97 Front Caliper Dust Boot replacement.

[Hoags]

Hi All,

I usually am over on the Grand Am Forum, but I now have an issue with my daughter's 97. I just replaced the front pads and found that the calpier dust boot is torn on the driver side. I really don't want to rebuild the caliper if I don't have too. In looking over the Haynes manual it looks like it might be able to be done with out removing the piston but being that I have never done this before I am not sure. I would greatly appreciate ant input that I can get in regard to this. Thanks in advance.

Dan

[Davescort97]

Sorry to say, but you must remove the piston from the caliper in order to get the dust boots lip seated in the grooves. Since this is going to open up the sealed brake fluid circuit anyway, there's no advantage to trying to do it with the caliper on the car.

The easiest way to remove the caliper piston is to use compressed air. If you don't have compressed air you could take the caliper to a brake shop that rebuilds calipers and they could blow the piston out. If you don't want to go that route you could have an assistant slowly....apply pressure to the brake and move the piston out about half way. The best way to do this would be to put a board wide enough in the caliper to keep the piston in at least half way under pressure without fear that it would pop all the way out....which would be messy. Then with your hands work the piston all the way out on the bench. Since you are removing the piston you might as well put new seals in at the same time.

[12Ounce]

I have recently replaced the rubber parts on a '97 front brake caliper. Pretty easy. I remove the pads but keep the caliper hooked up with the hose. Just pump the brake pedal and the piston comes out.

The rubber parts are very available, but the pistons are getting harder to find. There is little skill required to reassemble the caliper. Just use plenty of lubricant and don't get rushed.

[Hoags]

Thanks for the prompt replies, I kind of figured that the piston was going to have to be removed to make sure that the boot is seated properly. I will go a head with the caliper overhaul. I contacted a buddy who has done this quite often on his own vehicles (not Ford products) but he does have experience so I'll take it to his garage and he and I will rebuild both calipers. Thanks again for the input.

Dan

[Hoags]

Hey Guys,

I just finished replacing the dust boot for the caliper, we did pop the piston out of the caliper and replaced the inner seal. But when it came to the dust boot the piston didn't have to be removed, if the piston is out of the caliper far enough it can be changed with out popping the piston. As long as tthe pistion is out beyond the channel that circles the piston you can seat the boot and then ancor the outside of the boot with the lock ring clip to the caliper. It was a good thing to remove and replace the inner seal so I would do it again. but if it were a situation where the caliper was in good operating condition I would replace the bad boot only.

I appreciate the input that you guys gave, like I said it was a good thing to replace the seal I now know that the caliper is in good operating condition.

Dan

[12Ounce]

Glad you had good luck with the task!

Agreed, ... a person wouldn't have to replace the piston o-ring seal ... but what a missed opportunity to get the piston seal back to "new" and to clean out sediment that may have settled inside the caliper cylinder. I would always recommend doing the whole job.