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caliper Definition

cali·per (kal′ə pər)

noun

  1. an instrument consisting of a pair of movable, curved legs fastened together at one end, used to measure the thickness or diameter of something: there are inside calipers and outside calipers
  2. caliper rule
  3. thickness, as of paper or cardboard, expressed in mils
    1. the part pressed against the spinning wheel in a hand-operated bicycle braking system
    2. the automotive disc brake housing containing the friction pads

Etymology: var. of caliber

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to measure with calipers

caliper Usage Examples

Preposition: with

  • piston: The front brakes use a radial caliper with four opposed pistons, in keeping with the latest trends in racing technology.

Converse of object

  • float: The Atlantic Sprint features large 260 mm diameter front disks with a triple parallel piston floating caliper and a 220 mm rear disk.
  • use: The front brakes use a radial caliper with four opposed pistons, in keeping with the latest trends in racing technology.
  • have: The mechanical stage has a spring caliper to hold a standard slide.
  • fit: This caliper will fit directly to any Japanese bike that has radial calipers fitted as standard.

Adjective modifier

  • 4-piston: Further more, braking performance was also much improved, by the fitment ventilated front disks and 4-piston brake calipers.
  • radial: The front brakes use a radial caliper with four opposed pistons, in keeping with the latest trends in racing technology.
  • floating: Two 260 mm front disks with floating calipers are assisted by a powerful 240 mm rear disk.
  • rear: We use modified VW Golf cables to hook up to the rear calipers.
  • fixed: Brembo four-piston fixed calipers operate the front brake while twin-piston floating calipers activate the rear.
  • twin: Twin piston calipers are used for both brakes, the front working a single 310mm disk, the rear a 255mm disk.

Modifies a noun

  • piston: Allows the caliper piston to be wound back for the fitting of new brake pads.
  • brake: They have a front wheel caliper brake but if you take it off road after rain it will quickly clog up with mud.
  • bolt: Also, do the caliper bolts need spring washers, flat washers or some sort of locking tab?

Noun used with modifier

  • vernier: Posted by GW on 17 January, 2006 at 11:14 AM Plastic set of vernier calipers.
  • six-piston: Gripped by a six-piston caliper, braking forces are transferred optimally to the rim, virtually eliminating torsional load on the front wheel.
  • four-piston: Twin four-piston calipers operate on the front 308mm disks with a single-piston caliper on the rear 220mm disk.
  • piston: The 240 mm rear disk and single piston caliper provide the perfect balance between stopping power and ease of control.
  • brake: The last few examples of the '96 Turbo model received the revised brake calipers of the '97 model.
  • pot: At the front I will use the largest vented disks I can fit with 4 pot alloy calipers.