Do you NEED those brake pin bushings? Please help

[xBa380]

Hey Guys,

As some of you may know, I have been working on my brakes the past week. Had hassles with sliding pins seized up, and now my rear ones already got really stiff due to the grease.

Now I got some Sil-Glyde or whatever, and I relubbed the pins but now anytime the pin compresses to mount the caliper, the dust boot pops out of the seal, over and over. They are brand new dust boots. If I remove the bushings on the pin (the little rubber o rings at the end of the pin) they don't do this (probably because no air is being trapped in there.)

Can I just NOT install these? What is their purpose anyway? Vibration? Noise?

They are a big PITA right now for me. I just want to be done with these dang brakes but something so simple as mounting the caliper is driving me off the end, all because the dust boot pops off again and again no matter what I try to do to avoid it. The rubber gasket bushing is just causing too much air to be trapped.

Help please!

 

[jsnyder49090]

You have to clean the bores before you put them in they make a wire brush like a small cyl hone to do the job. Until you do this they are going to fight you all the way and try to push out and everything else a small wire brush or scotchbrite may work as well.

 

[xBa380]

And another note, the bushings on my pins are only about 1/4" long, if that at the end of the pin. Without them, the pin is also MUCH easier to move in and out.

 

[bluestream]

Sounds like you have too much grease on the pins and air is being trapped inside the bore.

 

[xBa380]

I tried with light grease and the same thing happens, over and over again. As soon as I remove the rubber gasket, it works perfectly fine, does not pop out the boot, moves more freely then with the ribber pieces, etc... I don't exactly see what the rubber gaskets are for, if only just noise reduction or something I can care less. They operate so much better without them.

I made sure to clean the seating part very well before hand too to make sure a good seal, but that does not prevent it from poping out. Nothing I have tried keeps the dust boot on when I go to mount the caliper.

 

[The_Jeff]

Poke down those blind holes with a drill bit... not on a drill of course. See what if anything you can scrape out.

You can also spray down there with brake cleaner in case it's old grease.

 

[Tegger]

Originally Posted By: xBa380
I relubbed the pins but now anytime the pin compresses to mount the caliper, the dust boot pops out of the seal, over and over.

What happens if you "compress" the pins by hand before you put the caliper on?

You'd pinch the boots while you push the pins in; you're trying to "burp" the boots to let out excess air.

 

[xBa380]

Well I got everything back together after a few hours. I think my downfall was having some lube in the seat area of the dust boot (inside the caliper) so it was popping out easily. I only put it there because the toyota instructions said so.

So I cleaned everything out, wire brushed, etc... Made sure it was dry as could be and put the boot in dry. Then lubed the pin and worked that in and such. I had one pop a few times, but eventually got the air pressure to "burp" and it seemed to sit fine. Pins move pretty well now and the dust boots didn't pop when compressed. So I hope all is well now and wont pop out after driving a few times.

Good thing I swapped the grease now though, they were a PITA to get out already after a few days. They spun just fine, but had barley any axial movement (in relation to the cylinder pin bore). Had to pry them out. Replaced with Sil-Glyde and hope no more swelling issues. For those wondering, I used the Permatex Purple Ceramic Lube before. Did not like the rubber gasket...

Tegger, if I compressed the pins by hand before the caliper, once I compressed and let go, the dust boot would pop due to suction of air. I tried to "burp" the boots many times, but for whatever reason I still would not get it to seat correctly.

Bluestream, I think you were right... As well as me having some grease on the dust boot where it seats.

I appreciate the help guys! I think I *should* be good to go now, hopefully.

 

[mechtech2]

Isn't is something when an easy job gets 10 times more complicated?
Good work.
And remember, some cars need brake lube maintenance, and some can go 10 years without any problems.