Replacing Brake Caliper Boots

#1

I fought this PITA for a couple hrs last night, before I finally figured out the trick. Here’s how to do it.

http://www.gress.org/Home/Cars/TrackTales/DIY/ReplacingE30-E36BrakeCaliperBoots.htm

#2

Let me know how long yours stays intact.

Mine melts and gets torn after 3-4 track days. I’ve given up on replacing them.

#3

csrow wrote:

[quote]Let me know how long yours stays intact.

Mine melts and gets torn after 3-4 track days. I’ve given up on replacing them.[/quote]

This was actually on my E36. It was a test run to figure out how to do it before I did it on the race car. I got some E36 calipers from the PickNPull, sandblasted them at work and then painted them black with caliper paint.

I agree that the tracking melts the boots very quickly. We blow air on our rotor inlets, but not on our calipers. That being said, my thought was that I should pull apart the E30 brakes annually.

If I paint my E30 calipers, are you guys gonna protest me? It seems to me that if we’re allowed to paint our cars, we ought to be able to paint our calipers. Anyone who accuses another of a performance advantage (cooling) in painting calipers is stretching plausibility for the sheer joy of conflict. Which is exactly how our #2 son behaves and he’s 4yrs old.

#4

Ranger wrote:

Shockingly, this was already debated a long time ago, and yes, deemed illegal.

Personally, I don’t give a crap. If you want to paint your [stock] calipers, go for it. I recommend purple, with heavy metallic flake. I also would suggest chrome dipped rotors to match. And don’t forget to hit the backing plates of the brake pads with a nice day glow yellow “while you’re in there.” And don’t forget to leave the mirror under the car while it’s sitting in the paddock, preferably with one wheel pulled off.

#5

TheRedBaron wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

Shockingly, this was already debated a long time ago, and yes, deemed illegal.

Personally, I don’t give a crap. If you want to paint your [stock] calipers, go for it. I recommend purple, with heavy metallic flake. I also would suggest chrome dipped rotors to match. [/quote]

Chrome rotors. Hmmm.

It’s a shame that it’s never been dark enough for anyone to see the green illum I’ve got wired up under my car.

#6

I saw this on Bimmerforums a few months back. Is this your motivation?

#7

shifter11 wrote:

[quote]I saw this on Bimmerforums a few months back. Is this your motivation?

[/quote]

Dang. How’d that guy get suicide doors to work? It is awfully nice. Although I’m more partial to spinners then spokes. You think my spinner hubcaps can fit over those spoked rims?