I consider myself a half-decent shade tree mechanic, but I'm stumped by how to replace the front caliper pin boots on my '01 Blazer.

Clearly they need to be pressed in, but the 1st one I tried pressing in gently with a deep socket and a bench vise - All it did was collapse the outer collar.

The 2nd one I tried tapping in around the edges with a flathead screwdriver but it kept tipping up on the opposite side until the screwdriver slipped and I punched a hole in the boot. Arrgghhh!

Any clever ideas?

 

You've got the right idea. Try a wire brush on a drill to remove all of the rust from the inside of the caliper where the steel boot collar fits into. Then use a socket and drift the boot collar in. For what it's worth, you're better off installing rebuilt calipers, with the brackets, due to the problems with the pins binding in the calipers and the pistons binding in the bores. Rear calipers are more sensitive due to the aluminum housing, and they should be replaced each time you do rear brakes. Both front and rear calipers come with all of the hardware and brackets... bolt 'em on and gravity bleed them... don't pump the pedal until the gravity bleed is done.