The biggest sign that one of your vehicle's brake calipers is seized is noticing a slight pull to one side while driving. A seized brake caliper keeps the brake pads partially applied, causing the wheel to brake constantly. This results in the vehicle being unable to drive straight, as it'll slightly pull to the braking wheel's side.
Brake calipers are part of the brake system and interact directly with the vehicle's wheels. They're no joke in providing you with safety and performance while driving, but they too can show bad symptoms.
Therefore, it's no surprise that a seized brake caliper is a loose cannon on road safety.
A seized brake caliper constantly applies the brakes on its wheels. So, if the vehicle is driving and one of its front wheels is slightly braking compared to the others, the vehicle won't drive straight.
If one wheel is spinning less, the vehicle starts pulling to that wheel's side. This means the extra friction on the brake rotor, brake disc, wheel hub, and brake pads is slightly steering the vehicle as it tries to drive straight.
A seized brake caliper will constantly apply force on the wheels. This means that the brake pads, brake discs, brake rotors, and tires will get friction all the time while driving.
This amount of high friction in a constant fashion gets tires extremely overheated. Consequently, these tires can reach damaging high temperatures, where they burn and melt.
Since tires are rubber, the high heat makes them release a burning rubber smell, leaving bulges, blisters, rotor heat marks, etc.
While attempting to "unseize" a brake caliper yourself is possible with some mechanical knowledge and the right tools, it's not guaranteed to be a permanent fix. The root cause of the brake caliper seizing (usually corrosion) might remain, and the caliper could seize again. For safety reasons, it's generally recommended to consult a mechanic to diagnose the severity and determine if a repair or a replacement of the caliper is necessary.
No, driving with a stuck brake caliper is highly discouraged. It compromises your braking ability, wears down parts unevenly, and can overheat causing a potential fire. When a brake caliper seizes, the entire brake system is at risk of breakdown. It's best to have a mechanic inspect the front and rear brakes as soon as possible for your safety and to prevent further damage to your car.
Brake calipers are typically very durable and can last anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000 miles, or even the lifetime of the vehicle. However, this can vary depending on driving habits, environment, and maintenance factors like replacing brake fluid. Instead of a mileage schedule, look for warning signs like uneven pad wear, pulling, or grinding noises to determine if your calipers need attention.