How much does it cost to repair seized brake calipers?

A seized brake caliper can occur on almost any car, and with brakes being such a vital safety system, it’s important to get any potential issues fixed as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll discuss how much it’s likely to cost to repair a seized brake caliper.

Seized brake caliper repair cost

It will cost between £125 and £600 to repair a seized brake caliper, but the make and model of the car, as well as the extent of the damage, can affect the final cost.

In some cases, the caliper can be disassembled, the slider pins cleaned and re-greased, and put back on the car. This should only take an hour or so in labour, typically costing around £85 and £175.

In more severe cases, where the caliper needs to be fully rebuilt, a new one will be fitted, generally costing anywhere from £150 and £300 per corner.

If the brake caliper has been seized for some time, and caused the brakes to overheat, this will require a new disc and set of brake pads too, likely bringing the bill to around £600.

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What is a seized brake caliper?

Brake calipers have a moving and a static part, in order to apply braking pressure to the disc. If this movement is hindered by corrosion, a lack of grease, or simply a lack of use, the caliper can become stuck in the clamped position, effectively holding the brake on.

It happens mainly to rear brake calipers, as they often have a handbrake mechanism built in, too. But it can happen to either the front or rear.

What causes a seized caliper?

The usual causes of a seized brake caliper are age or a lack of maintenance. Both the slider pins and brake piston are shielded from road dirt and water by rubber seals. If these are damaged during a repair or have degraded over time, they will no longer protect the piston or slider pins.

This leads to water and dirt entering, and subsequently both washing away lubricating grease, and allowing moisture in, which then corrodes vital components.

Once part of the slider pins or pistons have begun to corrode, they are difficult to separate or clean, and tend to bind or stick easily.

How to repair a seized caliper

If it’s the slider pins that have seized, they can, in some cases, be simply taken apart, cleaned up and re-lubricated. This can sometimes also be done to a slightly rusty brake piston.

If the corrosion is too bad, and the parts are pitted or will not move freely, a new caliper will be required. Thankfully, these aren’t overly expensive, starting at around £90 for a small car, but rising to many hundreds for performance on luxury vehicles.

When replacing a brake caliper, it is good practice to replace the brake pads, and if the seized brake has overheated, both the pads and discs should be replaced, on both sides.

Once the brake work has been done, the system will need bleeding. This is a good time to have your brake fluid flushed.

Can I drive with a seized caliper?

No, a caliper that is seized will not apply proper braking force, meaning your brakes will be unbalanced and potentially very poor. This is in addition to the fact that a seized caliper is likely to overheat and damage the discs, pads and even the caliper itself if not repaired soon enough.

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