Nissan Brake Caliper

Many components are required to bring your Nissan to a complete stop. The final components in the process, and arguably the most important, are the Nissan brake caliper and the brake pads it houses. When the brake pedal is depressed, the user input is multiplied by the vacuum brake booster, and the final force is used to compress the pistons in the master cylinder. The master cylinder sends the hydraulic force through the lines to activate the pistons of the caliper, and finally the brake pads are pressed into the Nissan brake caliper. The friction of the brake pads is used to actually stop the vehicle. Ensuring that the Nissan brake caliper is in good working is a necessity for safety, and inspecting it does not even require the removal of the tire, in most cases. In open wheels, the caliper can be seen directly through the empty space, but in closed wheels, the tires may need to be turned. If the Nissan brake caliper is moving freely in and out, and there is no sign of a leak in the area, the unit should be in good condition. Small seals within the pistons of the Nissan brake caliper are often a cause of failure, because the hydraulic fluid will loose pressure at that wheel. Corrosion and dirt can also gather within the device, completely stopping its motion, even with proper fluid pressure. Fortunately, our online catalog has the perfect Nissan brake caliper to fit your vehicle, at a highly reduced cost, compared to the price of a replacement from the dealership. With our quick order processing, you will have good brakes again soon.

As a part of your car's braking system, your Nissan brake caliper is important to keep you safe in the road. The brake caliper is primarily responsible for creating the friction between the brake disc and the brake pad to make your car slow down or halt. It is the part that allows all the other components in the braking system to carry out their functions, since it is the one piece that sets the braking process into action. The brake caliper is always in constant use, so it is fairly subject to natural wear and tear. Also, when the seal in your engine gets damaged, water passes through your pistons' sealing gaskets, causing the brake caliper to malfunction. Obviously, this is not an ideal situation, since a malfunctioning brake caliper means less safety and more risks on the road. So, as soon as you see the tell-tale signs of a damaged brake caliper, head straight to the car parts store and get your car a new one. Here is a guide to help you buy the right brake caliper for your car.

Based on vehicle identification number

There are brake calipers that are especially made for each car make and model. If you want to stick with the default brake caliper for your car, you should check for your car's vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN is a 17-digit combination of letters and numbers that you will find in many places within your car. The first three digits signify the manufacturer of the vehicle. The fourth to ninth digits tell you the model. The remaining digits can be either your model year code or the factory where your vehicle was built. With the VIN, you can be sure that you're getting the right Nissan brake caliper for your car. Just present the VIN to any car parts seller and you'll be sure to get the right fit.

Floating calipers vs fixed calipers

If you want to be more liberal in choosing your Nissan brake caliper, then you have two main choices in terms of type: floating calipers and fixed calipers.

A floating brake caliper is made of cast iron, which makes it the more common type of caliper for original equipment applications. In a floating caliper, there can be one or more pistons that push against the posterior of the brake pad. This type of caliper is called such because it is attached to a bracket that allows it to slide freely or to “float.” The only problem that you can find with a floating brake caliper is its heavy weight, which can cause uneven wear in the pads. But the good thing about the floating type is that it can be powerful in causing your car to halt in the streets. Unless you're into car racing which requires aggressive braking, you're good to go with a floating brake caliper.

On the other hand, a fixed brake caliper is made from aluminum, a soft metal that makes it a lot lighter than the floating kind. This type of caliper does not inflate under the heat and stress that ensue from braking. One downside to installing a fixed brake caliper is its huge size, which can limit your choices of wheels later on. Although it is significantly lighter than a floating caliper, the fixed caliper takes up more space because of the number of pistons you can connect to it. On a positive note, the fixed caliper's design makes it stronger and more durable than a floating caliper. As a result, it gives a more positive pedal feel, which is ideal for long-term car racing.