Hello,
The rear-left caliper boot on my 06 Saab 9-3 2.0T has a big tear and I would really appreciate some feedback on the fluids I'm using for its repair.
First, my situation is as follows. I looked up the numbering on the boot and as far as I can tell the boot doesn't go into the bore so I should be able to replace it without caliper disassembly and rebuilding. An example (not mine) image of what my caliper looks like w/o the boot:
The outer circumference of the 'lip' that goes around the piston is where it contacts the boot. When I gently pried up the boot there was a white and yellow hardened residue along this area which looked like an adhesive that was helping stick the bottom of the boot to the metal lip. I slowly scraped off this gunk from the lip w/ a piece of plastic and wiped the area w/ brake cleaner sprayed on a non-lint paper towel. I cleaned the grease off the visible walls of the piston (it was contaminated with dirt) and used a strip of paper to kick out the tiny grains of dirt which were lodged at the really tiny gap between the piston and the bore. I ordered a Dorman D670131 boot repair kit as a replacement which is an OE compatible part. The rubber material is listed as EPDM.
Now to my questions. To replace the contaminated grease I cleaned off the piston, I was thinking of using Raybestos BAF12 hydraulic brake assembly fluid (randomly inherited the bottle). Is this ok to use? The bottle says it's a polyalkylene fluid which I'm assuming means it's a polyalkylene glycol? If so I think this should be compatible with EPDM and the DOT 4 in my brake system. I'd prefer not to use DOT 4 since I'd have to buy a new bottle of it just for this and I know it absorbs water over time.
For my second question, what is an appropriate replacement adhesive to use for the new EPDM boot? I can't find any of the 3M scotch-weld stuff locally or on amazon (CA). Is it even necessary given the potential for contamination? The entire caliper is very light so I'm assuming the bonding surface is aluminum and not some kind of chrome plated or stainless steel.
Thanks
The rear-left caliper boot on my 06 Saab 9-3 2.0T has a big tear and I would really appreciate some feedback on the fluids I'm using for its repair.
First, my situation is as follows. I looked up the numbering on the boot and as far as I can tell the boot doesn't go into the bore so I should be able to replace it without caliper disassembly and rebuilding. An example (not mine) image of what my caliper looks like w/o the boot:
The outer circumference of the 'lip' that goes around the piston is where it contacts the boot. When I gently pried up the boot there was a white and yellow hardened residue along this area which looked like an adhesive that was helping stick the bottom of the boot to the metal lip. I slowly scraped off this gunk from the lip w/ a piece of plastic and wiped the area w/ brake cleaner sprayed on a non-lint paper towel. I cleaned the grease off the visible walls of the piston (it was contaminated with dirt) and used a strip of paper to kick out the tiny grains of dirt which were lodged at the really tiny gap between the piston and the bore. I ordered a Dorman D670131 boot repair kit as a replacement which is an OE compatible part. The rubber material is listed as EPDM.
Now to my questions. To replace the contaminated grease I cleaned off the piston, I was thinking of using Raybestos BAF12 hydraulic brake assembly fluid (randomly inherited the bottle). Is this ok to use? The bottle says it's a polyalkylene fluid which I'm assuming means it's a polyalkylene glycol? If so I think this should be compatible with EPDM and the DOT 4 in my brake system. I'd prefer not to use DOT 4 since I'd have to buy a new bottle of it just for this and I know it absorbs water over time.
For my second question, what is an appropriate replacement adhesive to use for the new EPDM boot? I can't find any of the 3M scotch-weld stuff locally or on amazon (CA). Is it even necessary given the potential for contamination? The entire caliper is very light so I'm assuming the bonding surface is aluminum and not some kind of chrome plated or stainless steel.
Thanks