I'm rebuilding a set of front calipers and having a tough time getting the dust boots installed. This is the first time I've tried this job, so may not be doing it the easiest way. I installed the rubber dust boots to the pistons first, then slid the pistons into the caliper. Can't seem to get the dust boot jammed down in between the piston and the bore though. I'm thinking I might have to get the air compressor back out and remove the pistons....then put back together with the boots installed on the caliper bores first, then put the pistons in.

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

"LS1" calipers, by the way.

 

LS1 calipers, thanks for clearing that up.

Here's how I do them: Install the O-ring in the groove and lube up both the piston bore, the dust boot, and the outside of the piston with clean fluid. Take the dust boot and slide it over the piston and about half way down the piston, far enough so that the lip on the bottom of the dust boot is clear of the bottom of the piston. If you can stretch out the boot some over the piston this will help installation as well. Here's the tricky part: insert the lower lip of the dust boot, starting on the back side of the piston (the side nearest the inside of the caliper where the rotor sits), into the groove that the lip sits in. When it is fully inserted into this groove, carefully push the piston down into the bore, making sure that 1) you don't pinch the boot between the piston bore and the piston, and 2) that the lip doesn't come out of its groove. While you are pressing the piston down, pull up on the dust boot part so that the thick upper ring of the boot approaches its cast seating groove in the piston itself. Continue this until the piston is fully seated into the bore and the ring in the upper part of the dust boot is in its cast groove in the piston. The better the piston and boot is lubed up the better it will go in.

HTH...

Ed

 

Ed,

Despite that being an incredibly awkward thing to try to explain using text, you got the point across. Quite easy that way. I wish I had thought of that before I asked! Hated to have to remove the pistons, but that's life.

Thanks!
Mike

 

I have a question about the dust boots themselves. The calipers I have are good (at least I think), but each boot has a little tear in it. Do I have to fix this? A friend at school said that they'll leak fluid all over, but I don't think they will. THey're just that, dust boots, right?

 

No they won't leak fluid all over, the O-ring keeps the fluid inside, but the dust boot keeps the moisture and dust out so they need to be in tact. Replace them if they're damaged.

Ed

 

So my hubby is new at trying fix cars smh.But there's a rip in the rubber boot he took them off and threw them away and don't remember if they were long or short or what they looked like.when we googled them for our make and model there's all different types.like there's long sleeve looking ones and short ones would it make a difference

 

Please put your car info in your avatar and/or your signature so we know what car you are working on. The more details the better. If there are different parts listed for you car then it matters which one you use. NEVER NEVER throw away the old part until AFTER you have the new part installed AND you make sure it is working correctly, even if it takes a week.

 

Calipers are cheap.... Why not just replace them?