Fully Loaded Brake Caliper: Why Some Shops Prefer It

Why shops install a fully loaded brake caliper on every brake job

A typical brake caliper lasts about 150,000 miles. After that, the rubber components deteriorate, and the square-cut O-ring loses its elastic properties, preventing it from rolling back the piston. However, many shops replace the caliper with a fully loaded caliper for every customer that walks in the door; whether they need it or not.

The shop should replace a brake caliper if it’s leaking, has torn dust boots, seized caliper piston or the caliper piston doesn’t release properly causing brake drag. But some shops install a fully loaded brake caliper on every brake job. Why?

Shops make more money when they replace the calipers on your vehicle with fully loaded calipers

Chain and franchise shops tend to buy their brake parts from the franchisor or the company’s distribution plant. To reduce inventory, the companies try to stock fully loaded calipers rather than brake pads, hardware kits, caliper pins, boot kits, and shim kits.

Unfortunately, if the shop only stocks fully loaded calipers and all you need is new brake pads and rotors, you’re going to be sold a fully loaded caliper whether you need it or not.

Shops make more money when they sell calipers with every brake job.

What is a fully loaded brake caliper?

It’s a brake caliper that has been completely rebuilt and comes fully assembled with new rubber components, anti-rattle clips, noise-reduction shims, and brand-new brake pads.

If the vehicle needs a new brake caliper, the technician unboxes the fully loaded unit and installs it on the vehicle. That saves a minuscule amount of shop time (5-mins. max) compared to installing an unloaded or semi-loaded brake caliper.

Fully loaded brake calipers are good for the shop but bad for you

Stocking fully loaded brake calipers makes life much easier (and more profitable) for the shop. But if that’s what the shop stocks, that’s what you’re going to get, whether you need it or not. If your vehicle doesn’t really need brake calipers and the shop doesn’t stock just the brake pads, you’ll be pressured into buying calipers—it’s really that simple.

When repair shops stock fully loaded-calipers, every customer gets a new caliper!

©, 2019 Rick Muscoplat