[jared57]

What do you think? Should I replace these boots? Is it as easy as pulling the old ones out and snapping a new one into its place? What are the consequences of not replacing the boots?

I now have titanium pad shims and brake ducts installed to help prevent this in the future.

[haroman311]

wow that looks bad, ive never heard anybody replace one yet, so guess u should contact brembo?

[mxpop]

miles?

[Rac10000]

Aren't those rubber things just dust shields/guards? I don't think they're the piston seals.

[wdb]

Looks like you cooked 'em pretty good. If you're thinking about replacing those seals you should just pony up and rebuild the entire caliper.

[Flycaster]

I concur - you already have them apart so just rebuild them and be done with it.

[mxpop]

^ agreed.

how many miles/years and what type of use?

[jared57]

Has anyone here rebuilt a set of Brembo calipers? It does not look too difficult. Only a few parts... but I dont have an air compressor.

This should be covered on my warranty. I will call Subaru this week and find out. Anyway, if I end up doing it myself, does anyone have any tips?




And here is a link to the manual that outlines the replacement of the piston seals and the boot.


I installed some Titanium shims and also a RCE Kool Brake Kit over the weekend. (Install pics here.) Hope it helps!

[jared57]

I have about 12,500 miles on my 2005 STI... I have plenty of Malibu canyon runs on them. Two days at Buttonwillow, 5 at Streets, 2 at Big Willow and 1 at Horse Thief Mile.

I run Motul Fluid. Stock pads for the street (and canyons). I had Pagid Blues (track only) but wore them out in 5 track days. Now I have the PF01's which are excellent and are wearing better. I installed the Titanium shims at the same time as the PF01's. I have stock rotors.

I just installed the RCE KBK on Saturday. I am running in the Exhibition Class with the POC next weekend at Streets. I have caliper temp strips installed. I will see how hot they get with the KBK installed. Without the KBK on a 78º day, my calipers were up to 450º two weeks ago at Streets.

[jared57]

an answer to Rac10000... yes, they are just dust boots to keep crap from getting down around the piston and piston seal.

[mxpop]

It's about as straight-forward as any mechanical job can be.

Make sure you look at the old seals as you remove them, sometimes they are directional and may need to have the new ones installed a certain way.

Dont use any cleaner/solvent that will harm the finish of the calipers.

Completely remove all parts (bleeders etc) for a complete job.

Use seal grease or similar when reinstalling seals/pistons, it will make it so much easier.

Use a mityvac or similar to start the bleeding process. A completely void system may be hard to get pressure up to start with.


Let your (or mine) ex wife do the first test drive.....

[houdni]

tip #1... watch your fingers if your blowing it out with compressed air
tip #2... if its steel pistons....you can reuse them...if they are the non metal type...better to replace them
tip #3... use a block of wood when blowing the pistons out to prevent them from damaging the caliper / pistons if your reusing them
tip #4... after removing one...take off the piston seal...reinsert them into the caliper...use a plier to hold it in place and use the air compressor to blow out the second piston

certain dust boots can be tricky to install...especially those with a double lip...one lip holding onto the piston...and the other lip inside the caliper.

[Undepelo]

Titanium shims do not make a difference at all. Heat will transfer through it slightly slower than through steel but not in the range of minutes but seconds. Do not waste your $.