So I dove into my caliper rebuild this evening. Got the passenger-side bugger off, pads out, and had a time getting both pistons out, but I managed (got one out using compressed air in the hose, and I reinserted it just enough to pass the bore o-ring and held it there with a pair of channel locks while I popped the other out with the compressed air).

Cleaned the pistons up, all looked fine, and I renewed the bore o-rings. Pushed the pistons back in, went to install the new dust boots and retaining wires, and... How in the world do you get the lower lip of the dust boot to stay put while you install the retaining wire? I was pulling my hair out, getting frustrated, so I decided to call it a night.

I did a quick search on here, and found that someone had actually installed the dust boots before pushing the pistons back in, so I may try that tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone had any tips in the meantime.

Thanks again. You guys are lifesavers.

did you read this excellent article?

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/content.php?r=151-Brake-caliper-restoration

I did indeed. Neither that nor the Haynes nor the Clymer manuals (I have both) offered any clues as to what I was doing wrong.

I figured it out, though: I didn't have the pistons pushed all the way down in their bores. If they're popped up even a little bit it's impossible to get the dust boots to seat properly.