There are two different types of brake calipers, depending on the arrangement of the pistons.

• Floating, when the piston is placed on one side of the brake disc. Its action pushes the pad towards the disc, and when it comes into contact with it it pulls the caliper which slides transversely and activates the pad on the opposite side. Floating caliper brakes are more susceptible to vibration and less resistant to high temperatures and harsh treatments. However, they are less expensive and easier to use and repair.
• Fixed, when the pistons are placed in pairs on both sides of the brake disc. The pairs of pistons simultaneously press the outer and inner brake pads against the disc. Fixed calipers generally have 2 pistons but there can also be 4, 6 and up to 8, equally positioned on both sides of the disc. Fixed caliper brakes provide more effective braking than a floating caliper system. They allow for more precise braking force distribution and are used on sports cars and high-end SUVs.

The external and supporting part of the caliper pistons can be made with different structures:

• Two-block, composed of two pieces held together by two or more screws which allow for lower production and repair costs and easier overhaul.
• Monoblock,characterized by a single piston support element and generally used in floating calipers, which guarantees greater rigidity than fixed calipers while maintaining a competitive production cost and good ease of overhaul.

Furthermore, the type of connection between the two sides of the caliper can be:

• Single bridge(single bridge), typical structure of most floating calipers, where the connecting bridge slides along the entire length of the caliper.
• Double bridge(double bridge), a typical structure of most fixed block-type calipers, where the two parts of the caliper are connected to each other by lateral bridges.
• Triple bridge (triple bridge), a structure adopted by some monoblock fixed calipers, where in addition to the lateral bridges there is also a central bridge.

To act on the disc, brake calipers must be attached to the vehicle on which they are installed. There are two types of caliper attachment for cars, trucks, and vehicles with four or more wheels:

• Hub plate, when the caliper is connected to the plate that acts as a hub for the wheel.
• Articulated plate, when the caliper is fixed to a plate that is constrained to rotate on the axis of the wheel hub and held in position by a lever.

 Brake caliper Pistons and Cylinders

The arrangement of the pistons can be:

• Lateral, on one side of the caliper only. This arrangement is used on floating calipers.
• Counterposed, when the pistons are arranged on both sides of the caliper, facing each other. This arrangement is used on fixed calipers.

The pistons can be:

• Identical, so as to allow constant pressure across the entire surface of the pads on the disc, ensuring uniform wear but limited gradual braking.
• With differentiated diameter, composed of a pair of pistons of different diameters. This solution allows for a more gradual and modular braking action and therefore a smoother onset of braking, but it results in uneven pad wear, which tends to wear diagonally.

The most common materials used in the production of brake calipers are:

• Cast iron, the most widely used material due to its excellent heat dissipation capacity and the best cost-effectiveness ratio. Cast iron brake calipers guarantee durability and wear resistance, but are heavy and prone to corrosion over time.
• Aluminum, a material that provides a good level of heat dissipation but is more expensive and less durable than cast iron. Aluminum brake calipers are lightweight, less susceptible to corrosion, and ensure better handling and braking performance.
• Steel, a material that ensures great strength and durability. Steel brake calipers are less prone to deformation under stress and offer excellent braking performance. However, they are heavier than aluminum calipers and more susceptible to corrosion.
• Titanium, a material that guarantees maximum lightness and excellent heat dissipation. Titanium brake calipers are very expensive but offer superior braking performance and maximum corrosion resistance.
• Carbon ceramic, a material that ensures absolute heat resistance and maximum durability. Carbon ceramic brake calipers are the most expensive but guarantee extremely high braking performance and corrosion resistance.

Alltech S.r.l. markets front and rear brake calipers, in right and left configuration, for the models of the most important commercial and industrial vehicle brands. 

Our technical and sales staff are always available to offer advice and answer any questions regarding the technical requirements of each product and order processing times.