Caliper paint.... any recommendations?

Ian65 · November 14, 2010, 07:07:40 PM

cheers guys,
I might give the old hammerite a bash then although I don\'t tend it use it much these days.
I suppose halfords brake paint or engine laquer might do the trick though as well.
I don\'t want to bling them up, just tidy them up and keep the rust at bay.

CHC (RIP) · November 14, 2010, 08:00:44 PM

I\'m with you on that one Ian - just to keep it tidy and cared for mainly but with added satisfaction that any potential corrosion is being kept at bay & minimised.
:Thumbs-up

Ian65 · November 21, 2010, 07:45:01 PM

it\'s that miserable time of year when it\'s damp, cold and I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.
As I\'m also presently working 6 days a week, it doesn\'t give me any time to work outside on the Elford conversion and sort out my oil cooler woes.
I therefore decided to get back in the garage and do some more to SPA, my restoration project and inspired by the arrival from the US of my new flexible front brake hoses, I thought I\'d restore the brake calipers.

These came off the donor car I bought off Keith and as it had stood in a field for some time and then the calipers have been in my garage for nearly a year, I\'ve decided to strip and rebuild them.

The front calipers on the car prior to removal....

and the rear...

and then partially dismantled off the car....

the pistons were very very tight in the bores and I tried levering them out and forcing them out with compressed air but to no avail.
Finally had to pump them out with a grease gun....

the 2 front pistons, whilst slightly stained, will clean up ok and have no damage to the chrome. In this photo you can see one piston cleaned up and the other still to be done.
One of the rear pistons however has some rust damage and flaking to the chrome so I need to try to source a new one of these...

Just need to check the bores in the calipers now for any damage and if these are good then I just need some repair kits ( plus 1 piston)

.

CHC (RIP) · November 21, 2010, 08:33:32 PM

Can\'t understand why they were difficult to strip down Ian - doesn\'t look as if they have been there that long :Laugh
No seriously, they are a real swine when they are like that - so to be struggling this time of the year, even in a dry and slightly warmer garage, it must have been very frustrating for you. Well done for sticking with it.

CHC (RIP) · November 24, 2010, 10:46:10 AM

Information on repair kits (seals) if you need it Ian.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mazda-RX7-brake-caliper-repair-kit-3509-/310163640470?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4837319096

A7RXY · November 24, 2010, 10:49:13 AM

They are the ones I used

CHC (RIP) · November 24, 2010, 12:08:18 PM

You see - great minds think alike.

CHC (RIP) · November 26, 2010, 08:39:25 PM

Have you managed to track down a piston Ian? If not would re-chroming be an option?

Ian65 · November 26, 2010, 08:44:22 PM

Quote from: CHC;729952Have you managed to track down a piston Ian? If not would re-chroming be an option?

I haven\'t had chance to look yet... I would think rechroming would be more expensive than buying a new one.... there must be stock somewhere.
Thanks for the link to the repair kit by the way Cliff, I\'ll have some of that....!
Just what I was looking for!

CHC (RIP) · November 26, 2010, 10:56:51 PM

I\'ll ask around up here about the piston and let you know if anything turns up.

CHC (RIP) · January 21, 2011, 10:47:23 PM

What protective coating did you eventually decide upon Ian and have you resolved the issue over the piston?

gav240z · October 26, 2011, 09:46:31 PM

Hi guys,
On topic of caliper paint, I\'m rebuilding a complete set of FD (2 front + 2 rear) calipers, going to use new seals, new stainless brake lines and speed bleeders.

I bought a spare set so I could work away on them while still having the car drivable and usable (the FD is my only car). I want to take some time to really give the calipers that stand out gloss red that you usually achieve with powder coating.

I found G2 caliper paint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRiyubFm8vc

But it\'s pretty expensive
http://www.g2usa.com/product/G2.html

Shipping is a whopping $30+ on top of that.

The reason it appeals to me though is the high temperature rating, I actually have some Hammerite smooth already but I\'m not sure how well it will hold up long term.

Someone has already had a go at painting the calipers on the car and they have since faded to more of a pink colour than red.

Ultimately I\'d love to powder coat them or get them anodized (not sure how feasible this is?) for that more expensive BBK look.

However I was quoted 200 euro to powdercoat calipers and I think that\'s pretty damn expensive. Not sure what you guys pay for powder coating / anodizing in the UK but in Australia it\'s pretty cheap. I get the feeling I was given the "special" price.

Anyway I\'m interested in what you guys have used paint wise, how it looks and how it\'s held up?

Thanks for your time.

A7RXY · October 27, 2011, 06:24:22 AM

I used silver Hammerite on mine, but the FB calipers are rough cast, they still look ok after 2 years but I have done less than a 1000 miles on them.

Good luck
Dibs

Kenji · October 27, 2011, 11:45:48 AM

I\'ve always just regular paint, and it never flaked or changed colour because of heat issues. Still looks as good as the day I painted it.
High temp paint is just a waste of money.

spoddy · October 27, 2011, 08:14:31 PM

aaagggghhhhh, don\'t mention calipers to me lol.
i have to replace the rears on my mx3 jap import as they always go after a year or two, this time it was the damm handbrake linkages. but today is a happy one as got her through the MOT

i have used the halfords caliper paint in the past too, a nice blue. it lasts quite well, but only the front calipers are still blue lol. going to give them another few coats and paint the rears, never know they might last a while longer lol