Use your thumb to push the lever down. The lever should move freely and easily, but it should not allow the wheel to turn. If you can’t push the lever down or it seems too tight, then you will need a new or rebuilt caliper.

The caliper’s pistons push out against both sides of the rotor when they are compressed by fluid pressure. When this happens, the rotor turns to apply braking pressure to whatever wheel is being driven by that caliper.

If your rotors have become warped or damaged in any way, then they may not be able to press evenly against each piston’s surface area. This can cause a pulsing effect as one side of the rotor applies more pressure than the other side does at any given time — causing your brakes to pulsate.

Last modified: July 31, 2022