Brake Calipers

To clean your brake calipers, you will need to remove the wheels and brake pads. You can then use a brake cleaner and a brush to remove any dirt and debris from the calipers. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when working with brake cleaner, especially when using with a brush that can flick it every which way.

To depress your brake calipers, you will need to use a brake caliper tool. This tool is designed to push the caliper piston(s) back into the caliper housing, which will allow you to install new brake pads. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and use the right tool for your vehicle.

Not all brake callipers are created equal, therefore there are a few different approaches to changing brake pads. Most brake callipers will require the loosening of atleast one bolt and removal of another so that you can slide the brake calliper off the disc in order to allow the brake pads to be removed. More advanced brake callipers like those found on high performance vehicles, especially those which are likely to frequent the racetrack, may be designed in such a way that the brake pads can infact be removed without moving the calliper off the disc. In these instances you may need to remove a pin, spring or retainer clip in order to allow the brake pads to be lifted out of the calliper. It is always best to check exactly what the callipers on your particular vehicle require prior to getting stuck into it, and youtube is a great place to find a DIY video on exactly how the callipers on your particular vehicle work. This is also a great time to inspect the discs and callipers for any sign of wear or damage, and to inspect the condition of your brake fluid. Remember to use brake cleaner when doing this rather than degreaser, as brake cleaner is less likely to remove any anti-squeel compount that might be on your brake pads and it also dries without leaving a residue. You may also need one or more brake specific tools to help you get the job done, such as a brake pad spreader or brake wind back tool, which can be found in our Brake and Clutch Tool category.