An important part of the braking system is a caliper, attached to the suspension cam. It consists of one or two brake cylinders that apply pressure to the pads and press them to the discs. The caliper is exposed to moisture, road debris, high temperatures and mechanical stress. If it leaks or is damaged, it must be replaced. We’ve made your search easier by ranking the best brake caliper manufacturers. The material is based on the responses of buyers and service station craftsmen, as well as on the characteristics of the products.
Rating of the best brake caliper manufacturers
| Nomination | location | manufacturer | rating |
| Rating of the best brake caliper producers | 1 | embo | 5.0 |
| 2 | Akebono | 4.9 | |
| 3 | TRW | 4.8 | |
| 4 | NK | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Delco Remy | 4.6 | |
| 6 | ABS | 4.5 | |
| 7 | Textar | 4.4 | |
| 8 | Febest | 4.3 | |
| 9 | rofit | 4.2 |
embo
Rating: 5.0
We gave the second place rating to Japanese manufacturer Akebono. Its products are a benchmark for quality in the Asian market. plants are located in Japan, Italy and the USA. There are a dozen labs around the world where developers design and test new versions of calipers, brake discs, pads, and cylinders. Available separately or as a complete set with guides, mounting bolts, repair kits. The company has been operating since 1929 and also does not diversify into all kinds of spare parts, producing only elements of the brake system. The manufacturer is ISO 9001 and 14000 certified, which confirms the high quality of its products. VAG plants producing Volkswagen and Audi vehicles work directly with the concern.
Our experts included the manufacturer in the rating for two reasons. First, Akebono brake calipers feature reduced weight. The company uses a special aluminum alloy for this, which does not overload the suspension cam. Secondly, these parts are distinguished by long service life (30% longer than competitors), as evidenced by the numerous reviews of car owners.
Advantages
- quality castings;
- there are variants completely assembled;
- Are made in Japan, the U.S. or Italy;
- long service life.
Disadvantages
- high cost;
- In the set for the car (4 pieces) the pad wear sensor can be only in one caliper.
TRW
Rating: 4.8
The third place is awarded to the American manufacturer
We placed the manufacturer in the ranking of the best, because it is actively engaged in the restoration of its brake parts. For example, in the case of the calipers, they take the housings, which are ground, cleaned, painted and equipped with new cylinders with seals. Judging by customer reviews, remanufactured brake calipers, which have been recycled in official factories, serve almost as long as new. This is a great opportunity to save money and get a quality product. New and remanufactured products are not mixed and clearly labeled.
Advantages
- Excellent quality control;
- There are parts for both cars and trucks;
- wide dealer network;
- good durability.
Disadvantages
- There are calipers not for all Audi models (A6);
- known cases of corrosion under the paint;
- high cost;
- Part of the frames are made of cast iron, which makes the construction heavier.
NK
Rating: 4.7
The fourth in the ranking is a German manufacturer NK. The abbreviation of the company stands for Nordjysk Kob
We put the manufacturer in the ranking because the brake calipers have good value for money. The firm continues to combine the activities of a packer and manufacturer, so you can find negative reviews online about this brand of clutch (which is sold from other plants), but the brake system is produced directly at the facilities of this company.
Advantages
- High quality control of the entire production cycle in accordance with ISO 9001;
- Innovations for quality improvement;
- there are brake parts for all makes;
- Made in Germany and Denmark.
Disadvantages
- Does not cooperate directly with car manufacturers;
- Some parts are simply resold from other companies;
- There are defects – go out of order after 6000 km.
Delco Remy
Rating: 4.6
The top five list includes American manufacturer Delco, which has been in business since 1916. Company headquarters are located in Michigan. The rights to the brand were owned by General Motors, but then were given into the hands of private investors from the United States. The company manufactures brake calipers, pads, discs, electrics, suspension components and other components for direct supply to car plants, as well as for the aftermarket. Catalog includes over 2400 brake calipers, 1500 steering racks, 10000 alternators and starters.
The manufacturer is placed in the top rankings because of the endurance of its products. Individual brake system parts and other parts are not only supplied to the civilian population, but also have military applications. They are installed on rocket armament chassis, as well as aircraft and armored vehicles. If this company has such state orders, it means a high level of responsibility for its products.
Advantages
- Some of the parts are supplied to the conveyors of car plants;
- More than 2,400 brake calipers in the catalog;
- Are in the business of remanufacturing parts;
- ISO TS 16949:2002, ISO 9002 certificates.
Disadvantages
- deal not only with brakes but electronics as well, so less experience compared to competitors
- The quality of remanufactured parts varies.
