Dust Boot on Caliper

[Bottoz]

I'm getting mixed opinions on other forums, so I figured I'd ask. As I was putting on new pads, I noticed that I've burned away my dust boots on either side of my Calipers. Here's a pic:

http://www.coracing.com/forum/uploads/post-1675-1153332980.jpg

Some say that I MUST get a rebuild kit (already on order, but easily cancelable) to protect the piston. Others say that the rubber will just burn right away again after a few laps, so its not needed.

Thoughts?

[Mikecolosprings]

I'm not going to tell you that you don't need it but, If it's really rubber then it's probably just going to melt.
It might be heat proof. So talk to someone who "really" knows.
But if it's really important for the "BRAKES" then I hope ford didn't use rubber. You could probably talk to the Steeda or Maximum Motorsports tech guys.

[CMC#35]

get it fixed, or your brakes will never work right.

-chris

[raybob9289]

Dude,
They look like PBR's. I ran PBR's on my 91 Z28 in Asedan and had to replace or rebuild the Calipers about twice every season. They will eventually need replaced sooner than rebuilt because they start to warp from the heat.
If I was you I would rebuild them now and get a spare set for the trailer....

just my .02 cents

[Bottoz]

Dude,
They look like PBR's. I ran PBR's on my 91 Z28 in Asedan and had to replace or rebuild the Calipers about twice every season. They will eventually need replaced sooner than rebuilt because they start to warp from the heat.
If I was you I would rebuild them now and get a spare set for the trailer....

just my .02 cents

Indeed they are PBR's. 2 Rebuild kits are on the way as of last night. :)

[kaazsilvias13]

the dust boots on the calipers are for to keep the dust, dirt out of the caliper pistons and the boot also returns the pistons after u let off the brakes so they are important so i would replace the boots. which sucks cause they are a tight fit between the caliper and the pistions

[Weston]

I can't speak for Mustangs specifically, but I would expect that it's sealed the same way as most calipers, where there are basically two seals... There's the actual caliper piston seal, which is just a rubber ring around the outside of the piston that holds the brake fluid in as the piston moves. And then there's the dust boot, which is meant to keep dust/dirt/rocks/etc away from the piston seal, and sometimes also serve as a backup seal. The dust boot is exposed to a lot more heat and it is not uncommon for it to die on the race track, while the piston seal remains in good shape. However, that piston seal is now unprotected and will degrade faster with no warning, so you may very suddenly lose all brake pressure and have an unpleasant high-speed adventure off of the track.

In my experience, the piston seal is likely to still be ok, but I'd rather pay $50 for a rebuild kit to make sure, and to protect it, than risk a much more expensive and painful experience. Those dust boots are real "fun" to install... but I have found that using paper clips to hold parts of it in place helps.

[95sprtcpedrvr]

the boot also returns the pistons after u let off the brakes
The boot is designed to give into pressure not exert pressure, so only the master cylinder returns the pistons. Which would leave it useless as a seal for the piston. As stated by Weston its soul purpose is to refuse entry of foreign matter. As long as it's there.

[MHISSTC]

Those look like the calipers on my Cobra.

Have the rubber boots on the ball joints of your tie rod ends burned open like mine have? In my mind, a lack of those bothers me more than a lack of dust boots on the caliper pistons.

I've been told you don't need a dust boot on the caliper piston, which would be the case anyway when they burn away, but I don't like the idea of not having one.

I buy my rebuild kits from NAPA. They are pretty darn cheap. I am in the habit of rebuilding the calipers once per year, but my Cobra is not a daily driver either. Extra kits are a good idea. I've been known to tear a dust boot when intalling it.

If your car is a daily driver, maybe two sets of calipers would be the ticket...one set for weekend track events with burned away dust boots that gets rebuilt once or twice per year...one set for daily driver duty to keep out all the water and dust encountered on the streets.

[Bottoz]

It's not my daily, more like every other weekend (or every Road Race/AutoX event I can find). I did get the Seals and Dust Boot from NAPA, part # UP2004 ~$7. Pretty easy install, and while doing it I added some air ducts. The tie rod rubber is fine. Alignment is complete, pads and rotors installed, brakes blead. I'm ready :)