So I picked up a set of 1.8 brakes for my 1.6 last night from the u pull it. I also took the calipers because I would like to get them powder coated before putting them on. Has anyone here had their calipers powder coated? Did you have to remove the piston and then rebuild them? Or did you coat them as is and then slap them on.

THXBYE
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I had the Z32 brakes on our S13 project powdercoated and I removed the seals and pistons first. I recommend that you do not leave any rubber pieces on the calipers b/c the ovens are pretty hot, over 400* iirc.

 

It's safe to say your calipers/rubber can probably sustain temps higher than 400*F.


With that said, I've had great success with the ceramic caliper paint kits. The self leveling paint looks great and cleans with a rag and water.

 

Thats what I was thinking. They have to see temps hotter than that at times if you track your car.
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Heat aside, you need to send the parts bare and then hone out where the piston and seals go. You don't expect the piston to travel on a rough surface do you?

Or you can do the easy thing and shoot them with some high temp paint like everyone else.

 

Yeah I knew that. I usually do paint them but I just hate how nasty they get over time. I would Imagine powder coating would hold up better.
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FYI, there isn't a powder coat in existence that can survive brake system cleaner. so if you powder coat them don't clean them with that stuff. Simple green/purple power are also bad for most powder coats (epoxy powder is fine with it though)

 

Didnt know that, thanks.
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I've aways painted my calipers black or silver with the 1500* ceramic duplicolor paint. I've never had to reapply, even after 23 track days last year.

 

I did the same but in black.

 

like I said, those ceramic paint kits are great.




this was after like 2 years or so. looks brand new when i take the time to clean it.

 

I have had the ceramic duplicolor on mine for like 4 years, it is just starting to chip off.

 

Scott, whered you buy the kit?

 

advance auto parts.

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliper.html

 

I might use some of the left over titanium ceramic coat I'm using on the manifold and turbine to do my calipers... but more likely I'll split the cost of the coating with Bryce and just do his too.

 

Yeah im just gonna go with the caliper paint kit. I just cant justify spending $125 to powder coat the calipers. Im gonna grind the calipers a bit first to get a smooth finish.
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The key to painting your brake parts is in the prep.
Clean clean clean clean clean...and then clean some more.

On my car I fucked it away and just sprayed on some wheel cleaner and washed them off... BAD! On a buddies WS6, we did it right.

Use the painting as an excuse to flush your brakelines and pull them off the lines when you do it. Go to Harbor Freight and get a few different sizes of wire brushes. Lay all the parts out on your workbench and start going through them. We used BrakeKleen and gasoline... took us about 30minutes per caliper/bracket. Then we used soap/water and made sure they were really clean and all the solvents were off.

Then we used this one, but the Duplicolor on is more accessible and cheaper: http://g2usa.com/brake_caliper_paint.shtml

Duplicolor: http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliper.html

And if I may be so bold... painting your stock calipers any color other than black always ends up looking like you put it on with a magic marker unless they're freshly washed.