I have a powdercoating kit and I want to start powdering my friends & I's brake calipers!!! Does any1 have any tips, info, or anything good to say before I try to do this on an IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CARS??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Is this your first time powdercoating??
Well the caliper has to be fully taken apart. Seals and piston removed.
If you have never powder coated before those are not good first parts. Go with something easy to start off.

 

ive done some VC's & IM's small stuff because we are using a house oven we were given

 

Post pics of what has been done. Calipers have to be very claen and the cylinders need to be covered

 

 

Any tips or ideas????????

 

just make sure they are cleaned, no need to take them all apart as the seals are meant to take the heat anyways

 

I would like to sand blast before I clean them to make sure it flows out really nicely! But for the most part no issues other then taping and pluging holes & seals before blasting and cleaning?????????

 

Take them completely apart for 2 reasons:

1. No chance of grease leaking while curing
2. No chance of damaging the seals during blasting and coating.

I suggest soaking them in a 1:1 solution of simple green concentrate and water for about 6 to 8 hrs (depending on how they look) after you take them apart.

Once they dry (compressed air is your friend here) give them a light blasting to etch the surface. It'll allow for better powder adhesion which is important for something like calipers. Cover the mounting areas with duct tape so you don't blast those areas. Plug all holes and mask all threads.

Mask off ALL of the mounting surfaces so they don't get coated. I also suggest adding a clear coat. If the finish is matte, just use a satin clear to add to the protection of the coating.

Good luck,
Steve

 

OK COOL THANKS!!! I plan on doing the calipers in the same color REDwith a high gloss clear as the vc in the picture above!!!

Now, how do I take the calipers apart?????????????????

 

You need to remove all the seals and grease fittings as well as the piston and boot. Most OEM calipers are 1 piece so nothing to do there (not like 2 piece brembos).

With the caliper removed from the car, pull away the dust boot to expose the piston. With the dust boot removed, place a block of wood between the piston and caliper. Making sure your hands are totally clear of the piston, use a compressor and air gun to slowly pressurize the caliper via the brake line port. This will force out the piston violently (MAKE SURE YOUR HANDS ARE CLEAR).

Check it over, make sure it's clean and such. If so, bag and tag it for re-use. Do the same for all the other fittings.

Then reverse and repeat for rebuild. Make sure you grease up the cylinder and the boots correctly and completely when you rebuild.


Steve

 

OK Ill give this a try this weekend Thanks for the info

 

Anytime, good luck.


Steve

 

So do you just keep coating the oven rack, how are you getting a good ground? +2 always clean the parts and blast them when possible.

 

I have 2 racks!!! Im going strip a place on the rack. but usally we just run the ground cable up under the rack and hook it to whatever we are coating

 

You can ground directly on the part when it comes to valve covers. I used to hang calipers so no problem there.


*Edit - Pics of a completely disassembled caliper (2pc however from a G37) already coated.








Steve

 

before clear

clear

 

Steve, do you replace all the seals and rubber pieces of the calipers during a rebuild with brand new parts? I was always under the impression that brake seal swell like with other rubber seals when exposed to air?

Your calipers on the G37 look amazing btw, my favorite color!

Looking good! Get some pics of when they're on the car!

 

After my calipers wre coated I took them to the local auto parts store and they replaced the seals and reassembled both calipers for 15$.