fortitude

I completed a front brake job. New rotors, pads and caliper kit.
I spent a considerable amount of time installing the new caliper piston boots. I compressed the piston about 90%. Then i installed the rubber boot, ensuring it fit in the piston grove and the caliper grove. The hassle was trying to install the set ring. I started with one of the open ends, placing it in the grove at the base of the boot and worked it around to the other end. My trouble was the ring did not want to ride in the grove all the way around. After considerable time fiddling with it, I was able to get it to seat properly.
Is there a trick to this? Piston extended 50%? Piston fully seated? Set the boot first, then install the piston? Thoughts?

808mcv20l

I rebuilt my rear calipers on my 99 Camry, this is how I got everything to go in.

With everything disassembled, I put the new square cut seal on the cleaned piston.

I installed the boot on the caliper with the piston out, making sure it seated in properly in the groove, I then installed the retaining ring over the boot in the groove, made sure to check it was securely in place and boot did not shift while installing the ring.

Next is the hardest part, getting the boot around the piston, I used a combination of small flat head screw drivers to get the boot around the piston while pushing it back into the caliper. Once I got it to sit in correctly I used a brake pad spreader tool to finish seating the piston back into the caliper slowly to make sure the boot sat back in the top groove.

It just takes a lot of patience finagling with it to get it all to seat right.

Oro

I have not installed piston boots on this car, BUT:

This is a standard way to install square-cut o-rings and such. Use a very thin piece of flexible plastic lubed with the appropriate fluid (brake fluid in your case). Transtec cals it a "Lip Wizard." This one is mine,



Since this photo, I have cut small pieces out of the center to use on smaller jobs besides transmission clutch drums. You can likely find similar material at any craft store very cheaply; way better than screwdrivers or other tools on applications like this.

Here is a demo video on a clutch drum piston from Transtec:

http://www.transtec.com/lipwizard.php

808mcv20l

I might just try using something similar on my next caliper rebuild, that would help to get the boot to fit over the piston when reinstalling with minimal damage to the piston or boot.

fortitude

Simple and effective - I watched the video

surgeon0

I rebuilt 2 front calipers. Piston boot went on the piston very easy after applying brake fluid. I did not use the pink grease that came with the kit. That lip wizard might come handy after installing the retainer clip at the end. It might save some time and can avoid using the pocket screw driver.