Are brake calipers covered under warranty? If you’re thinking about investing in a new vehicle, you’ve probably heard the phrase “brake calipers” being tossed around. But what are they? And more importantly, are brake calipers covered under warranty?
Brake calipers are an important component of your car’s braking system. They work by using hydraulic pressure to squeeze the pads against the rotor, which slows or stops the car. You likely know that your tires and wheels are expensive to replace, but did you know that brake rotors can cost several hundred dollars each?! Replacing one or two of those at a time can easily set you back thousands of dollars.
That’s why it is so important for buyers to know what is covered under their warranty before signing on the dotted line. While every manufacturer and dealership will differ slightly in terms of their coverage (and limitations), here’s what you need to know about brake caliper warranties.
Brake calipers can be a costly repair, because they are one of the more important parts in your braking system.
Brake calipers are an important part of your braking system and can also be a costly repair. When you step on the brakes, the brake pads are squeezed against the rotor by the caliper to slow down your vehicle. Sometimes, brake calipers will malfunction if they have been exposed to water or if they have worn out gaskets. If your calipers are in need of repair or replacement, it is important to know whether these parts can be covered under warranty. Brake systems and their components typically fall under a vehicle’s powertrain warranty, which is a separate coverage from bumper-to-bumper protection. A powertrain warranty covers your engine, transmission, drivetrain and other related parts that are essential to keeping your car moving forward.
Have you checked out your warranty? It’s possible that brake calipers are covered under your car’s warranty.
It’s possible that your car’s brake calipers are covered under warranty, but the easiest way to find out is to check. Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on specific parts of their cars, including the brake calipers. Other manufacturers might limit coverage to parts that are defective or made from materials that are below the standard set by the manufacturer.
If you think you might be able to get your brake calipers replaced under a warranty or extended service agreement (ESA), make sure you have a copy of your manufacturer’s warranty and ESA policy handy when you schedule an appointment with your local repair shop or dealer. If coverage doesn’t apply, it’s always nice to have the coverage information nearby so you can reference it while discussing options with your mechanic or dealership representative.
You should also bring along any documentation showing maintenance done on the vehicle in case it is required for coverage under warranty. Lastly, be prepared for questions about whether or not you were maintaining adequate tire pressure and how often did you change brakes before this failure occurred?
There are times when brake calipers might need to be repaired or replaced, and that is an expense that you might be asked to foot.
For the most part, if your car is equipped with disc brakes, you’re probably familiar with the basics of how they work. However, if you have an older vehicle with drum or cable-controlled brakes that use a mechanical linkage to provide resistance, you may not be aware that brake calipers have a lot of moving parts and can get worn down over time.
When this happens, it can lead to brake caliper failure and potentially even a complete failure of the entire braking system. To make sure that this doesn’t happen on your car—and also so you know about the impact it might have on your car’s overall performance—review this section and check out a few common symptoms of brake caliper wear:
- Brake pedal sponginess or travel through its range: This is indicative of worn brake pads affecting the friction inside each individual caliper
- Caliper squeaking when pressed in: This could be caused by either excessive rust inside the caliper itself or simply loose parts rattling around
- Caliper noises during initial application: This could indicate warped pads or other issues with the braking system
Brake calipers will have to be replaced when they have become corroded or worn over time.
The first reason why a brake caliper needs to be replaced is because corrosion has set in. Brake fluid will eventually find its way inside the brake caliper, and when that happens, corrosion begins to occur. Corrosion can also happen if the brake fluid isn’t changed as often as it should be. This is a safety concern, since corrosion can lead to brake failure.
In some cases you may get lucky and find that brake calipers are covered under another part of the car’s warranty.
In some cases you may get lucky and find that brake calipers are covered under another part of the car’s warranty. There are several parts of your vehicle that come with warranty coverage, and if you find out that these parts have failed, it will cost you nothing to get them replaced or repaired.
Typically brake calipers are covered under the basic bumper-to-bumper warranty in the first few years of your vehicle’s life. You can replace them at no extra charge to yourself as long as they were not damaged by negligence on your part.
There is a chance that a brake caliper will fail because of defective materials or poor construction, which means it might be covered for repairs under a different part of the car’s warranty such as a powertrain warranty. If this is how your situation falls into place then all you need to do is gather up any paperwork from the manufacturer showing proof of purchase date or ownership in order for them to provide coverage on those items if they fail within their specified period of time post purchase date (usually five years).
The good news is that there are many ways you can minimize the cost of repair or replacement of your brake calipers.
When it comes to replacing brake calipers, you have several options. With labor and parts costing roughly $700 ($320 for labor), if you can do the work on your own and save money by shopping around, you’ll be better off. If you want to skip the DIY route, and your dealer or dealership won’t take a look at your car without throwing a big wrench in the works, consider buying used parts instead. As long as they match up with factory specs, these will likely prove to be just as reliable and effective as new brake calipers when it’s time to replace them again down the line.
When it comes to brakes that are covered under warranty, check with your dealer or dealership first before making an educated decision on whether or not they will cover the cost of repair. And while you’re thinking about that, check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office for information on whether or not there is a lemon law in effect in your area so that you know what rights you have if something goes wrong.
