Painting brake calipers... HELP!

[300kph]

Tried to post under "Brakes" but it said I could not post to that section???... Perhaps I am too new to the forum???

Took the calipers of my 78 XS1100E... They are decent but fluid has lifted about 20% of the black paint off. Want to dress them up before they get overhauled.

The calipers are fully disassembled. Should I strip the paint or just scuff it up and clean the silvery areas?

If I strip them what is a good product to use?

I've tried laquer thinner and q-tips but it only lifts the grime and cleans up the peeled areas. I fear if I just paint them you will see the ridges.

Any ideas?
Any links to posts or videos?

W

[Tat2demon]

Brake fluid will get all the paint off. Should be able to clean the fluid off after that with a can of carb cleaner.

[BA80]

If you have access to a can of Berrymans carb and parts cleaner or the like, disassemble the calipers (they most likely need cleaning anyway) and drop them in the dip. Keep the rubber parts away from it though or they will be destroyed. That will take all the paint off and do a pretty fair job of cleaning them.

Use the high heat ceramic paint to repaint them with. It will resist the brake fluid the best.

[jwhughes3]

Greg guides you well ... I used the high heat ceramic caliper paint and can attest it does resist well if you wipe drips off and dont let it set.



Mask off main tube so overspray wont affect ability to pivot. Oh and used wire wheel to clean.

John

[WSL91]

Don't know how far in you want to go but I took mine and cleaned them with brake cleaner then worked on them with a soft wire wheel and a cordless drill, taped off the important stuff and painted with epoxy point in a rattle can. 1st pass was on the areas without paint. second same plus a little carry over, 3rd and 4th entire caliper. They look quite nice, will have to see how they hold up but obviously keeping the brake fluid off is important.

[mikubuilder]

I took mine apart, sandblasted them with silica, and painted with caliper paint...they look great

[tw1980]

I took mine apart, sandblasted them with silica, and painted with caliper paint...they look great

plus one for that.I've found when it comes to painting there is no substitute for prep and product.

[foreda]

Calipers

Soda blasting works well.. Also. Aircraft stripper will get them where you want them also. I usually use the Aircraft stripper then I soda blast.

[DAVINCI]

VHT High Heat Caliper Paint, Then baked according to the directions on the can.

Being a bachelor has it's advantages Ditto on all above, prep is KEY to any good paint job.

Not a chip in 2 seasons!

[fredintoon]

- - - The calipers are fully disassembled. Should I strip the paint or just scuff it up and clean the silvery areas? - - -

Hi Wayne,
good tips but too much hassle. Get them bead or soda blasted then polish the edges.

[300kph]

I did it my waaaaaay!

Bought some "Stripper in a Can" (not as much fun as that actually sounds LOL!) Shot them all over and put them in a baggie to let the vapors work. 90% came off after hosing them down and after drying them and giving them a 2nd treatment almost all of the rest came off... 50 Q-tips and shot glass of lacquer thinner got the rest off:



Then after ensuring they were squeaky clean I gave them 6 coats of Duplicolor Hi Heat Satin black (Duplicolor is a VHT product) gvae them 15-20 minutes between coats and hung them in the 85 degree sun to cure them and put them in my dry room (dehumidified to about 15%)

I think they look pretty good and I hope they stand up.



There are almost the identical sheen of the stock paint. I'm pleased.

The bike will be ready in a few days!

Wayne

[daveyg]

That's how I want mine to look!