95 Accord Ex

My rear brake caliper dust boot has a tear in it and needs to be replaced. Honda sells a boot kit. A Honda parts guy told me that I can install the dust boot with the piston in a retracted position. However, the inner edge of the boot seems to be squeezed all around the edge of the piston and the bore wall, and is all wavy looking. In fact, I was not able to get the inner edge of the boot free from between the piston and bore. Not sure this is even in the correct position to begin with.

If it is correct, I dont know how the inner edge of the boot gets placed around the piston if the piston is retracted all the way in ... So, do I have to remove the piston completely to get the inner egde/lip of the boot around the piston, or does it just have to be pushed out far enough to get the boot on ? [a tech for Nissan who works at Pep Boys part time told me that you just dont go and put the boot on like the Honda parts guy said I could. He said the piston needs to come out enough to get the inner lip on. He said it can be quite tedious or tricky to do it, and that he usually lubes the boots up real well with WD-40 or something similar to make the job go easier ... something about the lip of the boot popping out too easy ... tearing ... getting out of positon].

Anyone know for sure how this job is best done with the least amount of problems ... tricks of the trade.

 

You use a blow gun and put the tip in where the bleeder screw or brake hose goes and blow out the piston. After that you'll need a flat head or some sort to remove the piston seal/boot out from the caliper bore. There's a groove that seats the boot inside the bore. I have never rebuild a Honda Caliper before but I'm pretty sure its similar to what I'm explaining here. I've done quite a few rebuilt calipers at school.

 

The Honda rear calipers are turned, to get the piston out or in. If you are just replacing the dust boot, there are different ways.

Once way is turn and remove the entire piston, then replace the dust boot (greased up with the red rubber grease that comes with the Honda seal set) and then insert back the piston (lubed with brake fluid).

Another way is to leave the piston in; but, not fully retracted, and use a small flat-head screw driver to lightly pry the dust boot and pull it out with pliers or something. Then lube up the dust boot with the red rubber grease, and using your fingers and a small flat-head screw driver, push the dust boot in.

There may be ways that others use.

 

Do I need to disassemble the parking brake cable at the caliper, or loosen the bleeder before either of these procedures?

 

Not necessary if you are just replacing the dust boot. Just take your time and lube/grease everything up during install. I wouldn't remove the entire piston if I was replacing only the dust boot while it is on the car though.

If you were rebuilding the caliper, then that is another story.