5 Best Brake Calipers (2023 Guide)

Nov 11, 2023

Aidan Pounder is a Motor1.com product tester that has written automotive news content, car insurance guides, and extended warranty guides for HotCars, The Detroit Bureau, and other automotive sites. He spends his free time keeping up with European soccer.

Reviewed By: Charles Noyes

An easy-to-install and high-quality brake caliper.

A low-cost yet high-quality set of brake calipers.

A great brake caliper that's worth consideration.

A brake caliper that meets OE and SAE standards.

An expensive, but durably-built caliper compatible with a wide range of vehicles.

There's no reason to get into a car with less-than-optimal brakes and risk getting in an accident. A high-quality brake caliper could be the difference between your car stopping in time to avoid an accident and a costly trip to the repair shop, or worse. Our review team delves into what makes all these brake calipers the best in the business and what to look for when shopping for brake calipers.

To select the brake calipers featured in this buyers guide, our team first combed through dozens of resources such as DIY mechanic and auto enthusiast forums, manufacturer and brake caliper-specific websites, instruction manuals from manufacturers, and reviews from online retailers. We pay particularly close attention to quality reviews and recommendations that highlight the quality of warranties, customer service support, build quality, materials, and overall reliability.

We also factored in the quantity and quality of online retailer reviews from websites such as Amazon, RealTruck, Advance Auto Parts, and more. We looked at factors such as standout customer reviews, prices, meaningful superlatives, and discount shipping eligibility.

Since 2020, we have published over 200 auto product reviews in an effort to make shopping for auto products easier. Our team of writers, editors, researchers, and product experts collaborates to thoroughly vet top products. We try to perform in-house testing on real vehicles whenever possible before making our recommendations.

When testing is not feasible, however, our aim is to make your life easier by doing all the online research for you and presenting that research in the form of easy-to-read product comparisons and buyers guides, rather than outright recommendations. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

There are two main types of brake calipers, floating calipers, and fixed calipers. Regardless of which caliper you choose to put in charge of your vehicle's braking, both emphasize the importance of properly lubricating your disc brake system. It should be noted that it's recommended to use silicone-based brake fluid, rather than petroleum-based.

Fixed calipers are the most simple to operate of the two types of brake calipers. Fixed calipers don't move when you apply the brakes, while floating calipers do.

Do you find that your brakes squeal whenever you apply them? It's a relatively common problem for drivers all across the United States, and it can be fixed more easily than you may imagine. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to take your car for a full brake service if the brakes are squealing. Rather, you can use brake shims.

Brake shims are thin metal or rubber adhesive pads that fit between the brake caliper and brake pad to correct small differences that ultimately lead to the squealing noise you’ve been hearing. A shim will prevent small vibrations and eliminate annoying noises while you brake.

One of our review team's favorite shims on the market is the MTC Shims Kit.

Developed without attached brake pads for ultimate customization, the ACDelco 18FR984 is made from high-quality materials for ultimate durability. This means both aluminum and iron castings were used in the creation of this brake caliper, but this doesn't mean added stress on the brake-boosting mounting. These remanufactured disc brake calipers are tested to ensure they meet ACDelco's specifications.

These loaded calipers contain Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) components, which provide superior resistance to corrosion, heat, and leaking. For easy installation, ACDelco includes bleeder screws, copper sealing washers, hardware, and mounting brackets in the box.

Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 400 ratings

Many customers speak to how well these brake calipers work as a direct replacement for their stock calipers. A few reviewers are impressed with how thick the calipers are. One customer notes he removed his old calipers to install these in less than an hour.

Raybestos Element3 Caliper is made entirely of newly manufactured materials, rather than rebuilt or remanufactured materials. This brake caliper has been rigorously tested for temperature, torque, degradation resistance, and extreme pressure to ensure reliable performance for thousands of miles and to meet Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards.

