O.K. Have read a ton of threads on rebuilding. How do you get the pistons back in. May seem simple to you guys but seal around piston is larger than the opening. Tried a small piece of metal wraped around the seal to squeeze it in. No luck. Is there some special tool or technique?

Bob

 

Don't know if there are still any special tools out there available to the public; however, if there are, someone will chime in. I have stainless steel sleeves for both the front and rear calipers that compress the seal as it slides down into the piston bore that I bought years ago from Dr. Vette. You might be able to replicate these sleeves by cutting a soft plastic cup with tapered sides to perform the same function. If so, be sure to lubricate the sides of the sleeve, bore, and seals with brake fluid before inserting the piston assembly.

You can do each piston manually if you prefer. Coat the piston bore and the outside of the rubber seal with brake fluid to ease the installation process. Install the piston spring in the piston bore, center the piston over the spring, and then compress the unit using hand pressure until the seal is touching the caliper. Using either a small blade screwdriver with tape covering its tip or a piece of thin, flat plastic (such as a coffee stirrer), compress one portion of the seal's outer edge towards the piston until you can push that portion of the seal down into the bore by cocking the piston towards that side. Take your time and go around the piston using the same process to get the entire seal inside the bore. Take care not to scratch the bore or tear the seal during this process.

Once the entire seal is completely inside the bore, push the piston down and install the outer seal. Using a socket that matches the outer diameter of the seal, tap the outer seal's steel ring gently into the machined depression to hold the piston assembly in the caliper. Do not crease or bend the outer steel rim when seating the seal or leakage is sure to follow.

Hope this helps!

 

You might also want to buy an extra front and rear rebuild kit so that if you tear a seal or bend a dust seal you can change it without having to stop and make a trip to the store. There are 16 seals to change so the chances of damaging at least one of them are pretty good. I think I wrecked 3 outer seals when I rebuilt my calipers.

In addition, don't rely on a helper to tighten the bolts holding the caliper halves together. Sometimes they forget.



Rick B.

 

Vette Brakes sells seal installation tools pretty cheap. I have had sucess wraping 0.010 S.STL. shim stock around them but agree it is quite a battle, use a hose clamp as a back-up to the shim stock and you should have sucess, then break down and buy the VB tools for the next time.