Brake calipers are essential to your car’s ability to stop and are arguably one of the most important automobile brake parts. Most cars today have disc brakes at least for the front wheels, anyway. But a lot of cars and trucks are now using disc brakes in the rear, too. In a disc-braking system the car’s wheels are attached to metal discs, or rotors, that spin along with the wheels. The job of the caliper is to slow the car’s wheels by creating friction with the rotors. The brake caliper fits over the rotor like a clamp, and inside each caliper is where the brakes are housed. All of these components work together to safely bring your vehicle to a stop when the brakes are applied.