Triumph Repair: brake pistons, channel lock pliers, bench vice

Question
QUESTION: old brake pistons were frozen, heated, cooled and they were able to be removed. Will not go back in with new seals. What to do?

ANSWER: Hi Dan,
What kind of Triumph? What pistons? caliper? rear wheel cylinder?
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry Howard,
 Car is a 1973 triumph spitfire, working on front calipers, pistons were frozen, we heated them up cooled them down and were able to remove the pistons in the calipers.  Now, we can't get the pistons back in the caliper. Any suggestions?  Thank you, Dan Miller

Answer
Hi Dan,
Did you check the pistons in the caliper cylinders without the seals to be sure you got all of the rust and corrosion out? and did you clean the seal grooves to be sure no corrosion is holding the new seals to tight? Did you lube everything before trying to install the new seals? Even with everything cleaned and lubed it is difficult to install the pistons into a caliper with new seals. Some mechanics use large channel lock pliers and others use a bench vice to get it started. It is also difficult to get the dust boot on correctly. And all of this is providing you got the correct seals. (Usually if the boots are correct the seals are too.)
At worst you can take them to a brake shop and ask them to get the pistons and boots on for you. Most brake shops have some clamps just for installing pistons in calipers.
Howard