are Better Than New Brake Calipers

Your car's wheels are attached to rotors or metal discs that rotate along with the wheels. When you apply brakes, brake calipers push the brake pads against the surface of the brake rotor to slow your car’s wheels. In short, a brake caliper is a control system that converts the hydraulic pressure of a fluid into mechanical movement of the pistons and brake pads to stop the car.

There are mainly two types of calipers: floating calipers and fixed calipers:

1. Floating calipers

A floating caliper consists of one or two pistons only on one side of the rotor which slides backward and forwards on pins or bushings and acts as a clamp. When the brake pedal is applied, the piston comes out and applies the inboard pad. At the same time, as the piston comes out, the caliper itself slides inward to apply the outboard pad. And thus stops the vehicle.

A fixed caliper usually consists of 2 to 6 or even 8 pistons. The fixed caliper is mounted to a bracket without the use of movable pins or bushings. On both the inboard and outboard sides of the caliper, the fixed caliper has an identical number of pistons. When you apply brakes, the pistons push the brake pads on both sides against the rotor. They're more expensive than floating calipers and can hold more pistons and provide superior overall performance.

Remanufactured or rebuilt calipers are as good as a new one as all the components are brand new except the casing because it rarely gets damaged. Remanufacturing disc brake calipers is a technique in the automobile industry that includes disassembling current units and replacing worn components with new ones. Damaged and outdated parts are replaced, and testing, quality assurance, and other processes are identical to those used in the production of a new brake caliper.

Disc brake calipers are durable braking components that should last the life of your car. Brake calipers have a reasonable lifespan of 120,000 to 160,000 km (10 years). It means brake caliper parts are durable enough to last a long time so buying a rebuilt caliper is the best option if they are purchased from reputed brands. 

Here listed are a few strong reasons why a rebuilt caliper is better: 

• Remanufactured brake calipers are far less expensive than brand new OEM equivalents, yet they still fulfill the same high standards, quality criteria, and exact fit that you expect from a brand new brake caliper.

• Remanufactured items are not only cost-effective, but they also save natural resources and contribute to environmental protection.

• Remanufacturing technique uses less energy than producing new products, and it uses fewer natural resources because some pieces are reused. Furthermore, remanufacturing keeps items out of the waste life cycle for extended periods of time.

• Many remanufacturers offer the same warranty on a remanufactured brake caliper as they do on a new brake caliper because of the high degree of quality

  
  

There are two prominent ways you can protect your brake calipers while also enhancing their look: Using brake caliper covers or painting the calipers.

Brake calipers used to be hidden behind the spokes of smaller wheels. With the development of the auto industry, tires have become more durable, low-profile, and have wider rims. This means the calipers are visible and add a sporty look to the car. Colored brake calipers are a small but important feature that can really make your car stand out.

The trend of colored calipers was started by high-performance carmakers and now many carmakers provide colored brake calipers as standard equipment. But the braking system of these high-performance cars is very expensive. So what if you want colored brake calipers but don't want to spend a huge amount of money on high-performance brakes? Thankfully, you have two options. First, you can paint brake calipers on your own, and second, you can install caliper covers.

Brake caliper painting is also a popular trend these days. This is only useful if you have alloy wheels, and it is better with larger wheels so that the caliper can be visible. Though you can choose any color you like, there are some colors which are popular amongst the people namely red, blue and yellow. 

Here’s how you can paint your brake caliper safely and make it a red caliper, but before starting, ensure that the vehicle is on a dry and even surface. Use safety gloves and goggles. Be careful while lifting the car. Work in a well-ventilated area.

These repair/refurbish methods are provided for informational purposes only. Any damage or injury incurred in the practice of these methods is not the responsibility of PartsAvatar Canada. We always encourage you to consult a professional if you cannot perform the repairs/refurbish yourself. 

Tools Required:

• Impact wrench

• Lug nut tire tool

• Ratchet/Socket Set

• Jacks and jack stands 

• Brake Service tool

Step 1: Loosen the lug nuts with a tire iron, while your car is on the ground, but do not remove them. Now, lift your car using a jack. Use secure jack points, and if you have any doubt regarding solid underbody points, check your owner’s manual. When your car is safely on the jack stands, complete unscrewing the lug nuts and remove the wheel from the car. 

Step 2: Spray some brake cleaner and use an appropriate cleaning solution to scrub the brake caliper until it is thoroughly clean.

Step 3: After the caliper is nice and clean, take off the front retainer clip on your brake caliper and put masking tape around the brake bleeder valve along with the fitting of the brake hose.

Step 4: Mask the area surrounding the caliper with tape and newspaper that is not to be painted. Take your time carefully covering everything surrounding the caliper to avoid overspray. Mask the rubber protectors around the caliper pistons. To protect the brake rotor from paint, wrap it with newspaper. 

Step 5:  Spray high-temperature automotive paint on the brake caliper. To ensure that the paint is smooth and there are no drips, go gently with even strokes. Ensure that the paint does not get on the pad surface that touches the rotor. If you're still concerned, you may remove your pads and rotor.

Step 6:  Allow the paint to dry for a few minutes before removing the plastic bag and poster board. Move on to the next wheel. Repeat the process for all four wheels.

Step 7: Replace the wheel and tighten the lug nuts while the vehicle is on the jack stands. Lift the vehicle with a jack, remove the jack stands, lower the vehicle until the wheel touches the ground, and tighten the lug nuts with a torque wrench. Check your owner’s manual for the correct torque values for your car.

Before painting your calipers, make sure you clean them well and remove any logged dirt, debris, and brake dust. Follow appropriate safety measures when jacking your vehicle. Also make sure you have all the required materials like masking tape, plastic bags, brake cleaner, HT automotive paint, etc. You can see the best results for your paint job with the right prep work.

• Help clean brakes: Brake caliper covers deflect brake pad dust toward the back of the car, resulting in less dust flying onto the outside surface of your car's wheels. Over time, this helps keep the wheels clean.

• Heat reduction: It is a common misconception that adding caliper covers enhances friction and heat production. In fact, caliper covers can help remove heat from your brakes and enhance their overall performance. Aluminum caliper covers are especially good at heat dissipation.

  
  

Caliper Cover Vs Caliper Painting