How to get dust boot back on caliper???????

1982 550 LTD. Trying to rebuild the front caliper. I cannot for the life of me get the new dust boot back on... I have tried to put the boot on the caliper then put the piston in. no good. I tried about 3 variations of getting the boot on the piston and then trying to insert piston and boot at the same time...no go. I tried for about 2 hrs tonight with no luck...


Anyway got any words of wisdom?

Make sure everything is clean, especially the groove for the main piston seal, that's the 4 sided square O-ring. Put this seal in first, make sure it fits perfectly. Lube it with fresh brake fluid. Put the Dust seal in next, make sure it fits in right as well. Now I lube both the Piston and the dust seal with fresh brake fluid. Then with the caliper in a vice, using compressed air into the line fitting, put the piston against the seal. Blow a small amount of air in, and the dust seal will expand, like blowing up a balloon sort of. Anyway it will let you slide the piston into the dust seal. From there its easy, just get the piston to go straight into the main piston seal. Squeeze it in slowly with either the vice, a big pair of channel lock pliers, or a C-clamp.

If you don't have a compressor, you can do it with a smooth Pick, no sharp ends. Get it started on one side, and use the tool to pull it around and up over the piston.
The Air trick works good for me.

That sounds like a great idea. I was using a pick, but had to give up. I like the air idea, and I do have a compressor.

I better re-clean it. I did clean it, but now you got me thinking I could clean it a bit better...