How a Floating Brake Caliper Works
Learn how a floating brake caliper works
Most vehicles are equipped with “floating” brake calipers. Floating brake calipers have one or two pistons on just one side of the caliper. As the brakes are applied, fluid pressure forces the piston(s) out of the caliper bore. The piston(s) force the inboard brake pad against the rotor until the pad can’t move any further. At that point, an equal-and-opposite reaction occurs and the brake fluid pressure pushes the caliper body away from the brake rotor. That causes the caliper “fingers” on the outboard side of the caliper to pull the outboard brake pad against the outward-facing side of the rotor. A floating caliper slides on two brake caliper slide pins.
©, 2021 Rick Muscoplat
Posted on by Rick Muscoplat