hondaowner

Guys,
You are great as usual.
I just replaced Autozone front rotors and pads for my civic 97. while i was working on the car. I did notice that I had to use a C-Clamp to push the caliper piston back to accommodate the new pads. Is that normal. or should the piston be flexible enough to go back with a hard press with hands itself ?
I also noticed the seals seem broken and are accumulated with rust. However i did not do anything and used the same calipers with new rotors and pads and the brakes seem to work.

Do i have to worry ? and replace the calipers also with a remanufactured ones from Autozone ?

BTW, my 97 civic has 96000 miles on it and never ever changed the calipers so far.

Do you guys think i need to do some thing about it ?

Thanks ya all

2lua

you need the replace the broken seal. cause what you did just push back the rust part back into the caliper. it will cause the piston leak and seize later on. i would just replace the whole caliper. i had the same problem. this will give you some idea.
a loaded (with pad) caliper at napa cost around 60 buck each with core exchange.
an unloaded (without pad) caliper cost around 50 buck each with core exchange.

Redline96LX

calipers aren't something you usually replace. If they weren't like dropped or anything, they are still in good shape, and lined up. You should replace that boot seal, and don't bother replacing the caliper, its not broken! If you didn't replace the pads in a while, then yes, the boot can be a pain, so use a piece of wood and a c clamp if ya have to, i did on my friends car last week. replace the seal, dont bother replacing the whole caliper. im sure even autozone and napa will tell ya that (unless they wanna sell ya something you dont need, they would never do that, oh no)

JDM R

yes its normal to use some type of tool to push the piston back in the bore. I would suggest rebuilding the calipers or you can go the lazy route and jus get remans from napa or autozone, they are pretty cheap.