What is a brake cylinder and a caliper and which is more expensive?

Question

A friend of mine has a 2002 hyndai elantra.HIs mechanic says he needs 2 rear brake shoes,2 rear brake drums,and 2 new brake cylinders.

Are cylinders expensive,more expensive than calipers?

Answer 1

I doubt if the wheel cylinders have to be replaced but maybe "honed" out, (cleaned of old metal grooves that developed over time)

Generally when you replace the shoes it's common to "turn" the brake drums too so they're smooth as a babies bottom,

that way when new shoes are installed there is no chatter of the wheels when the brakes are panic stopped.

Answer 2

Calipers are on disk brakes, all the items you mentioned are on drum brakes.  Anyhow, I suspect calipers are more expensive than brake cylinders, for what it's worth.

Answer 3

wheel(brake) cylinders aren't as expensive as a caliper. eventually the rubber seals inside the wheel cylinder wear out an break fluid start to seep out of them.

Check for firm brake pedal feel after the job...if its spongy or your pedal goes to the floor there is air in his brake lines and they must be bled.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Wheel cylinders are generally $10-$20 at most part stores. Calipers are $20-$200 depending on the car.

Answer 5

calipers cost more then wheel cylinders.

Answer 6

A brake cylinder is a hydraulic piston that pushes out to expand the brake shoes in side the brake drum, stopping the car. A brake caliper is a hydraulic "clamp" that squeezes both sides of the brake disk, stopping the car. As a rule, but not always, you'll find brake disks on the front, drums on the rear. Brake calipers are usually more expensive.

Answer 7

If your friend has rear drum brakes so it has calipers on the front only. The brake cylinder works the same as a caliper pushing the shoes against the drum. And yes cylinders are cheaper than calipers.