Can a Bad Brake Caliper Cause Vibration? How to Fix a Sticking Brake Caliper

Last updated on July 31st, 2023 at 09:06 pm

how is a sticking brake caliper causing vibration? You see the brake caliper is a vehicle component that is responsible for holding the brake pad and forcing them against brake rotors.

This happens once the driver pushes the brake pedal. There are so many things that could cause a sticking brake caliper.

The common one is if you have a caliper that is not lubricated or is dirty. If you want to avoid your brake caliper sticking or going bad, you need to pay attention to the caliper slide pins when you are changing your brake pad.

Another cause of brake caliper sticking is if there is something wrong with the caliper piston and brake hose.

In this post we are going to answer the following questions:

can a bad brake caliper cause vibration
what causes brake calipers to lock up
What would cause a brake caliper to stick
what would cause a new brake caliper to stick
how to fix a sticking brake caliper
how is sticking brake caliper causing vibration

Can a Bad Brake Caliper Cause Vibration? How to Fix a Sticking Brake Caliper

The caliper piston is lubricated and protected by a rubber boot. Once the rubber gets damaged, this will lead to the caliper getting rusted and it will not slide as it uses to. The rubber could get damaged due to mismanagement and age.

If you have been using the brake hose for a long time, it tends to wear out. As it begins to wear out, it will cause fluid to start flowing on the caliper piston.

This will slow down the functions of the car and the caliper will start sticking.

So to fully begin this article let start by answering the first question on promised which is can a bad brake caliper cause vibration and then we go from there.

Can a bad brake caliper cause vibration

If you are familiar with driving, then you should know that the movement of a car while driving should be gliding down the road.

Once you begin to notice that your car begins to vibrate while braking or moving, then something is wrong somewhere.

The first thing you have to do as a driver is to determine the cause of the vibration. If you notice your car is vibrating, the components that might be faulty may include brakes, axles, steering wheel, or engine.

So, the answer is YES. A bad brake caliper can cause a vehicle to vibrate. If you notice that the vibration seems to occur when you are using the brake, then there is every possibility that the brake system is faulty.

It might be that the brake rotor is damaged or worn out thereby stopping the brake caliper and pad from gripping properly.

If the brake caliper is in the on position, it can affect the brake rotors negatively and also cause a foul burning smell.

If the brake rotor of a car is out of balance, this can also cause excessive vibration when you press the brake.

You will feel it through the brake of the car. Furthermore, a sticking brake caliper can also cause the vibration of a vehicle.

If you try to drive faster, the vibration will only get worse. The sticking brake caliper will cause the steering wheel to start.

Lastly, a dirty brake pad can also lead to vibration of the vehicle and steering wheel. If this is the case, then you might have to change the pads.

What causes brake calipers to lock up?

The brake caliper is responsible for pinching the pads to the brake rotor. This will begin friction that will stop the car’s engine.

One of the most common reasons why the brake caliper locks up is if the caliper piston fails to release.

Instead of the piston releasing, it seizes in the bore. If this happens, then the caliper piston on both axles is due for a change.

Another reason why the caliper might lock up is if it is dirty or dusty. A dirty caliper will have restrictions in movements and could cause the vehicle to pull over suddenly.

If you notice your caliper lock up, you can check it for dirt, grass, rust, or mud. You will need to get rid of the dirt so that it can work perfectly well.

Furthermore, calipers that have been used for a long time can wear and tear. If this is the case, it will need urgent replacement.

Once the caliper wears, it will not be able to form a good grip. This means you will have to get them replaced.

The most important component of a vehicle’s braking system is the caliper. A worn, dirty or broken caliper can lead to failure of the car. So, you need to maintain it constantly.

What would cause a brake caliper to stick?

The most common reason why a brake caliper sticks is whenever there is any problem with the caliper piston and brake hose.

The caliper piston has a rubber boot that is responsible for lubricating and protecting it. If the rubber gets torn, it will cause rust to form inside the caliper.

Once this occurs, the piston will lose its sliding abilities. The rubber boot can get damaged because of age or damages from repairers.

The brake hose will get damaged as time goes on. Age will let it start breaking and this will make brake fluid leak into the piston and slow down the car. Once this happens, the caliper will begin to stick.

Damaged caliper bolts can also cause sticking of the caliper. If the bolts are not lubricated enough, they get dry and will become sticky.

The rubber that is protecting the bolt from spilling lubricant will tear causing the lubricant to start leaking.

If not repaired, the bolt will get dry and cause rusting. This rusting will affect the sliding mechanism of the brake.

What would cause a new brake caliper to stick?

If the new brake caliper of your car has a damaged brake hose, it will begin to stick. This could happen during the time the mechanic was trying to change the brake caliper. One other reason why a new brake caliper may stick is due to the piston being rusty or torn.

The rubber hose might have been faulty by mechanics mistakes. The only option will be to get it replaced immediately.

How to fix a sticking brake caliper

If your brake caliper is faulty, you can take the vehicle to a mechanic or try to fix it yourself. The first thing you will do is turn the lug nuts in a clockwise direction.

Now raise the car with a floor jack but you need to prevent it from rolling by chocking one wheel.

Get rid of the lug nuts and wheel and then put a pan under the brake assembly. Once you do this, use a brake cleaning solution to clean the brake.

Using the socket set, remove the brake caliper, pull it out of its bracket, and remove the brake pads.

The next thing now will be to remove any dirt, debris, or grease in the caliper. To do this, you have to use the brake cleaner to clean the caliper inside thoroughly. Wipe the caliper side pins to get rid of any remaining dirt.

Finally, use a white lithium grease to lubricate the caliper pin. Now, return the brake pad and then insert the brake caliper into its bracket. Using your hand, tighten the caliper bolts to the socket set.

Conclusion

So if you I should you, can a bad brake caliper cause vibration? Or how to fix a sticking brake caliper? what would be your answer? Well, these are few things that explained in this post.

This article also explained some of what causes brake calipers to lock up, how is sticking brake caliper causing vibration, what would cause a brake caliper to stick and what would cause a new brake caliper to stick

And finally we talked about how to fix a sticking brake caliper

If you notice your car is vibrating excessively when you are making use of the brake, then you need to get it looked at.