ABS
Rating: 4.5
The sixth place of the rating belongs to the Dutch manufacturer, which began its activities in 1978. Now producing: silent blocks, ropes, bearings, ball joints and brake parts. Rear and front calipers are made for all brands of European and Asian cars. Compared with original VAG or Mercedes parts, the price is 3-4 times cheaper. The firm has a partnership agreement and uses some of the technology of the famous manufacturer “Brembo”. This has improved the durability of the caliper bodies and attracted more customers. The reviews of car owners show that the braking system with parts from this manufacturer works more quietly and withstands perfectly the effects of moisture and high temperatures.
In our opinion the manufacturer should be in the top list because of the high protection of its products from counterfeit. Each brake caliper has the company logo and part number. A document is always included in the sealed box which certifies that the product is manufactured under control
embo. This will help to immediately recognize a fake and give money only for the original product.
Advantages
- catalog of products contains 29,000 titles;
- compliance with ISO 9001;
- long service life;
- high protection against counterfeit.
Disadvantages
- low brand awareness;
- can be covered with a rusty deposit.
Textar
Rating: 4.4
Continuing our rating is brake parts manufacturer Textar. It is a German brand that originated in 1913. It is owned by Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. The spare parts catalog has 11 groups and 14700 names. All products are QS 9000 certified, as well as DIN ISO 9001. In addition to calipers firm produces lubricants for the brake system guides, wear sensors, repair kits. Production facilities are located in Europe and the USA. Judging by the reviews, customers trust this manufacturer, as it is a direct supplier of parts to the car concern Toyota. To protect products from counterfeit, the company puts a QR code and a sticker on the package, which should be intact when purchasing.
Our experts have rated the manufacturer for reliability. A separate line of calipers and pads of this company (PRO) are installed on German sports cars BMW X6, Mercedes GLC, GLS, as well as the impressive and heavy X5 and GL. These braking system components are designed to work in harsh conditions and are extremely durable. If this is the kind of car you have, then pay attention to these calipers.
Advantages
- contribute to quiet operation of the brakes;
- There is no roughness on the pads;
- There are sport lines;
- Stringent quality control during production.
Disadvantages
- Highly compressive friction pads;
- Fakes are often found;
- pads wear out quicker.
Febest
Rating: 4.3
The penultimate place is occupied by the German company Febest. It was founded in 1999 and combines the activity of a manufacturer and packer. The range is designed to cover the repair needs of Japanese and Korean cars. The manufacturer distinguishes a special formula of rubber for the caliper repair kit, to ensure the tightness of the circuits despite the harsh operating conditions. Total number of 26 product groups in the catalog. Reviews show that the quality of the products is average, but it is completely compensated by the democratic price. This is the best choice for car owners who know how to repair their cars themselves – so you can save a significant amount of money, and after the expiration of the service life to replace parts with a minimum of investment.
The manufacturer is rightly added to the rating of the best because of the production of brake calipers, maximally adapted for operation in the northern regions of Russia. Rubber elements around the brake caliper cylinder are made of natural rubber with special additives, which makes it possible to operate at temperatures of -45 degrees. This ensures that the brake system remains at the correct level of brake fluid and operates flawlessly.
Advantages
- covers all makes of Japanese and Korean cars;
- Continuous optimization of the production process;
- higher tolerance requirements;
- reasonable price.
Disadvantages
- no complete range for machines manufactured in Europe
- Most of the production is located in China.
rofit
Rating: 4.2
Completes the rating of the best Czech company “Profit. Manufacturer operates since 1993 and its catalog contains 27 groups of automotive products. Among them: shock absorbers, bearings, ignition, transmission, brake components, filters and pumps. Although the brand is headquartered in the Czech Republic, most of the production facilities operate in China. The firm takes care of a large assortment, and here you can find brake calipers for almost any car model. It is not uncommon that auto service center craftsmen recommend products of this manufacturer as the most affordable and of acceptable quality.
This is another manufacturer in our rating, which combines the activity of manufacturing its own products and packaging third-party products. We have analyzed the reviews on the Internet, and we can note that all the negativity is concentrated around the suspension (struts, ball joints). As for the brake calipers, they are quite suitable for quiet city driving. In addition, the product price is several times cheaper than competitors, so you can save a lot of money.
Advantages
- low cost;
- reliable packaging;
- The correct geometry of the calipers;
- The two bolt holes correspond exactly with the seats on the cams.
Disadvantages
- “floating” quality;
- no holograms on the box.
