Rebuild Calipers

[rdweninger]

hello all.    So I rebuilt one caliper last night. But there has to be an easier way.  I read a few posts... and it was like... easy... not a problem.   I was just wondering if anyone knows the trick.  Evidently, I don't.

  The caliper is on the bench.  First, I  removed (unthreaded) the piston with the corny cube tool (couldn't find my Subaru tool).  Removed the circlip and dust boot.  Removed the inner seal.  Cleaned everything.  Lubed the cylinder with brake fluid.  Installed new inner seal.  Lubed cylinder and piston with brake fluid again.

  Now the hard part.  I installed the new dust boot over the small end of the piston (the part facing the brake pads).  Then started the piston to thread into the cylinder.   I screwed it in until the collapsed boot (as it comes out of the package)  nearly touched the caliper base.   So I tried tucking in the bottom of the dust boot (it needs to be inside the cylinder about .25"  and held there with the circlip.   I finally got the lower dust boot in, but it took forever.  Then, installing the circlip to hold the boot in place was another hour of my life that I will never get back.

  I still need to do the other caliper... but only when I store up enough patience for the job.   I have considered installing the lower dust boot and circlip first.  Then maybe try to pull the small end of dust boot over the piston, and begin threading the piston in.   Once the piston is threaded in, then I would 'attach' the upper end of the dust boot securely to the piston lip near the pads.     Sorry for the length... but it's better than... yep, I did it.  It was easy!

  Has anyone did it this way?  Seems like the boot would just pull out of the cylinder when you tried to pull the small end over the large end of the piston.