# Cracked Caliber Boot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** cx-5, mazda\ **Created:** [February 23, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403 "2021-02-23T22:36:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jessmac80](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jessmac80/32/24115_2.png) [@jessmac80](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jessmac80)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/1 "2021-02-23T22:36:09Z")
Hey all! New here, but just looking for some guidance on a cracked silicone caliber boot? Should I be concerned and fix it immediately? The guy who just did my brakes told me about it. But I’ve never even heard of it so I’ll googling 🙂 Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/2 "2021-02-23T22:38:39Z")
Sorry was thinking axle boot. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/3 "2021-02-23T22:39:07Z")
> [@jessmac80](#): > > But I’ve never even heard of it so I’ll googling If you’re going to Google it, I suggest that you use the term “ **caliper** boot”. If you Google “caliber”, you’re likely to wind up on a firearms website. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/4 "2021-02-23T22:40:12Z")
The caliper piston dust boot is torn. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/b/7b0bd15bac8122b068b34cd9f4b370f1ec92eeab.jpeg) It should be replaced. Dirt will get behind the boot and could damage the piston seal. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/5 "2021-02-23T22:41:04Z")
Nah, I bet it’s caliper guide pin boot. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/6 "2021-02-23T22:46:39Z")
Time to find out if it’s the caliper piston boot or the caliper guide pin boot. Call the mechanic and ask. I’d get either fixed, but I’d rush to get the piston boot fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/7 "2021-02-23T22:51:04Z")
And the caliper boot seal isn’t made from silicone unless it is a specialty aftermarket item. Caliper boots are made from EPDM rubber, not silicone. Brake fluid melts silicone rubber. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/8 "2021-02-24T13:59:11Z")
I am surprised your brake guy did not immediately replace this…assuming he is talking about the brake caliper. The part is cheap, and he already has everything apart. The boot is there for a purpose, regardless of which boot we are talking about. Buy, yes, one is more critical than the other. It sounds like your mechanic just didn’t want to wait for a parts order. ---
**Author:** ![COROLLAGUY1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/corollaguy1/32/7575_2.png) [@COROLLAGUY1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/COROLLAGUY1)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/9 "2021-02-24T16:22:58Z")
Replace ASAP or you will need a new brake job soon.This boot prevents water and dirt to get on the piston surface.A sticking caliper piston will ruin your disc and pads in no time. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/10 "2021-02-24T17:48:14Z")
The mechanic should not have done a full brake job without telling you of potential consequences first. Just my opinion. If the caliper piston was somewhat difficult to retract during pad replacement this would mean the caliper is beginning to fail either due to entrance of debris or moisture into the caliper and/or the hardening of the piston seal inside the caliper. Meaning new brakes won’t last as long. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/11 "2021-02-24T17:57:20Z")
Most mechanics around here will just replace the caliper. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/12 "2021-02-24T18:35:48Z")
Yeah, if the piston boot was cracked I’d either have the caliper rebuilt to check for internal corrosion, or just replace it. Whatever I did the damaged one, I’d do to the opposite one. ---
**Author:** ![jessmac80](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jessmac80/32/24115_2.png) [@jessmac80](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jessmac80)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/13 "2021-02-24T20:09:20Z")
Yeah, my guy is a retired mechanic, so he doesn’t have a full garage as such, or extra parts. ---
**Author:** ![jessmac80](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jessmac80/32/24115_2.png) [@jessmac80](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jessmac80)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/14 "2021-02-24T20:10:37Z")
I didn’t know what it was, I was just guessing 🙂 lol ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/15 "2021-02-24T20:44:17Z")
> [@jessmac80](#): > > I didn’t know what it was, I was just guessing Hard to give decent replies when people are guessing . But what ever it is if the retired mechanic can’t fix it then you should find a shop that can. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/16 "2021-02-24T21:06:38Z")
I am still confused if it was an axle boot on a Dodge Caliber, or a boot on a caliper. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/17 "2021-02-24T21:07:20Z")
Car is listed as a Mazda CX-5. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/18 "2021-02-24T21:08:02Z")
Pardon my missing that! Why after a brake job was repair not done? ---
**Author:** ![jessmac80](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jessmac80/32/24115_2.png) [@jessmac80](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jessmac80)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/19 "2021-02-26T15:26:22Z")
My mechanic is retired and has a home garage, so he doesn’t have parts readily available the same day. ---
**Author:** ![jessmac80](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jessmac80/32/24115_2.png) [@jessmac80](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jessmac80)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403/20 "2021-02-26T15:28:07Z")
I was just asking for advice based on the little bit of information I had from the mechanic at the time. Maybe I’ve misunderstood the purpose of the purpose of the chat thread on this site. My apologies if so. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/cracked-caliber-boot/175403.md?page=2)