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If your car’s not driving as it should do - whether it’s got less power or is pulling to one side - then you may have a seized brake caliper. Driving for any length of time with seized calipers can open many cans of worms when it comes to damage and repairs — so it’s best to sort it before it’s too late.
But what are some of the signs that a brake caliper has seized? Read on to find out.
1. Sluggish car
One of the main ways you’ll be able to tell that a brake caliper is stuck is if your car takes surprisingly long to get going. Imagine trying to pull off with the handbrake half-lifted. If you’ve done this before, then you’ll know that the first thing that comes to mind is that the engine isn’t working well.
Providing all’s well with your engine and your handbrake is lifted, there’s a good chance the problem lies in your brakes.
2. Car pulling to one side
Depending on which caliper is stuck, your car may pull to one side or the other. If you’re driving on a straight, level road and seem to need to keep returning the steering wheel to centre — then it’s wise to take your car for an inspection generally, but it’s likely to be a problem with either your brakes or wheel alignment and tracking.
3. Wheels & alloy hubcaps getting really hot
Brakes slow your car down by clamping onto your brake discs. This, through creating enough friction, takes all the energy out of the rotating wheels and converts it to sound and heat. When working normally, your brake pads & calipers have a chance to cool down when the brakes aren’t engaged. But if the caliper’s seized, then the brakes will be partially engaged excessively. This may not noticeably pull your car to one side, but you might notice how hot one particular wheel is getting.
In the most serious cases, this can actually cause a fire — so it’s important to not continue driving if you notice that your wheel or wheels are getting excessively hot. You can find more information about serious brake problems here.
4. Grinding noises
As you can imagine, the brakes constantly clamping to the brake discs usually results in a consistent grinding sound while driving. If you’re noticing any of the problems above, then try driving slowly with the windows down to see if you can hear any noticeable grinding sounds.
If you can, that’s a pretty good indicator that the problem is indeed with your brakes. Make sure you head to your local garage to get on top of the issue before it causes unnecessary, costly damage.
What causes brake caliper seizing?
A huge number of things can lead to brake calipers actually seizing up. Most of the time, seizing happens for reasons such as:
Corrosion from long periods of inactivity (with the brakes engaged)
IIn some cases, calipers can actually seize through improper installation — which is why you should trust the experts at your local Kwik Fit when it comes to your brakes.
Driving in heavy rain can be tricky and bring extra risks. Check out our guide for top tips to stay safe and avoid breakdowns if travelling in wet conditions.
Is the UK on the verge of ‘the coldest winter for 50 years?’ Even if El Niño doesn't hit the UK this winter, reduce the risk of a winter breakdown by making sure your car battery is winter-ready.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
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Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
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Centres do not open until 10:00 on bank holidays. If choosing an earlier appointment time on a bank holiday, please bring your vehicle to centre at 10:00 rather than the time shown.
