Brake Caliper Repair
The caliper squeezes the pads against the disc, using a piston pushed by brake fluid. When it sticks, the brake never fully lets go, which heats the wheel and wears the pad and disc quickly. We find out whether the pins, the piston or the whole caliper is at fault and repair what is needed.
From AED 249Written quote after diagnosis, before work startsConvenience fee applicable · shown on your written quote
- 2-4 hours per caliper; a full axle with discs takes longer
- Pickup and delivery from your door
- Convenience fee applicable · shown on your written quote
- Diagnosis free with repair
Signs you need brake caliper repair
- The car pulls to one side while driving or when braking
- One wheel is much hotter than the others after a drive
- A burning smell from a wheel after a short journey
- Fuel use is higher and the car feels like it is dragging
- One pad is worn much more than the other on the same wheel
- Brake fluid on the inside of a wheel or on the caliper body
What usually causes it
Seized slide pins
The caliper slides on two pins coated in grease. When the grease dries out or water gets past the rubber boot, the pins rust in place and the caliper can no longer centre itself over the disc.
Corroded or sticking piston
The piston moves in and out of its bore through a seal. If the boot splits and dirt reaches the piston surface, it pits and refuses to retract, so the pad keeps rubbing even with your foot off the pedal.
Collapsed brake hose
An old rubber hose can swell inside, acting like a one-way valve that lets fluid in but not back out. The caliper stays pressurised after braking, and it feels like a seized caliper even though the caliper is healthy.
Fluid leak from the piston seal
Wet, oily dirt around the piston boot means fluid is escaping past the seal. The pedal slowly sinks and the reservoir level falls. This one is a safety repair, not a convenience repair.
How we do brake caliper repair
- 1
Find the sticking point
We spin the wheels by hand, check temperature differences after a short drive, and look at pad wear. Then we release the caliper and see whether the pins, the piston or the hose is the cause.
- 2
Free, rebuild or replace
Pins can be cleaned and regreased with new boots. A pitted piston or leaking seal usually means a new caliper, or a caliper rebuild kit when the bore is clean. The quote shows each option and its price.
- 3
Replace pads and check discs
A caliper that has been dragging often leaves overheated pads and a blued disc, so those are inspected and replaced if damaged. Fitting new pads against a damaged disc would waste the repair.
- 4
Bleed and road test
The brake circuit is bled to remove air let in during the work. We confirm the pedal is firm, the wheel spins freely when released and the car stops straight.
By make and model
Audi / Volkswagen
Rear calipers on many models with an electric parking brake contain a small motor and gear unit, so the part is more expensive than a plain hydraulic caliper and needs recalibrating after fitting.
In Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman
Fine desert dust and the occasional wash-down with a pressure hose both push grit and water behind caliper boots. Combined with strong summer heat, which dries grease out of the slide pins, seizing is a regular cause of uneven braking in the UAE, especially on cars that are mostly parked.
Questions about brake caliper repair
Can I keep driving with a sticking caliper?
Only a short distance to the workshop. A dragging brake can overheat the fluid, damage the disc and in the worst case let the wheel bearing get hot. If you smell burning, stop and call us.
Should both calipers on an axle be replaced?
Not necessarily. A faulty caliper can be replaced alone, but we always inspect the other side, and the pads and discs are done as an axle set so braking stays even.
Is a rebuilt caliper as good as a new one?
If the bore and piston are in good shape, a new seal kit restores it. If there is pitting, a replacement is better. We will say which applies when we have the caliper in our hands.
How do I know it is not just the pads?
Pad wear is usually even on both sides of the car. If one wheel is hotter, or one pad is worn far more than the other, the caliper is the first suspect.
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