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Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 15 2004, 06:42 PM

Hey guys,

i have some M calipers that im cleaning. i want to get them clean enough to the point where i can pain them red with caliper paint (yeah i know...ricer style ). they are still loaded (ie pistons and seals in bore, and bleader valve in place). i tried rubbing alcohol....not very effective. brake cleaner says it eats rubber so, that's out of the question.

Posted by: davep Mar 15 2004, 09:35 PM

I sandblast them, then use metal prep (phosphoric acid). Be careful of brake fluid in the sandblaster though, it ate through the rubber gloves. Rinse with alcohol after that, and before painting.

Posted by: Andyrew Mar 15 2004, 09:42 PM

A wire brush, like you would use on your grill (cooking), but a little softer. a nice long one, and you can take it to bare metal, super clean like nothing. Just dont be afraid to scrub it hard. I did it on mine and they looked shiny before I painted them.

Works alot better than chemicals.

Andrew

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 15 2004, 09:43 PM

Posted by: ChrisReale Mar 15 2004, 10:22 PM

Posted by: Lawrence Mar 16 2004, 12:09 PM

If you're going to take them to the sandblaster...

1. Leave your pistons and rubber seals in place.
2. Get some cheap 6" steel brake lines. Cut them in half. Fold the cut end over and crimp shut tightly. Screw into the brake line fitting.

That should keep crap out of your calipers. I agree with previous advice, though. If you don't know the history on the calipers, rebuilding them is a good idea. Simply because they came off a running car doesn't mean squat. Who knows the last time they changed their fluid?

-Rusty

Posted by: tat2dphreak Mar 16 2004, 02:31 PM

rebuild tem... it's cheap and easy!

to clean them... DON't Put them in a parts washer of b-12... ask me how I know...

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 16 2004, 06:22 PM

they are very good calipers. have like 50k on them. seals look BRAND NEW! pictons are not pitted or anything. they are loaded calipers tho..... so i want to clean them and not blast them.....

Posted by: Eric_Shea Mar 16 2004, 08:19 PM

Glass bead blast them. Take them to a plater. They'll plate with the seals in them. Look like brand new...


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Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 16 2004, 08:24 PM

how much does "glass beading" cost? can you paint over the plating?

Posted by: Eric_Shea Mar 16 2004, 08:33 PM

Most platers will have a bead blasting cabinet. It would be hourly at that point. Probably $20-30 to clean, another $20-30 to plate... why would you paint them once you plate them?

Oh... never miiiiiiiiiiiiiind

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 16 2004, 08:35 PM

because plating is for Concourse weenies! i want red calipers! (pseudo "Big reds" ) no plating then!

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 22 2004, 09:51 PM

Hey, just a public thanks to MXMARK for putting my calipers in his solvent tank and cleaning them. Thanks,

Aaron

Oh and they are being rebuilt

Posted by: Greg Mar 23 2004, 09:38 AM

last year I used break cleaner and wire wheeled/ wire brushed mine before I painted them with high temp engine paint. I then baked them in my oven at 200 degrees (oh ya, my wife was not pleased.) The paint has held up just fine since then. be careful about getting brake fluid on the paint though, works just like a solvent. I think the "Mini" Reds look great.