Four weeks ago, when I was preparing my car to take to the track, I upgraded the OEM brake pads with Cobalts. When changing the right front pads, I noticed that the piston boot was a little deteriorated. Should have changed it then!

Anyway, I took the car to the track last weekend, and now I'm going back to the OEM pads. In the process of swapping them back in, I noticed that the piston boot has a gash about 1/2" long and about 1/8" wide.

So, my question is this-- Should I simply replace the piston boot, or do I need to overhaul the whole assembly?

Assuming that it happened at the track, it was a 400 mile drive back home.

Is this the kind of thing where I can look for some signs after I get the boot off?

Also, the car is under warranty. Should I put it all back together, drive it to the Honda dealer, and ask them to deal with it?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!

 

I've had one of the piston boots torn all year long. The other one is developing a tear. No effect that I have noticed.

I'll probably replace the boots once I put brake ducting in over the winter. I think it is the heat that is weakening them.

 

The heat from heavy braking really affects the boots quickly, but without any noticeable affect most of the time. I ignore the poor condition of mine.

 

I'd assume that a torn boot would result in water & crud getting into the space between the piston and the bore. That would make it more likely to score the bore or corrode the piston.

If rebuilt calipers are cheap, then you don't really care if they get corroded or scored. If they are expensive, then you care.

Jeep -> $35/caliper -> don't care.
Porsche -> $600/caliper -> do care.

S2000?

--Mike

 

Hmm, piston boot or overhaul? Hehe, get the overhaul kit, and you'll get the new seal/boot and maybe 4 or 5 other pieces. Not many things to overhaul a brake caliper.

 

I guess I was thinking more about the effort than the cost of the parts. Also, I've never done a disc brake overhaul before.

 

My left front was really ripped apart. The caliper started to drag or not release. I solved the problem by changing my calipers out to a set of OEMs I got used for cheap. I'll eventually rebuild the calipers I have.

Just to give you a little heads up on what COULD happen.