Cleaning the brakes

[Adam]

I'm rebuilding my calipers because they had been leaking since getting the disc machined. Unfortunatly they are almost black now, While I can clear away most of it I still cant get it back to that nice clean silver finish. I want to paint them and I imagine the surface must be clean. Ive tried wire brushes, brake fluid, degreasers, thinners, acids, bases (in little test areas- not the whole thing of course) and nothing seems to bring it back. I'd sand it but the surface is rough and it leaves lots of stuff in the pits.

Just how clean does it have to be to be painted? Do I use any kind of heat resistant primer prior to painting?

adam

[VET-005]

Adam i have painted heaps of calipers the best thing to do is give them a real good wire brush and then clean them with prepsol (wax and grease remover) and dry them off befor paint. I find the best paint to use is heat proof engine enamel no primer necessary, works a treat every time.

[77CVT]

Originally posted by VET-005
Adam i have painted heaps of calipers the best thing to do is give them a real good wire brush and then clean them with prepsol (wax and grease remover) and dry them off befor paint. I find the best paint to use is heat proof engine enamel no primer necessary, works a treat every time.

[TIPPA]

Mate you can buy aerosol cans of brake cleaner which may work or my favourite stuff- cheap (4 bucks a can) carbie cleaner from repco (black and brown can). that stuff is awesome. alternative would be to pull them down and sand blast or acid dip them at a local engine builders shop.

[Adam]

Ok, I found a fairly effective way to clean em...

First I got rid of the excess in the top, then spread metal polish all over em, then used a rotating wire briush (on a buffer) to "buff" off the metal polish, the combination seemed to work better than using either one seperatly.:b2

I find the best paint to use is heat proof engine enamel no primer necessary, works a treat every time.

I ended up using VHT brand brake paint as its rated 490C rather than their engine paint that isnt as high.'

mmmmmm...red brakes;41

[Cameron 77C3]

Originally posted by WHITE RIDER
Ok, I found a fairly effective way to clean em...

First I got rid of the excess in the top, then spread metal polish all over em, then used a rotating wire briush (on a buffer) to "buff" off the metal polish, the combination seemed to work better than using either one seperatly.:b2

I find the best paint to use is heat proof engine enamel no primer necessary, works a treat every time.

I ended up using VHT brand brake paint as its rated 490C rather than their engine paint that isnt as high.'

mmmmmm...red brakes;41

Any pictures?

[Cameron 77C3]

White Rider. Any pics of your painted calipers?