Caliper Piston Problem?

[cklinh]

So I took my front driver's side brake apart again today to try to get rid brake squeal and saw this...







Basically, it looks like the rubber around the piston has torn. Is that a big deal? I'm assuming that has nothing to do with my squeal, am I right?

[System_Crash]

Thats a caliper dust/dirt seal if you get alot of brake dust/and or dirt inside you're caliper it will stick and you could have premature pad wear/ and or ruin the caliper. They do make caliper rebuild kits you could probly find one cheap (they are easy to do) You say that you have a brake squeel. What kind of pads and rotors are you using?
If you are not using ceramic pads I would advise you to do so. They last longer make alot less noise and dust. If youre using semimetallic you could try applying "stop squeel" to the pads and rotors but semi metallic will always have somesort of squeel/skreech every now and then from brake dust build-up

[cklinh]

R1 Concepts Premium Slotted/Drilled Rotors and their Semi-Metallic brake pads.

I'll repost here what my problem is since it was in another thread:

The squeal seems to come back whenever I stop driving the car for a day or so... it tends to go away after about half an hour of driving.

So the question is, is there anything that I could have done wrong that would lead to brake squeal ONLY WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP and WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES LIGHTLY FROM THE COMPLETE STOP?

And it happens only when I start driving the car for the first time in the day (doesn't matter whether it's hot or cold, parked inside or outside). Seems like whatever the problem is, it fixes itself with a bit of driving, but would come back after a bit of rest... the sound is driving me crazy!!!

I re-greased everything today, and will see in a few hours if that has helped things.

[System_Crash]

Oh, OK then you need to apply caliper grease to the caliper slides they are hanging up or could be the dirt/dust inside that seal making it hang up
ALSO beware you HAVE to use "caliper grease" axle grease and white lithium will dry up and actually act like glue as it heats up and cools down

[Down2TheC]

Is that piston still travelling nicely? If so, then you should get a new seal on there pronto before it gets jammed up or you start losing fluid.

If the travel is hampered that may be the root of your squeal issue. Especially if the noise is happening after braking. The piston might not want to return so it's dragging. If during braking then the piston might not be evenly extending.

Either way, your first priority should be to save the caliper by getting a new seal there. Then see where you stand. (imo)

[System_Crash]

Any update on this problem?

[cklinh]

Yeah, been a bit busy, but squealing is still there, although better than before. I'm trying to locate a repair kit to buy, but can't find any that are specific to our cars. Anywhere in particular I should look?

[System_Crash]

Napa should have a kit. IF not, a rebuilt caliper isnt all that much considering all the pads you'll be replacing if not fixed

[cklinh]

Cool, thanks.

I'm actually looking around at powder-coated calipers (NHT Calipers pop right out in searches)... Figure if I'm going through the trouble of rebuilding, what's the additional cost of the powder-coated calipers... not happy with the price point yet though

[SleeperSolara]

Should should be fine for a while.
You should replace that rubber seal cause i keeps out dust, and oil stuff out of the caliper.

[michaels artic frost]

Good luck Chung, keep us posted on the end results.

-M

[cklinh]

Just as an update.

I got really tired of the squealing and brought the car to a couple mechanics.

Consensus was that the hole in the seal had nothing to do with the squealing, and that it was entirely the semi-metallic pads' fault. Both mechanics (different shops) suggested worrying about the seal later (which I will handle myself once I've got some spare time, but it also leaves me some time to contemplate getting the powder-coated calipers).

I'm very sensitive to extra noise, so I went ahead and paid them to change out the (almost new) pads for ceramic ones (Raybestos, I think). I didn't trust myself to go through and do it properly... cause if I did go through and did the installation myself and the squeal was still there, I'd punch myself... HARD... in the head.

The squeal is completely gone; there's slight noise that should go away once it's worn in.

[System_Crash]

You're welcome

[cklinh]

Yeah, forgot to mention it, but thanks to everyone that helped.

Just curious though, if ceramic pads are so much quieter than semi-metallic pads, and they last longer, why are semi-metallic ones used? I didn't see any major price differences between them...

[System_Crash]

There is usually a 5 to 10 $ price difference (or $40 here at the dealership) and parts and service would rather put that extra 5 to 10 $'s in their pocket. A shop has to scrounge every cent from brake specials and the like. Our brake jobs are $189.95
and the service only sees $100 from it (not much after you pay the service writer and then pay the tech) so the dealer ship only makes about $20 on the brake job and if they used the more expensive pads it would be coming out of their pocket OR would have to charge more. (and you're still trying to be competative in pricing)