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Rebuild or Replace? Caliper Seals are shot

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Old 06-06-2010, 12:00 PM
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Maxx Schlick
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Default Rebuild or Replace? Caliper Seals are shot

What is the best way to go here? Brake Caliper Piston Seals are toast.
Do I rebuild with new seals or is it time to replace the whole calipers?

Old 06-06-2010, 12:25 PM
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WNeal
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Originally Posted by Maxx Schlick
What is the best way to go here? Brake Caliper Piston Seals are toast.
Do I rebuild with new seals or is it time to replace the whole calipers?

I would say that if your pads are wearing evening and you are not experiencing any issues, just rebuild them and install new seals.

Easy to do
Here is a link to a thread about rebuilding them

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...m-caliper.html

While you are at it, put stainless steel pistons in
Old 06-06-2010, 01:00 PM
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John Shiels
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The picture shows the piston boot not the seals. Boots always do that with heat in a few sessions. Have any leaks of brake fluid?
Old 06-06-2010, 02:19 PM
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froggy47
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Most racers leave the piston boot off. The stock ones do not hold up to even one autox session, never mind track & I have not found any upgrade substitute.

Old 06-06-2010, 04:09 PM
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0Randy@DRM
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Check this page out
http://dougrippie.com/?p=425

Randy
Old 06-06-2010, 07:54 PM
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AUTO_X_AL
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Originally Posted by Randy@DRM
Check this page out
http://dougrippie.com/?p=425

Randy


These things make life much easier. Lowers the transmission of heat from the pads to the fluid. We have used those since we converted to GS brakes. Boots are just there to catch on fire so leave them off.

Old 06-06-2010, 07:56 PM
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CHJ In Virginia
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Those are the exterior dirt seals not the piston seals. With track use they always fry and deteriorate quickly. Replacements will just burn up again. If no fluid is leaking, just drive them and forget replacing them. When changing pads before pushing the pistons back in the bores, be sure to use some brake-klene to clean the garbage off the pistons. Cleaning will preserve the piston seals.
Old 06-06-2010, 08:09 PM
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John Shiels
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Originally Posted by Randy@DRM
Check this page out
http://dougrippie.com/?p=425

Randy
Work great!
Old 06-06-2010, 08:43 PM
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Maxx Schlick
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Thanks everyone for the info. I took one apart and will consider replacing the pistons with the SS units. PM sent to Randy at DRM







Old 06-07-2010, 09:50 AM
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2000BSME
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dude, those aren't the seals, those are the dust boots. You can live fine for years without them. The seals are o-rings within the housing.

Don't worry about them unless you just have to mess around with something to be happy. I'm installing a brand new set of calipers right now and I'm leaving the dust boots off altogether. The calipers are so easy to rebuild, and o-rings are so cheap and easy to replace, if the dust abrades them and makes rebuild necessary in a few years, I'll just do that then.
Old 06-07-2010, 10:44 AM
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Maxx Schlick
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Originally Posted by 2000BSME
dude, those aren't the seals, those are the dust boots. You can live fine for years without them. The seals are o-rings within the housing.

Don't worry about them unless you just have to mess around with something to be happy. I'm installing a brand new set of calipers right now and I'm leaving the dust boots off altogether. The calipers are so easy to rebuild, and o-rings are so cheap and easy to replace, if the dust abrades them and makes rebuild necessary in a few years, I'll just do that then.
Got it.
Thanx.
Old 06-07-2010, 03:26 PM
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yakisoba
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When I rebuilt mine, I checked the calipers carefully for spread (wider at the front than at the rear of the unit) and since they were not spread, I rebuilt them using a rebuild kit and Rippie SS pistons. I resigned myself that the dust boots were going to melt, even with good brake ducts. Some racers keep an extra set of calipers on hand, so that if one does go, they have spares, and can keep one set in rebuild and one on the car.
Old 06-07-2010, 03:35 PM
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Maxx Schlick
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Originally Posted by yakisoba
When I rebuilt mine, I checked the calipers carefully for spread (wider at the front than at the rear of the unit) and since they were not spread, I rebuilt them using a rebuild kit and Rippie SS pistons. I resigned myself that the dust boots were going to melt, even with good brake ducts. Some racers keep an extra set of calipers on hand, so that if one does go, they have spares, and can keep one set in rebuild and one on the car.
Where did you get the rebuild kit?

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