When I did mine, I didn't split them.
I used air to push out the pistons, one at a time. Then I cleaned out the one half of the caliper as best as I could with brake cleaner, put in the new piston seals and new pistons on the one side.
Repeat the process for the other side.
I have heard/read of people having leaks at the split joint after splitting the calipers, equally I have read of others not having any problems at all, but I figure that if it isn't leaking as it is, why disturb it and take that chance. YMMV