Caliper Dust Boot Install

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mopowers

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Does anyone have any helpful tips for installing the soft dust boots in the 73+ calipers?

I swear these things are an IQ test, and I'm failing. LOL
 
The trick is to install the boot on the piston with the lip hanging off the bottom of the piston. Now the tricky part is to gently place the piston in the opening where it goes while working the lip into the groove all the way around. When your sure you’ve got it in the groove, push down on the piston making sure it is squared in the hole. At this point I usually use the handle of a hammer to push the piston on down. It is a PIA till you’ve done it a few times.
 
The trick is to install the boot on the piston with the lip hanging off the bottom of the piston. Now the tricky part is to gently place the piston in the opening where it goes while working the lip into the groove all the way around. When your sure you’ve got it in the groove, push down on the piston making sure it is squared in the hole. At this point I usually use the handle of a hammer to push the piston on down. It is a PIA till you’ve done it a few times.

Thanks Roy. Every time I do it, it's like learning all over again. After the second one, I'm an expert again, until next time anyway. LOL
 
An old mechanic that I used to know would put the boot into the caliper, then lined up the piston like he was going to push it into the boot. He then applied a little compressed air between the piston and the boot opening to balloon open the boot just a tad, and the piston would push right in.

I was just a kid when I saw him do it. Never actually tried it myself.......But this fellow was an awesome respected mechanic. Hoping to try it when I re-build my KH units.
 
An old mechanic that I used to know would put the boot into the caliper, then lined up the piston like he was going to push it into the boot. He then applied a little compressed air between the piston and the boot opening to balloon open the boot just a tad, and the piston would push right in.

I was just a kid when I saw him do it. Never actually tried it myself.......But this fellow was an awesome respected mechanic. Hoping to try it when I re-build my KH units.

This is the trick that my dad taught me over 20 years ago and while I don’t make it look as easy as he does, I’ve managed to do it successfully several times through the years.
 
An old mechanic that I used to know would put the boot into the caliper, then lined up the piston like he was going to push it into the boot. He then applied a little compressed air between the piston and the boot opening to balloon open the boot just a tad, and the piston would push right in.

I was just a kid when I saw him do it. Never actually tried it myself.......But this fellow was an awesome respected mechanic. Hoping to try it when I re-build my KH units.

That's actually how the FSM describes it. I've never had great luck doing it that way.
 
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