# Brakes

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** explorer, ford\
**Created:** [December 13, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696 "2009-12-13T00:03:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![courtney\_neil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@courtney\_neil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/courtney_neil)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696/1 "2009-12-13T00:03:13Z")

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We just recently had to replace the calipers on our car? My husband thought this was strange because he said they should never wear out. Is he right? And do they need to be replaced in pairs?

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696/2 "2009-12-13T01:55:26Z")

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Model year? Mileage? Calipers CAN fail, the internal piston corrodes and “sticks” in its bore and the brakes drag and get hot…And yes, I would replace them in pairs…

This stuff can be expected at the 8-10 year old mark…

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**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696/3 "2009-12-13T06:54:34Z")

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Yes they do need replacing sometimes and it is wise to replace in pairs.

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696/4 "2009-12-13T13:27:29Z")

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If you were having brake problems, it is possible that this was indeed due to worn calipers. Or maybe not. Next time you are uncertain about costly repairs, go elsewhere for a second opinion.

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**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696/5 "2009-12-13T14:55:15Z")

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many parts like calipers that have moving parts are “wearing out” prematurely due to the use of liquid brine solutions that are used to pretreat the roads in the winter…

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**Author:** ![courtney\_neil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@courtney\_neil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/courtney_neil)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brakes/40696/6 "2009-12-13T16:14:07Z")

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Hi thank you for responding. It is an 02, with 85,000 miles. I have had the car for about five years now. In the summer we replaced the breaks ourselves.