Rebuilding rear calipers - can’t get boot to seat

[kyngfish]

Totally took apart and rebuilt my rear calipers. The fronts I did a few years ago and it was easy peasy. For the rears - the metal ring inside the boot doesn’t want to seat all the way down. It’s like a Tupperware lid that closes on one side then opens on the other. I have a large socket that I tried to use to get it to seat but the only way it looks like that might work is if I jagr something exactly the size of that ring to press down on all sides evenly. What’s the trick?

[NYNick]

Fingers.

I just did all four of mine. I clamped the caliper in the vice and held one side of the clip down with one hand while smoothing down the clip in a circular pattern with my other. Takes a few tries but works. Having a little brake grease on it helps.

[burgermeister]

I turned a piece of wood to match the ring. Wood is not as as slippery as metal, so it works better as a seating aid. Been a while since I've rebuilt mine, but I recall that task eliciting many curses ...

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Fingers.

I just did all four of mine. I clamped the caliper in the vice and held one side of the clip down with one hand while smoothing down the clip in a circular pattern with my other. Takes a few tries but works. Having a little brake grease on it helps.

Brake grease on the inside of the ring?

[NYNick]

Inside? That ring is as thick as a piece of solder. You can just use brake fluid if you want. All it does is help your fingers slide over the ring as you push it into place.

My gloves had silicone brake glide all over them from coating the pistons, so I didn't have to "add" anything.

[gtc]

There's a couple of tricks you can try.
1. Make a cylindrical tool to press evenly on the boot as you install it (PVC pipe coupler for instance)
2. Bend over some of the barbs before you install the boot.
3. Use 914 front caliper boots
4. Try other brands of boots (Centric or big redd, links in thread below)

More info here:

Rear brake caliper dust boot install

I went through more boots than i care to admit when i rebuilt mine... too much pressure on the boot would cause the retainer to slice right through the boot before the retainer seated on the caliper body.

[trond]

I gave up and got dust boots from Bigg Red. Recommended. They have caliper redress kits including pistons for any caliper I have come across

[kyngfish]

Originally Posted by trond

I gave up and got dust boots from Bigg Red. Recommended. They have caliper redress kits including pistons for any caliper I have come across

This is good advice. I just destroyed another set of boots. The FTE rings just seem like they are a millimeter or so too snug. They’ll go on but you destroy the rubber in the process.

Just looking at the bigg red rings they look a little more forgiving. Ordered a set.