Caliper Seal Install on Front '89 Stock Caliper

[Marccus]

I huffed and puffed for three hours and couldn't install a new seal in my front caliper.

I purchased the seal kit and a new piston because I was sick and tired of buying remanufactured calipers that had pistons with dings and seals which did not look new.

Motorcraft states they install new seals and pistons - yeah right.

I couldn't get the seal to install all the way and evenly and I even ruined two trying

Is there a seal installer tool that would install the seal properly? The seal has a very stiff metal ring about 1/4' high which is covered by rubber that must be inserted all the way into a groove.

 

[shoclown]

Ford school we had to do them then do another and another... the easyiest way to do them is 1st make sure you have brake assembly ****, then a block of wood .place the piston in the hole for caliper after inatalling lip seal in caliper use block off wood to prevent pistron from shooting out..now use slight air pressure to cause seal to inflate up and work in around the piston after seal is on piston stop air and slowly rock the piston back and fourth..lots of **** o square cut seal will help it fall into place.

it is hard to discribe but if you used air to blow the piston out it is in reverse you need to inflate the dust cover to a point where it would **** out.

 

[Marccus]

Thanks. I saw the instruction in the manual to blow the piston out with air. I don't have air, but a nitrogen cylinder I use for photography. Unfortunately I didn't have access to that either.

I used a blunt screwdriver inserted through the threaded fitting to pound the old one out. It put a few dings on the bottom of the piston, but it shouldn't have any effect on its performance.

So I'm guessing the following are your instructions, although I'm not sure the steps are in the correct order.

1. Blow the old piston out.
2. Install the seal.
3. Install the piston.
4. Inflate the seal so you can place the end of the seal into the grooved recessed portion of the piston.
5. Rock the piston back and forth and push it into the caliper squarely.


What is brake assembly ****?

Is that the stuff you **** all the rubber hoods boot, etc., a small tube of grey stuff came with the Raybestos QS pads. But nothing came with the seal kits.

Can I use the real "slippery stuff" = Red line moly assembly ****.

Thanks for your help.

I was trying to install the piston with the partially installed seal and assumed when the piston was all the way in that the seal would "fall" into place around the piston grooved channel.

 

[itwonder]

How about a Cardone rebuilt caliper? Have not bought one for my SHO lately but just bought one for my 86 300ZX. Came with new piston, seals, hardware, and workmanship was very good. I'm tough to please and I was impressed.

 

[Marccus]

Well, sounds good.

I've bought several rebuilt calipers (car has 390,000 mi) and I don't think any of them were Cardone. But I've had problems withs the Raybestos, Motorcraft, etc.

The ones I've received have obviously not have new pistons. The face of the piston for the rear caliper looked like it had been through a war - just dinged and dented and areas that were "smooshed"

I'll give them a try.

thanks.