Brake Caliper Replacement Melbourne

Brake Caliper Repair and Replacement in Melbourne, at Your Door

A sticking or seized brake caliper makes the car pull to one side, wears one pad faster than the other and leaves a wheel running hot. Mechanic Near You sends a mobile mechanic to your home or workplace across Melbourne's west to inspect the brake, fit a new or reconditioned caliper and bleed the system. Brake caliper replacement starts from $269 and takes one to two hours for a single caliper.

The tug on the steering wheel every time you brake

You brake for the lights and the car drifts left, so you hold the wheel a little firmer. After the freeway there is a hot, sharp smell from one corner of the car. One front wheel is black with brake dust and the other is clean.

None of it stops the car, so it is easy to drive around. But you have started leaving a bigger gap, and you would rather your teenager did not borrow the car this week.

That is a caliper that is no longer letting go. We come to you and fix it before it takes the pads and the rotor with it.

What does a brake caliper do?

Every wheel with a disc brake has a caliper. When you press the pedal, brake fluid pushes a piston inside the caliper. The piston presses the brake pads against the rotor, and the car slows.

When you lift off, the caliper should release. A caliper that sticks either keeps the pads dragging on the rotor or does not clamp hard enough.

Signs of a sticking or seized brake caliper

• The car pulls to one side when you brake
• One wheel is hotter than the others after a drive
• Brake pads worn unevenly, side to side or inner to outer
• Grinding, squealing or scraping from one wheel
• A soft or spongy brake pedal
• Brake fluid leaking near a wheel
• A burning smell, or higher fuel use

Why calipers seize

Calipers live in a harsh place, with dirt, water and big swings in temperature. Brake maker Bendix lists the usual faults:

• Slide pins that are clogged with grime or corrosion and can no longer slide.
• Pistons that stick because of corrosion in the bore.
• Seals and dust boots that harden and crack with age and heat, letting in moisture.

Cars that sit unused for long stretches are more prone to it.

Brake caliper repair, overhaul or replacement?

"Caliper repair" can mean four different jobs.

Our service fits a new or reconditioned caliper matched to your vehicle. A reconditioned caliper is an overhauled one, so you get the benefit of an overhaul without the car sitting off the road while yours is rebuilt.

What our brake caliper replacement includes

1. Inspection. The wheel comes off, and the caliper, pads, rotor and brake line are checked.
2. Old caliper removed.
3. New or reconditioned caliper fitted, matched to your vehicle.
4. Brakes bled, to remove air from the system.
5. Pads and rotors replaced if they have been damaged.
6. Test drive or pedal check before we hand the keys back.

Brake caliper replacement cost

Our brake caliper replacement starts from $269. The final price depends on your vehicle and the work required. The quote is confirmed upfront, and there is no call-out fee.

For comparison, AutoGuru puts the cost of replacing a brake caliper in Australia at $250 to $750 per caliper. Four things move the price:

• New or reconditioned. A reconditioned caliper usually costs less than a new one.
• One caliper or two. Replacing both calipers on an axle is often recommended, so the car brakes evenly.
• Pads and rotors. A seized caliper can damage both. If it has, they are replaced at the same visit.
• The car. Larger and performance brakes cost more.

Seized brake caliper repair cost

A seized caliper gets more expensive the longer it is left. The dragging brake wears through the pad and then the rotor. Bendix says brake drag can also add three to five per cent to fuel use.

How to get a caliper replacement quote

Call 0406 396 397 with your car's make, model and year. Tell us which wheel, and what the car does when you brake. Our car service quote guide explains how to compare quotes fairly.

Brake bleeding and brake fluid flushing

Fitting a caliper opens the hydraulic system, so the brakes are bled afterwards to remove any air. That is part of every caliper replacement.

A brake fluid flush goes further and replaces all the old fluid. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air over time, which reduces braking performance. AutoGuru notes that most manufacturers suggest a flush every 2 years or 30,000 km.

If your fluid is overdue, ask us about a full flush when you book. The system is already open, so it is the sensible time to do it.

Can I drive with a seized brake caliper?

No. A faulty caliper reduces your braking and damages the pads and rotor the longer it is driven. If a wheel is hot, smoking or smells of burning, stop driving the car and call.

Should both calipers be replaced?

Not always. If one caliper has failed and the other is healthy, one can be replaced.

Replacing the pair on the same axle is often recommended, because it keeps the braking even from side to side. We inspect both and tell you what we find. Bendix recommends inspecting the calipers whenever pads and rotors are checked or replaced, so a problem is caught before it becomes serious.

Mobile brake repairs near you

A caliper is one part of the brake. As a mobile mechanic, we do the rest of the brake repair at your home or workplace too.

• Mobile brake pad replacement and rotors. Our brake pad and rotor replacement starts from $149.
• Costs. See our guides to mobile brake pad replacement cost and brake and rotor replacement cost.
• Pad life. Our guide on how long brake pads last covers the warning signs.

A brake system inspection is also part of every general service.

Brake caliper replacement near you

We are based in Wyndham Vale and travel across Melbourne's west:

• Hoppers Crossing: brake replacement in Hoppers Crossing, including calipers, pads and rotors.
• Werribee
• Tarneit: including Truganina.
• Point Cook: including Williams Landing.
• Wyndham Vale: including Manor Lakes.

We also cover Eynesbury. See all our service areas for the rest.

Why drivers call us for brake caliper repairs

• We come to you. A car with a seized brake should not be driven to a workshop.
• We inspect first. You see whether it is the caliper or only the pads.
• We explain the fault clearly. Then the quote is confirmed before the work.
• No call-out fee.

Brake caliper questions

How long does a brake caliper replacement take?

Usually one to two hours for a single caliper.

What is the cost to replace a brake caliper?

With us, from $269. AutoGuru puts the cost of replacing a brake caliper in Australia at $250 to $750 per caliper.

Is it the caliper or just the pads?

A caliper problem usually shows as uneven pad wear, pulling to one side or one hot wheel. We inspect the whole brake before recommending anything.

Can a brake caliper be repaired?

Sometimes. Sticking slide pins can be cleaned and lubricated. A caliper with a seized piston or a leaking seal needs an overhaul, so we fit a reconditioned or new one.

Do you fit reconditioned brake calipers?

Yes. We fit a new or reconditioned caliper matched to your vehicle.

Will a caliper replacement by a mobile mechanic affect my warranty?

No, provided the work is done correctly. Australian Consumer Law protects your right to independent servicing. Our warranty guide explains how.

Do you check calipers on a used car?

Yes. Our pre-purchase inspection checks the calipers and brake fluid, and measures pad and rotor wear.

Pulling to one side or a wheel running hot? Call before the next drive.

Call 0406 396 397 between 7 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week. Same-day bookings are often available. Tell us what the car is doing, and we will give you a price and a time.