Best Brake Calipers

Your car’s brake system keeps you safe on the road by bringing your vehicle to a stop or allowing you to reduce your speed as needed. Most cars feature a disc brake system that presses brake pads into the brake disc (also known as a brake rotor). A caliper at each wheel uses hydraulic pressure to squeeze the brake pads against the rotor.

If something is wrong with any of the brake calipers, start looking for a replacement immediately.

To help you find the right brake caliper for your vehicle, we examined the best products offered by leading brands. Read on to learn more about the features and specifications of these calipers to see what makes them the best of their kind on the market.

6 Best Brake Calipers

Listed below are the aftermarket brake calipers that we recommend:

• A1 Cardone A1184690 Brake Caliper
• Powerstop P15S4299 Brake Caliper
• AC Delco AC1722620 Brake Caliper
• Centric CE141.20001 Brake Caliper
• Crown CR68029849AD Brake Caliper
• Motorcraft MIBRCF204 Brake Caliper

A1 Cardone A1184690 Brake Caliper

Cardone is a leading remanufacturer of brake calipers and other car parts. It ran its A1184690 caliper through pressure testing to make sure its new rubber seals and washers work just like factory-fresh parts.

• Location: Rear driver or passenger side
• Condition: Remanufactured
• Series: A1 Cardone Reman
• Type: Caliper & Hardware
• Caliper Piston Count: 2-Piston
• Quantity Sold: Sold individually
• Warranty: 2-year or 24,000-mile A1 Cardone limited warranty

Compatible with: 1999-2000 Ford F-250 Super Duty, 1999-2000 Ford F-350 Super Duty

Powerstop P15S4299 Brake Caliper

From brake technology leader Powerstop comes the P15S4299 brake caliper. Fitted with improved boots and rubber seals, this caliper boasts superior longevity and exceptional performance.

• Location: Front driver and passenger side
• Condition: Remanufactured
• Series: PowerStop Performance
• Quantity Sold: 2-Wheel Set
• Warranty: 60-day or 3000-mile Powerstop limited warranty
• Color/Finish: Red Powdercoat
• Recommended Use: Street performance
• Notes: Without brackets

Compatible with: 1990-1993 Cadillac Commercial Chassis, 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille, 1997-1999 Cadillac DeVille, 1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade, 1990-1993 Cadillac Fleetwood, 1990-2002 Chevrolet Astro, 1992-1994 Chevrolet Blazer, and more

AC Delco AC1722620 Brake Caliper

Need new brakes for your Chevrolet Corvette? AC Delco designed the AC1722620 brake calipers as unloaded replacements for stock Chevrolet parts. These calipers can accommodate whatever brake pads you choose to upgrade your braking performance.

• Location: Front driver side
• Condition: New
• Series: AC Delco OE Replacement
• Type: Caliper Only
• Quantity Sold: Sold individually
• Warranty: 24-months or unlimited mile AC Delco limited warranty

Compatible with: 2014-2019 Chevrolet Corvette

Centric CE141.20001 Brake Caliper

A vehicle model as luxurious as the Jaguar XJ deserves the premium performance of the CE141.20001 brake caliper. Remanufactured by Centric Parts to meet the stringent standards of Jaguar parts, this semi-loaded caliper assures smooth and effective braking.

• Location: Front passenger side
• Condition: Remanufactured
• Series: Centric Semi-loaded
• Type: Caliper & Hardware
• Quantity Sold: Sold individually
• Warranty: 60-day or 3,000-mile Centric limited warranty
• Notes: Includes mounting hardware; no bracket required

Compatible with: 1973-1986 Jaguar XJ12, 1973-1987 Jaguar XJ6, 1976-1992 Jaguar XJS, 1994-1996 Jaguar XJS, 1982-1986 Jaguar Vanden Plas, 1993 Jaguar XJRS, 1995-1997 Jaguar XJR

Crown CR68029849AD Brake Caliper

While Crown Automotive is best known for making Jeep replacement parts, it also offers replacements for other Chrysler corporation vehicles. The company’s CR68029849AD brake caliper can bring a speeding Grand Caravan or Town & Country to a safe stop.

• Location: Rear driver side
• Condition: New
• Quantity Sold: Sold individually
• Warranty: 1 year or 12,000-mile Crown limited warranty
• Material: Steel

Compatible with: 2008-2014 Chrysler Town & Country, 2008-2016 Dodge Grand Caravan

Motorcraft MIBRCF204 Brake Caliper

Last but not least, we have Motorcraft MIBRCF204 brake calipers for the Ford E-Series vans. As the official aftermarket division of Ford Motors, Motorcraft makes sure its remanufactured unloaded calipers fit their intended vehicles and deliver exceptional braking performance.

• Location: Rear passenger side
• Condition: Remanufactured
• Series: Motorcraft OE Replacement
• Type: Caliper Only
• Quantity Sold: Sold individually
• Warranty: 2-year or unlimited-mile Motorcraft limited warranty

Compatible with: 2008-2014 Ford E-150, 2008-2014 Ford E-250, 2008-2018 Ford E-350 Super Duty

When Should You Get a New Brake Caliper?

As a general rule of thumb, once brake calipers hit the 100,000-mile mark, it’s a good idea to rebuild or replace them when you get new brake pads. Since the pistol seals will eventually break down, it’s best to prevent caliper leaks before they happen.

Check out these videos for tips on how to replace your brake caliper:

Choosing a Brake Caliper Replacement

Several factors define the brake caliper and set its performance characteristics. Keep these factors in mind when selecting a replacement for your car’s old or damaged brake calipers:

Type

There are two primary types of brake calipers: floating calipers and fixed calipers.

Fixed calipers are attached directly to the steering knuckle. They do not slide back and forth when you apply and release the brakes, respectively. Floating calipers, on the other hand, are attached to an adapter plate, which in turn is bolted to the steering knuckle. A set of slider pins or bolts allow the caliper to slide back and forth, earning floating calipers the alternative name “sliding calipers.”

Floating and fixed calipers offer different advantages and disadvantages. A floating caliper usually has one piston attached to the brake rotor’s inboard side. It moves when your foot presses down on the brake pedal. The simpler construction of floating calipers means fewer moving parts, lighter weight, compact space requirements, and lower manufacturing costs.

Meanwhile, a fixed caliper has hydraulic pistons on each side of the brake rotor. The pair of pistons simultaneously press on both sides of the rotor, applying greater amounts of friction and braking power.

Most cars use floating calipers. Larger vehicles and performance-oriented racing vehicles rely on fixed calipers for greater braking power.

Design and Construction

Brake caliper designs also differ in the number of pieces that comprise them. Some calipers have a single piece while other designs feature two pieces.

One-piece brake calipers benefit from stronger construction that reduces flexing during operations. However, two-piece calipers cost less than their one-piece counterparts.

Material

Brake calipers must be made of materials with excellent resistance to both heat and wear. The calipers also need to weigh as little as possible to improve the vehicle’s overall performance.

Aluminum is the most popular material for making brake calipers. It’s light, strong, and can handle the heat produced by the braking process.

Meanwhile, magnesium alloy brake calipers improve on aluminum calipers in many ways except for cost. Race cars rely on these calipers to rapidly and safely slow down after running at high speeds.

Some brake calipers use steel in their hydraulic cylinders or pistons. Others also use aluminum to match the material of the calipers.

New vs. Remanufactured

You’ll notice that many brake calipers are remanufactured rather than brand-new. As the name implies, remanufactured calipers are pre-owned units that have been remanufactured or rebuilt. They tested to make sure they can deliver the same performance as brand new components.