I had an HPDE this past weekend at Sebring. I was running some P+ up front that were really too thin to be using. Due to the lack of pad plus my turned rotors, I successfully faded the pads (pedal was still there). All the heat deteriorated the rubber seal around the piston. Whenever I touch it, it just crumbles. What is the best way of replacing this seal? What ill-effect will it cause? Contaminate the fluid? Thanks.

 

The dust boot? **** it.

Warren

 

Mine have been gone for about 4 years.

 

You're actually talking about the rubber seal around the piston? Not the dust boot on the caliper bolt?

 

if the rubber seal was burned and gone than braking would suffer and badly, most likely it is just the dust boot, something you might want to replace.

 

are you referring to the thin rubber flap that goes around the piston itself? so it doesn't matter if this piece is damaged? cool, i've always been terrified of tearing it when i change pads.

 

That seal protects the postion from outside pieces... it is better left as-is unless you rebuild your calipers every few weeks.

 

or is he talking about the waffle-like dust boot that is smaller and is above, and below, the piston? it covers the moving shaft thing.... don't know tech name, sowwwwy.

-erik

ps- what kind of grease is best to use to lubricate the two "slides" under the two dust boots?

 

all 3 seals (2 flex boots on the caliper slider pins, 1 pistor seal) need to be inplace for a street car.

'Lead'...
use antisieze on the slider pins and bolts.

 

Thanks a lot Willard. I'm in the midst of redoing my brakes as we speak. I was considering powdercoating them blue when I do my turbo piping.... will wheel cleaner or the heat generated from the brakes alter the powder coat? Thanks!
-Erik
"Lead Foot"

 

http://www.swaintech.com/race.html

Calipers $125.00

May last longer than powder coating...

 

The piston boot. It gets eaten up pretty bad under race conditions. As some people have said, it keeps junk away from the piston seal. For a race car, you want to keep you piston seals in good order regardless of what consition the piston boot in is. Mine got chewed up when I swaped pads and didn't push the caliper back in all the way.

Honda doesn't sell a piston rebuild kit, just reman calipers for $175. I found an after market rebuild kit from Beck/Arnley Worldparts. Part #071-7716 for the GSR. They should have them for other Hondas as well. Not sure if the parts are Nissin, but they are made in Japan. The caliper is suprisingly easy to rebuild.

I went to CMP with the new piston boot (and seals) in place thinking I am cool for a while. The heat turned them into a brittle mess in no time. So I was back to messed up piston boots in one weekend. They are still messed up. Just make sure the caliper seal is in good shape with no leaks and you will be fine. Don't worry if the boot is chewed up.

 

Just to add to this, I didnt' feel like trying to rebuild the caliper when I had a seized piston, so I bought an unloaded kit. It came from Carquest a day after I ordered it and evidentally is a remanufactured unit because it has Nissin cast into it. It costs about $85 once you give them back your core. Really not a bad price, but not as cheap as a rebuild kit (or seal for that matter). Just a though.

 

Wow thanks for all the replies guys! Sorry I havent been involved in my own post..went to bed early last night.

Anyway, its NOT the little boot that goes around the 2 sliding caliper pins, its the actual rubber boot that goes around the piston itself. Is this boot there to protect the piston itself from brake dust and dirt so when the piston is pushed back in, crap wont get in the fluid?

Spiff: Your post describes my situation perfectly. The actual seal is it tack, its just the outermost flappy, booty thing ( ) that crumbles. You say leave it? Also, if it were the piston seal, fluid would leak everywhere, right? I have no leaks.





[Modified by siisgood00, 11:40 AM 4/18/2002]

 

Moly grease.

 

Snapped a few pics today.

Pic of the crumbled boot...


Blurry pic of seal still in tact..


The P+ that I toasted that weekend which I think is what caused the rubber to deterioate...

 

That really doesn't look that bad. Don't worry too much about it.

 

Alright, thanks Spiff, you've been helpful.