When to replace the brake calipers

Question

How do you know if you need the calipers replaced? I took my SUV in for servicing and was told my calipers needed to be replaced along with my brake pads and rotors. I knew the brake pads were going because there was a grinding kind of noise when I braked but from what I have read about calipers, they should last quite awhile? The car was braking normally just with some noise?? So How do you know if the calipers really need changing?

Answer 1

I've changed a few calipers over the years, here's what happened:

• one of my front calipers was binding. The piston just wasn't retracting when I got off the brake pedal. It had to go.
• another one sprung a leak. That's a no-no for brakes.
• a pair of rear calipers had their bleeder screw seized into place. Tried my best to get them loose, the bleeder screw snapped off. The calipers were old and obviously rusty, I decided on new ones instead of drilling that bleeder screw out.
• The last ones I replaced were right after new pads and rotors. The guide pins were seized and I successfully cracked them loose with heat, but replacement pins were $10 per caliper. New calipers with pins were $60, and my old calipers were disgustingly rusted.

So there you have it. Ask your mechanic why he says you need new calipers, he may just be trying to upsell you.