It there a Front Caliper rebuild DIY available?

[Bob_54]

Today I removed my front brake pads and rotors getting ready to install new ones for SOS (due sometime soon I hope??) and I discoved a problem with one of my front calipers. One of the piston boots of the right front caliper has a bad tear (hole) in it. :frown: The strange thing is though I was not leaking any brake fluid.

The question I have is do I need to buy a new right front caliper (approx. $563 from Delray Acura) or is it possible/advisable to rebuild the caliper replacing the two pistons, two piston boots, and two piston seals (approx. $161 from Delray Acura)?

If it is possible/advisable to rebuild the front caliper does anyone have DIY instructions available?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[53heloFE]

The boots are just dust boots, that's why there is not fluid leaking from them. It is simple and easy to rebuilt the caliper. All you have to do is push the piston out, put the new seal on, get it started in the caliper and put the dust boot on then push it all the way in. You can disconnect the brake line from the caliper and use compressed air to force the old piston out, just be careful not to turn the thing into a missle. Or you can leave the line connected to start with and with the caliper off push the brake pedal in until it comes almost all the way out then you can pull the piston out with a pair of pliers. If you have new pistons you don't even have to be very careful about not damaging the old ones pulling them out. Make sure to lubricate the new seal with some brake fluid prior to installing the piston, and just know it is still going to be tight pushing it in. There are lots of techniques you can use to get the new piston and seal into the caliper, just be careful not to damage the new seal or it will leak.

 

[Ojas]

Bob,

The reason you were not leaking any brake fluid is because the job of the boot is to keep dust and moisture out of the piston and seal. It's the seal that's holding the brake fluid in.

Unless something else is wrong with your calipers, I recommend just rebuilding them. Also, unless something is wrong with your pistons, it should not be necessary to replace them. A caliper seal kit that includes boot, seal, etc. is available from Acura. It's around $40.

DanO started a DIY. It's also covered in the Service Manual.

Good luck.

 

[Bob_54]

53heloFE ,Thank you. I am glad to hear they are just dust boots. It sounds like they are pretty easy to rebuild so I am going to give it a try. Heck, I might as well rebuild both my front calipers while I have everythig disassembled.

Thanks again,
Bob