The Best Brake Calipers to Keep Your Car or Truck Stopping Safely

These days, it’s difficult to find companies that specialize in one type of product, but Wilwood is just such an operation. This California-based aftermarket manufacturer makes brake components and nothing else, which is why we chose this caliper as our Editor’s Pick.

This particular part is designed for the front brakes on certain General Motors vehicles built between 1968 and 1996. If you drive a non-GM vehicle or one that doesn’t fall into that model year range, it’s likely that Wilwood makes a caliper of a similar grade that will fit the car or truck you drive. Wilwood also makes a matching caliper for the rear brakes of these vehicles, so you can enjoy the same look and performance at all four wheels.

This caliper features a two-piston design that is a direct replacement for the parts that were fitted to your vehicle at the factory. That means that, despite their flashy red finish, you can use these calipers with your vehicle’s stock rotors and any brake pads that are a direct fit for your car or truck.

Wilwood says these calipers have forged aluminum billet bodies, stainless steel pistons, and competition-grade high-temperature seals. That means you’ll get low-maintenance performance for a longer period of use than if you bought OEM replacements.

If you prefer to stick with an OEM caliper design but still want some high-performance flash, consider this product from Power Stop. As you can see in the photo, this caliper is painted bright red like the Wilwood model we named as our Editor’s Pick. However, this is a remanufactured product finished with an electrostatic powder that resists corrosion.

We’ll discuss what “remanufactured” means shortly, but for now, know that Power Stop produces remanufactured calipers at its factory in Chicago, so you can buy these knowing they were made in the U.S. Key design features include high-temperature EPDM rubber for extended service life, new slider pins, hardware, and bleeder screw. Power Stop says it subjects every caliper it sells to a pressure test to prevent brake fluid leaks after you’ve installed it on your vehicle. The company also uses premium silicone lubricant on all moving parts for smoother operation.

The S4790 is designed for certain Ford vehicles, but Power Stop makes brake calipers at the same level of quality for a wide range of makes and models.

Here’s a brake caliper we recommend for its direct-fit design and a bargain-basement price, both of which will help get you and your vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible. As the low price suggests, this is a no-frills caliper designed simply to safely stop your car. The part number referenced above is specific to the Jeep Wrangler and TJ off-roader, but like many makers of remanufactured brake parts, AC Delco makes this line of calipers to fit a range of vehicles, especially General Motors models.

AC Delco makes this component with both aluminum and iron castings depending on the application. In addition, you get ethylene propylene rubber parts to stand up to the intense heat to which your brakes are regularly subjected.

While these calipers are designed to replicate the performance of those installed on your car when it was new, they come without brake pads so that you can source your own pads, whether you want OEM or premium aftermarket ones.

For your peace of mind, AC Delco warranties these calipers for two years and unlimited miles.

The Ford Escape SUV has been one of the most popular vehicles on American roads for many years, so if you drive one, you benefit from a wide range of aftermarket parts availability. One of the many replacement brake calipers you can choose from is this MAYASAF part, which is sold as a set for the front brakes of the Escape and the similar Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute models.

These calipers are a direct replacement for the ones that came on your vehicle from the factory. With that in mind, this is a no-nonsense design meant to do its job without you having to worry about it. Unlike many of the products on our list, these are not rebuilt or remanufactured. Instead, MAYASAF makes its calipers from scratch based on the original Ford/Mercury/Mazda design specifications.

MAYASAF says it subjects its calipers to multiple tests to ensure quality and durability that meet or exceed the original equipment parts. They come with a one-year warranty in case you do experience a defect. Brake pads are not included, so you have the option of installing OEM pads or aftermarket parts that better meet your performance expectations.

Here’s another brake caliper designed for one of America’s most popular vehicles, the Dodge Grand Caravan, and associated models, sold from 2008 through 2012. This caliper is sold individually and in pairs; we’ve chosen to highlight a pair for the rear wheels of your Grand Caravan, as well as the Ram cargo van (C/V), the upscale Chrysler Town & Country, and the Volkswagen Routan.

Like the MAYASAF calipers above, these A-Premium products are brand new as opposed to remanufactured. However, they come without pads, so you’ll have to source those separately if you need to replace them at the same time. A-Premium says its calipers are coated in zinc to prevent corrosion, and they’re pressure tested to ensure against brake fluid leaks when installed on your vehicle. Warranty coverage is for one year and unlimited miles. The piston measures 1.685 inches in diameter, and the bleeder port uses an M10 nut.

Each pair of calipers comes with a mounting bracket, anti-rattle clips to hold the pads in place, and new washers for the brake line fittings.

