Brake Lights Keep Coming on? 5 Signs Your Brake Calipers are Failing

When you’re driving down the motorway, one of the most important car parts you depend on is your brakes. They are in charge of making sure you can slow down and stop when necessary. Brake callipers are essential Land Rover parts within the disc brake assembly. In this type of assembly, the disc brakes are in the front, and sometimes in the rear of the car. In this system, the wheels of the Land Rover are attaches to rotors, or metal discs, that spin in time with the wheels. Brake callipers create friction on the rotors when the brakes are applied so the Land Rover’s wheels stop.

Brake callipers clamp over the rotors. Inside, every calliper features two metal plates bonded with brake pads. Two brake pads are used: outboard and inboard. As their names suggests, outboard pads are located on the outside of the rotors and inboard are located on the inside. Each time you apply pressure to the brakes, brake fluid is released by the master cylinder, causing hydraulic pressure on the pistons within the brake callipers, which makes the pads press against the rotor.

Types of Brake Callipers

There are two typical kinds of brake callipers: fixed and floating.

• Floating Brake Callipers- These car parts move in and out and have up to two pistons on the inboard side. When you apply the brakes, the entire brake calliper is pushed by the piston and friction is created on both sides of the rotor.

• Fixed Brake Callipers- These Land Rover parts stay still when you apply the brakes. They have pistons on both sides of your rotor. While more expensive, these brake callipers generally perform better than floating callipers. They typically have at least two pistons on both sides of your rotor, but there can be up to six pairs in all.

The most important factor to consider when it comes to choosing the right brake callipers for your SUV is the clamping force. This refers to the amount of force applied to the rotors of your car to stop it when you press on the brake pedal. Different callipers have different clamping forces. One with a higher clamping force is much more likely to slow down or stop your Land Rover faster than a calliper with a lower clamping force. In many cases, factory-installed brake callipers may not provide the necessary force you need. Replacing them with tougher brake callipers with higher clamping forces can help you stop your Land Rover more quickly.

Brake Callipers: Signs These Car Parts Are Failing

Like any other car parts, brake callipers will typically cause a number of symptoms that help you identify and understand when they are failing or wearing down.

• Strange Sounds- One of the first signs and symptoms of failing brake callipers is a strange sound. If you notice your Land Rover has started squealing or squeaking each time you press on the brakes, don’t ignore it. You should change these Land Rover parts immediately.

• Difficulty Braking- If you’re driving down the road and find that you’re having trouble pushing down on the brake pedal, your brake callipers may be to blame. It’s a sure sign of trouble if you feel as if you have to turn into the Hulk in order to stop your car.

• Brake Lights Coming on- Do your brake lights keep flashing or coming on when you’re not applying the brakes? This may be noticed by others before you notice it, but it is a definite sign that something is wrong. It’s your vehicle’s way of telling you something dangerous is going on.

• Land Rover Jerking- If you feel your Land Rover jerking each time you attempt to stop the vehicle, get your brake callipers inspected immediately! It’s a definite sign of trouble and can result in damage to your vehicle if you let it go.

Inspecting Your Brake Callipers

If you’ve noticed a few signs that might indicate your brake callipers are having trouble, you need to inspect them to see if they need to be replaced with new Land Rover parts. Here’s how to do it.

• Visually Inspect Them- Take a look at the callipers. Do you see cracks? Leaking? If so, the system needs to be replaced. Have someone help you inspect them by operating the brakes while you look at the callipers. If they push on the brakes and nothing happens or the rotor is still able to be moved when you’re applying the brakes, these car parts may not be getting the brake fluid they need.

• See if Floating Callipers are Working Correctly- If your Land Rover uses floating callipers, make sure they are working correctly by watching to see if they move smoothly when the brakes are pressed. Apply the brakes, and if the callipers don’t move when you do, watch and determine if the brake pads are trying to move. If they are, but are unsuccessful, the problem could be that the pins need to be lubricated or are damaged and must be replaced.

• Find out if the Pistons are Operating Correctly- When you apply the brakes, the pistons need to push against the brake pads so that the calliper floats. The two brakes pads squeeze against the rotor to stop the car from moving. If the brake pad doesn’t move at all, the pistons are most likely damaged. In order to fix this problem, you’ll need to replace the entire brake calliper.

Having trouble with your braking system? Save yourself a lot of time and money by paying close attention to what your car is attempting to tell you about your brakes. Certain signs and symptoms often mean that the brake callipers or other car parts are failing and are in need of replacement. Ignoring these symptoms can be dangerous, as they can result in your inability to stop or slow down as you’re driving on the road. Stay safe when you’re behind the wheel of your Land Rover. Inspect these car parts regularly for better peace of mind.