MajorCommonBrakes

Mitsubishi Lancer: Brembo Front Caliper Guide Pin Corrosion and Seizure (Evo VII–IX)

Brembo Front Caliper Guide Pin Corrosion and Seizure (Evo VII–IX) is a common brakes fault on the Mitsubishi Lancer on the 2001–2007 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 39 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Lancer.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Lancer
Only on: Evolution
Years: 2001–2007
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: manual
System: Brakes

This page covers the Mitsubishi Lancer as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi Lancer faults39 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Body corrosion or Brake disc and pads yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Evo VII–IX models fitted with Brembo front calipers suffer from guide pin corrosion, particularly in NZ and AU conditions where salt and moisture accelerate the process. Seized guide pins prevent the caliper from floating correctly, causing the outer brake pad to wear significantly faster than the inner pad, and creating uneven braking force and pulling under braking. In severe cases the piston corrodes in its bore. The condition is common on any NZ-registered Evo that has not had regular caliper maintenance.

What you would notice

Vehicle pulling to one side under braking
Uneven pad wear — outer pad significantly thinner than inner
Brake drag or binding with caliper hot after normal driving
Squealing or grinding from one front wheel
Reduced braking performance at moderate speed

How to check it

Where to look. Front brake calipers, both sides — guide pins within caliper bracket

Attempt to push guide pins in and out by hand — they should slide smoothly with moderate resistance. Check for seized pistons by observing if both front rotors are equally hot after a slow drive. Inspect rubber guide pin boots for cracking or missing boots. If a workshop inspection is possible: Remove front wheels and compare inner and outer pad thickness on each caliper.

Parts involved: Body corrosion, Brake disc and pads.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When were the front brake pads last replaced and were the calipers serviced at the same time?”
“Has the car ever pulled under braking or had uneven brake wear?”
“Have the Brembo calipers ever been rebuilt or refurbished?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Lancer you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mitsubishi Lancer buyer questions

Is brembo front caliper guide pin corrosion and seizure (evo vii–ix) serious on a Mitsubishi Lancer?

We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Lancer. Evo VII–IX models fitted with Brembo front calipers suffer from guide pin corrosion, particularly in NZ and AU conditions where salt and moisture accelerate the process. Seized guide pins prevent the caliper from floating correctly, causing the outer brake pad to wear significantly faster than the inner pad, and creating uneven braking force and pulling under braking. In severe cases the piston corrodes in its bore. The condition is common on any NZ-registered Evo that has not had regular caliper maintenance.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Lancer?

$350 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi Lancer years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2007 Mitsubishi Lancer. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.