Caliper Dust Seals/Boots

[Bevan-L]

What disadvantages are there to running calipers without dust seals or boots?
And are there any advantages?

[Tim Falce]

It's less to melt when the brakes get hot.

[Bevan-L]

Okay, so thats good then, but what about pistons siezing because of dirt or whatever? I have heard people say the pistons will sieze if left for a while?

Is this true? how would you go about cleaning em, and how often?

[Al Weyman]

Any serious comp caliper I have seen including the Wilwood offerings does not have dust shields, I used to use a modified Jag caliper that had these and they burnt off about the first few times I used them. Its not like a road car, it will only do a very few miles before you clean and inspect them so I dont think the dust boots are required. It would be prudent to inspect them every race and at least just blow the dust off.

[Tim Falce]

I've never had a piston seize due to dirt and that's even using Jaguar inboard brakes on the rear. Any piston will seize if left for a while in the wrong conditions.

[StephenRae]

If the car is to be unused for any length of time it is worth pushing the pistons all the way in to protect them from the damp.

[Goran Malmberg]

Heat may become serve. On this ISR piston the O-ring located on the piston in order to get away from heat. Piston also has holes close to pads for less heat transfer. Drawback, long distance to collect dirt.
Lets see if this image show up...
http://www.hemipanter.se/Piston.jpg
I have been using theese sort of caliper since 1980 on my Pantera, on both street and track with no problems. Cleaning every winter period has worked fine if clean roads and weather. Or say 5000 km under the same condition.
Goran