These brake calipers have been engineered to meet and/or exceed Original Equipment (OE) specifications. EPDM rubber components are featured throughout these brake calipers, which makes for superior heat resistance. Silicone boots are included for heavy-duty applications. It should be noted that this is a front brake caliper, rather than a full set or a rear brake caliper.

Amazon Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 100 ratings

The vast majority of reviewers note how easy the installation process is. One reviewer notes that all of the necessary hardware is included in the box. A reviewer who left a negative comment complains that this caliper went bad in less than six months.

Easy to install and set up, the A-Premium APBC0229 comes with all the required hardware for brake caliper assembly. An anti-rust coating is present on the bracket to extend its life, while a dual-seal and dust cover of the piston prevents dust from infiltrating that part of the brake caliper. Furthermore, a dust-proof plug on the oil inlet ensures there won't be any impurities and guarantees performance.

Regardless of mileage, A-Premium offers a one-year quality guarantee on this brake caliper. It should be noted that this brake caliper is specifically compatible with a Ford F-250 Super Duty from 2005 to 2011 and an F-350 Super Duty from 2005 to 2012. For the latter, this brake caliper only fits the model with single rear wheels.

Amazon Review Score: 4.4 out of 5 based on around 50 ratings

Almost every review for this brake caliper speaks to how easy it was to install. Several go as far as to say the brake caliper fits like OE equipment. A negative review states the brake pads don't clear the bracket on a 2012 Ford F-250.

The Carquest Premium 18-B4729 is a remanufactured brake caliper that's been extensively tested to meet and/or exceed OE and SAE standards. Banjo bolts and copper washers are included for a perfect seal while parking brake cable brackets, levers, and return springs are all pre-installed to make your life easier. Pad installation hardware is also included.

These brake calipers feature a specially formulated zinc dichromate finish which ultimately makes your calipers corrosion– and rust-resistant. Phenolic pistons are made from advanced polymers that resist heat transfer, while EPDM rubber seals increase resistance to thermal deterioration.

Advance Auto Parts Review Score: 4.5 out of 5 based on over 200 ratings

About 90 percent of all reviewers would recommend these brake calipers to a friend. Most reviewers mention how this brake caliper is an exact fit on their vehicle and of OE quality. A negative review complains that the caliper mounting frame needs to be blended and smoothed out.

While a little more expensive than some of our other suggestions, Goodyear brake calipers may pay for themselves by lasting longer than the competition. All Goodyear brake calipers are pressure-tested and covered with a special protective coating that helps prevent rusting. Goodyear also claims that their caliper manufacturing process uses significantly less energy and materials than traditional caliper manufacturing practiced by competitors.

To assist with installation, these brake calipers include correction brackets and banjo bolts if required. Calipers and caliper components can be model-specific and Goodyear attempts to replicate OEM standards.

The Goodyear brake calipers do not have many direct reviews online. The single review on RealTruck claims these calipers work well and fit perfectly. Goodyear is a well-known and reliable brand that's been operating for more than 100 years.

Ultimately, the best brake caliper for your car is one that will help you brake quickly and effectively when needed. Brake calipers are a must on every car, but that doesn't mean you need to settle for a standard pair of calipers. We highlight a range of different calipers, made from different materials and from some of the biggest name brands in the industry.

Brake calipers squeeze brake pads against the brake rotors until a vehicle has reduced its speed and the spin of its wheels has slowed down. Brake calipers are an essential part of any car or truck's braking system.

Early warning signs that your caliper is failing are leaks, corrosion, dirt buildup, and reluctant guide pins, to name a few. A technician will be able to tell if a caliper already has gone bad if your brake pads show uneven wear. Another telltale sign of a bad caliper is the driver needing to stamp on the brake pedal to stop the car.

If you drive with a broken brake caliper, you’re not just risking your caliper not operating as it should, but rather your entire braking system. We strongly recommend fixing your brake calipers before going out on the road.

*Data accurate at time of publication.