O-ring Caliper rebuild question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
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O-ring Caliper rebuild question
I got my o-ring stuff in last night from VB&P. Looks like some quality chit. 
A question on the dust boots though. Are you guys glueing them in with RTV or do you just rely on the interference fit? I didn't see any goop on the stock boots when I pulled them off.
A question on the dust boots though. Are you guys glueing them in with RTV or do you just rely on the interference fit? I didn't see any goop on the stock boots when I pulled them off.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Bronx New York
I rebuilt my calipers last year and didn't use any RTV on the dust seals. I don't believe there is any need to use anything on them.
Just check you have the correct size bolts for the caliper halfs. They accidently sent a couple of bolts that were to long and had to wait a few days to get the correct size sent. Other than that it was easy. VBP has good parts and great customer service
Just check you have the correct size bolts for the caliper halfs. They accidently sent a couple of bolts that were to long and had to wait a few days to get the correct size sent. Other than that it was easy. VBP has good parts and great customer service
Last edited by RaymondD; May 6, 2009 at 01:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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Yeah, it did. They feel very weak ... well, no stronger than the stock ones I pulled out, so I kind of doubt they could move that o-ring piston through the bore anyway. Consensus seems to be to leave them out, so out they will stay.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
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I put the dust boot in without any glue.
I have made quite many calipers and to be honest the dust-boots are the trickiest ones to get fitted properly.
My best advise is to file the edge on the metal of the boot and this always make the mounting far easier and your chance of ruin one of the boots a little less certain to happen.
Good luck!.
DO NOT FORGET TO USE PROPER GREASE FOR THIS !, there is a special grease only for brake-caliper-rubber that do not ruin the rubber itself !.
I have made quite many calipers and to be honest the dust-boots are the trickiest ones to get fitted properly.
My best advise is to file the edge on the metal of the boot and this always make the mounting far easier and your chance of ruin one of the boots a little less certain to happen.
Good luck!.
DO NOT FORGET TO USE PROPER GREASE FOR THIS !, there is a special grease only for brake-caliper-rubber that do not ruin the rubber itself !.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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You grease the piston? I thought the brake fluid itself was responsible for lubricating the piston & o-ring.
Last edited by wcsinx; May 6, 2009 at 05:22 PM.
Instructor
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YES i defenitely Grease ALL gasket and O-rings that are in the Moving area. It should be a special grease for brake-fluid. If you use plain oil the O-rings and gaskets will swallow up, but if you only have brake-fluid , i´ll guess you could use that as well, i think it´s easier to use grease and feels like alot more solid workmanship...
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 120
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From: Bronx New York
The kit comes with a grease that looks like white lithium but it could be something else. It helps to prevent damaging the o-ring when installing the piston.
I did use the springs but that was before I saw the postings here saying to leave them out. I'll probably leave them out next time around, hopefully in 20 years
.
I did use the springs but that was before I saw the postings here saying to leave them out. I'll probably leave them out next time around, hopefully in 20 years
.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
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So why are they in the rebuild package? Who knows. I do know that they didn't always put them in there. As I heard someone else postulate on this forum, VB&P probably just started including springs so they wouldn't have to field calls about them "missing" anymore. I do believe it's both harmless (and pointless) to install them in o-ring pistons.
