Enter the total pressure delivered by the caliper and the surface area of the caliper into the calculator to determine the brake caliper clamping force.

Brake Caliper Clamping Force Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the Brake Caliper Clamping Force.

BCF = CP * CA
• Where BCF is the brake caliper clamping force (lbf)
• CP is the caliper pressure (psi)
• CA is the caliper contact area (in^2)

To calculate the brake caliper clamping force, multiply the caliper pressure by the contact area.

What is a Brake Caliper Clamping Force?

Definition:

The clamping force of a brake caliper is the pressure it exerts on a disc or rotor to stop wheel movement. The amount of force is determined by the type of brake caliper used and how much hydraulic pressure is applied to the pads.

How to Calculate Brake Caliper Clamping Force?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate Brake Caliper Clamping Force.

First, determine the caliper pressure. This is the pressure deliver by the caliper to the wheel. In this example, the pressure is 500 psi.

Next, determine the contact area. In this case, the contact area is measured to be 12 in^2.

Finally, calculate the brake caliper clamping force using the formula above:

BCF = CP * CA

BCF = 500 * 12

BCF = 6000 lbf