Worth replacing Calipers?

[jayro]

I am running the '96 upgrade on my SHO. While tracking it the brakes got hot enough that I melted the rubber boot that goes around the caliper piston on both sides up front. The calipers still work fine, but I was wondering if there is any negative effect to running it with melted boots? I'm just thinking that if I replace them, it will just happen agian at my next track event. Thanks

 

[Irish Pride]

The boot keeps dirt and debris away from the piston allowing it to function properly. Running it like that will eventually corrode the piston causing it to fail and the caliper to lock up. You can get replacement boots at rockauto for like $2-3 dollars. No need to replace the whole caliper, just the boot. If your brakes are getting that hot then maybe you should look into different pads to use for your track days.

 

[93markVIII]

yeah, definitely replace those boots.
and that's pretty darn hot. +1 on a new pad set up / bigger brakes.

 

[jayro]

Thanks, I didn't know you could get them seperately.

Beside the boots melting the brakes worked great. I had no fading issues,no warped/cracked rotors and I could out brake most vehicles. Alot of credit goes to the Carbotech pads I was running. I would definitly recommend them for anyone.

 

[kevinspann]

You'll probably end up melting the boots on cobra calipers too.

Yeah, definitely replace the boots, you don't want anything getting inside the caliper.

 

[Ishodu]

I melted off the boots on the cobra calipers a few years ago, never really worried about it. I don't drive the car in the winter though.

 

[jayro]

I melted off the boots on the cobra calipers a few years ago, never really worried about it. I don't drive the car in the winter though.

So its a common occurance then?

I also melted one of the plastic caps for my valve stem. It wasnt gooyie or anything, just looked like a platic blob. It would still thread on and off though.

 

[Shoaz]

If you track the car very often you'll either a) continually replace those boots, or b) realize that they don't do much and just leave it be.

Many track cars don't have them or just have crispy remnants of them because they just burn off anyway.

If the car is mostly a street car or you drive it in winter a lot you can either replace them after track events or just keep a close eye on them.

You don't really need to worry until things get a little worse than this (look closely at the piston on the left):



The boots had been burned up long before this happened.

 

[SHOdded]

Are phenolic pistons any more/less durable than the stainless steel ones in this case?

 

[jayro]

If the car is mostly a street car or you drive it in winter a lot you can either replace them after track events or just keep a close eye on them.

You don't really need to worry until things get a little worse than this (look closely at the piston on the left):



The boots had been burned up long before this happened.

Mine doesn't get driven in the winter and not much on the street.

Hmmm, piston on the left looks a little funny. So is it froze up and bent?

 

[Shoaz]

Hmmm, piston on the left looks a little funny. So is it froze up and bent?

The trailing edge of the pad was down to the metal and melted the backing plate and the piston. Couldn't separate the backing plate from the piston, so I turned the whole thing in as a core like that. The other side was the same way.

The pads had about 1/2 material on them at the beginning of that session and I was trying to stay up with the guy that was beating me under braking. That's how I learned that R-4 pads aren't adequate for serious competition.

Some ventilation, either ducting or at least taking the fog lamps out, will help keep the caliper temps down and reduce the tendency to burn up the boots. I don't know of any way to prevent them from deteriorating on a track car that sees serious use, though.

 

[jayro]

Some ventilation, either ducting or at least taking the fog lamps out, will help keep the caliper temps down and reduce the tendency to burn up the boots. I don't know of any way to prevent them from deteriorating on a track car that sees serious use, though.

I had seen the brake duct set up that you posted and was thinking of adding it to my car. I think saving the boots is a lost cause, but fade and fluid boiling could be greatly reduced with ducts. I spoke with a number of longtime track/wheel to wheel guys and they all said cooling ducts were essential.

My inside pads were slightly bent at the edge just like the ones in your pic. I am assuming that this is because of repeated hard braking and the high heat.