Brake Calipers

What are Brake Calipers?

If your BMW or MINI vehicle has disc brakes, they have brake calipers. Most models have front calipers, at least, if not both front and rear calipers. Put simply, they're clamps, which contain one or more brake pistons, and which have brake pads attached.

What do Brake Calipers do?

They have a simple but critical job. They fasten their pads to brake rotors to create friction. This, in turn, creates the resistance your vehicle uses to slow down and come to a complete stop. (If you're familiar with the other main type of brake system, drum brakes, they do the same job. However, they do it with brake drums and brake shoes instead.)

How brake calipers work is equally straightforward. The process starts when you step on the brake pedal. A master brake cylinder then pressurizes brake fluid, sending it through a network of hoses and valves. This activates the pistons, engaging the calipers. The latter clamp down on the rotors, using the pads between to produce said friction.

Signs of Bad Brake Calipers

The process creates a lot of heat, though. If the rotors can't sink it (dissipate it) well enough, it can adversely affect how well the calipers work. Luckily, when they start to go bad, you'll see the signs. They include:

• Decayed or corroded seals
• Contaminant buildup around the seals
• Erratic brake pressure
• Brake fluid leaks in the engine compartment
• Brake fluid leaking onto the wheels
• Sideways drift when braking
• Continuous grinding noises
• Squealing sounds
• A lit brake warning on the dash
• An ABS warning light on the dash

Need new ones? Be sure you buy genuine. The brake calipers your OEM makes will come guaranteed to fit the model you love driving, after all.

Fix Your Vehicle's Brakes the Right Way -- Choose Genuine BMW and MINI Brake Calipers

You can order replacements online, right here at our auto parts store. Just browse our catalog with all your model information (make, model, and model year) filled in; you'll find what you need go a lot more quickly. If you need expert advice or have any questions about our return policy, please feel free to contact our team.