AC Delco makes its second appearance on our list of the best brake calipers with a product designed to fit the first-generation Cadillac CTS-V sport sedan, as well as some Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette models. Those fitments speak to the performance promises these calipers make: you can expect strong, reliable stopping to keep up with your vehicle’s formidable acceleration. This four-piston brake caliper is designed to fit over the 14-inch rotors and inside the 18-inch wheels used on the CTS-V and the Camaro and Corvette.

Most of the parts in our list are single- or dual-piston calipers, which provide hydraulic pressure only from one side and use slider pins to ensure the brake pads press against both sides of the disc or rotor. However, this four-piston design places two pistons on either side of the rotor to give your performance car more precise application of braking pressure.

That explains why a single example of this caliper costs more than you’ll pay for a pair of many of the others we’ve recommended. However, we think this is an attractive price for replacing the OEM parts on these cars, which were manufactured by the brake specialists at Brembo.

Next in our list of the best brake calipers is this product from DRIVESTAR. These particular part numbers fit second- and third-generation Chevrolet Corvette models, but DRIVESTAR also makes parts for other General Motors vehicles, as well as some Ford and import vehicles.

DRIVESTAR's calipers are brand new, not remanufactured, and are designed as a direct fit replacement for the parts that were installed on the vehicle when it left the factory. These calipers come with all the mounting hardware you’ll need, including slider pins and bleeder screws; however, they do not include new mounting brackets, so you’ll have to reuse the ones that are already on your car.

These are “friction-ready” calipers, meaning they come without brake pads. On the one hand, you’ll have to buy those separately, but on the other, it means you get to choose the grade of brake pad that suits your needs and driving style.

By backing its calipers with a one-year warranty, DRIVESTAR promises you not only a proper fit, but also a quality part that should provide years of trouble-free service.

Here’s a Cardone remanufactured brake caliper that promises direct-fit quality at an affordable price, and is sold as a single part to suit situations where you only need to replace one. This product fits a number of popular General Motors truck and SUV models, but Cardone makes products of the same grade for a range of applications.

Cardone rebuilds its calipers with steel pistons that are less likely to develop cracks or deformations under high pressure, making them well-suited to heavy-duty applications. As part of the rebuild process, Cardone replaces the original seals with new EPDM rubber that promises you and your vehicle consistent performance and extended service life.

All of Cardone’s brake calipers are pressure tested before they leave the company’s factory, and they come with new bleeder screws and copper washers to prevent brake fluid leaks. Also included is the hardware you’ll need to install these brake components on your car or truck.

Like most of the products in this list, this one comes without brake pads so you can choose the friction level that matches your preference.

Raybestos is a well-known name in aftermarket brake parts that makes our list with this brand-new Opti-Cal caliper. The part number listed here is a direct-fit replacement for the front brake calipers on a range of Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep vans and SUVs, but Raybestos says it makes this product to fit a multitude of applications, including those with high replacement rates.

Every Opti-Cal caliper is designed to match your vehicle’s OE specifications and comes coated with zinc plating to protect the iron construction from corrosion. Raybestos say the finish closely resembles that of the factory-installed calipers to maintain your car or truck’s OEM appearance.

All rubber components are fashioned from EPDM70 rubber to promise you better heat resistance, durability and service life from your vehicle’s braking system. Because this is a new product and not remanufactured, there’s no need to send the old part back for the core charge refund.

While these calipers ship with the brackets, pre-lubricated guide pins, and hardware you’ll need for installation, the pads themselves are not included, leaving you to choose the ones that best suit your needs.

The final entry in our list of the best brake calipers is another ACDelco product. This remanufactured part comes from the company’s Professional line of components. This is a single part, which, as we’ve mentioned previously, means you don’t have to buy a pair of calipers if only one needs to be replaced. ACDelco also keeps the price of this part relatively low thanks to remanufacturing it instead of building one out of brand-new materials. Note that this caliper is not coated to prevent corrosion, which may be a consideration if you drive in an area where rust is a problem.

The ACDelco Professional line uses both aluminum and iron castings to ensure an OEM fit on a wide range of vehicles. Every caliper is tested to ensure the EPDM rubber seals work as they should so you won’t have to worry about brake fluid leaks.

This caliper comes without brake pads, allowing you to customize the installation with your preferred friction material. However, ACDelco does ship this part with bleeder screws, copper washers, mounting brackets, and hardware to make it as easy as possible for you to replace your vehicle’s faulty component.

When do you need to replace brake calipers?

Should you buy remanufactured or rebuilt calipers instead of all-new ones?

Do you need special tools to replace brake calipers?

On most cars, you can replace a brake caliper with common wrenches and a socket set. However, you will need a torque wrench to help you properly tighten the mounting bolts. You will also need a canister of brake fluid and brake bleeding kit. Both are inexpensive, and you buy them at most auto parts stores. Replacing a brake caliper is not difficult, but it can get messy.

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