A body for a disc brake caliper has a mounting side limb and a non-mounting side limb, each limb housing at least one hydraulic brake cylinder. The body has a peripheral stiffening band that extends about an outer lateral surface of at least one of the limbs. In a preferred embodiment, a peripheral stiffening band extends about an outer lateral surface of each of the limbs. The stiffening band or bands provide stiffness in the body under dynamic braking conditions with a minimum of material. A method of designing and manufacturing a body for a disc brake caliper involves analyzing the stiffness of the body under dynamic rather than static braking conditions and producing a caliper body with a desired level of stiffness under dynamic conditions while reducing the amount of material used to a minimum.