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VHT Caliper paint

  • Thread starter Thread starter VABushPig
  • Start date Start date
V

VABushPig

Guest
I painted the brake caliper of my 450 with red VHT Caliper paint. I followed directions and baked the caliper accordingly to obtain the hardest finished. While assembling the caliper, I managed to create several "nicks" in the paint. Just little chips that are only noticeable to me. Can one paint over the caliper paint or would the caliper need a complete stripping? Could I perhaps roughen the surface with sandpaper and recoat?
 
Yes you can touch it up or re-coat the entire caliper, read the directions I believe they allow that.
 
I originally did mine with the VHT, but I found that it chipped easily. I ended up going with powder coat, no issues.
 
I love the powder coating idea but haven't found any around here that's affordable. They all seem too want too much because of the specialty of their service. I thought of doing the Harbor Freight powder coating system but haven't pulled the string yet. Maybe its time.
 
Just touch up the chips. Baking doesn't make the paint harder, it just cures it faster.

When redoing my calipers I used Gunkote. Now that stuff NEEDS to be baked or it won't have any toughness or chemical resistance. Once cured though it's the closest thing to plating you can get.
 
I painted mine with VHT several years ago and baked them in the barbeque. Hung the pieces from the top rack with wire. They turned out beautifully but about 4 years later the paint started flaking off. I scraped most of it off and they are bare aluminum now. I think next time I would invest in a powdercoat system and do them that way. Maybe it is the cold winters that we have here that affected the VHT paint.
 
The new breed of epoxy paints are really good. I sprayed the MC's on an FJ1200 with Rustoleum Roll Bar and Chassis satin epoxy and it looked amazing. I got brake fluid all over them as well when I re-assembled the MC's and there was absolutely no tarnishing or peeling of the paint anywhere.

If you want to touch up some chips with a rattle can you can spray a small amount into the lid until you have some liquid, then apply with an artists brush onto the chips.
 
VABushPig said:
I love the powder coating idea but haven't found any around here that's affordable. They all seem too want too much because of the specialty of their service. I thought of doing the Harbor Freight powder coating system but haven't pulled the string yet. Maybe its time.
Click to expand...

The HF system is what I'm using. I really like it. Just as with painting, the prep is key.
 
I have experience powder coating GS calipers, and I use much better supplies and equipment than Harbor Freight sells. I have a nice 70% gloss level satin black that comes close to original appearance. Yes, prep is everything and mine includes vapor blasting. Interested- let me know if I can help.
Alex
IMG_8008.jpg
 
Sandman900ss said:
I have experience powder coating GS calipers, and I use much better supplies and equipment than Harbor Freight sells. I have a nice 70% gloss level satin black that comes close to original appearance. Yes, prep is everything and mine includes vapor blasting. Interested- let me know if I can help.
Alex
View attachment 52598
Click to expand...


WOW :eek: lets see some more pictures!
 
I have used POR15 kits on three cars now. All were new calipers . Paint has held up great on hard driven , not trailer queens. Oldest has been on the road 6 years with no issues with chipping or paint fade. I don't spill brake fluid all over them and used care , having towels and soapy spray bottle handy . Normal shop precautions. Should add I have been using por15 products for years and they all have preformed as advertised.(check out their tank seal) Power coating is great for some applications and have a set up with a dedicated stove at the garage. If going that route, farm out the job to a professional. Big learning curve! It is expensive to assemble the tools needed and you must use the disposables (high temp tape, silicone plugs).http://www.por15.com/POR-15-Caliper-Painting-Kit_p_58.html
 
Last edited:
There are good reasons reason why all modern brake calipers (motorcycle and automobile) are powder coated from the factory, and not spray painted. Powder coating them is labor intensive and takes more time to do correctly than you'd expect if you have not been through the process before. Besides the critical multi-step cleaning process, there's lots of masking off required. Think about it: you have to protect the finely machined inner caliper half surfaces, the piston and seal bores, and all external/internal drilled passageways. And you do it twice for each caliper (times three calipers)- once for the stripping and cleaning prep, and then again with high temp tape for the final powder coating. As I said, the preparation is labor intensive to achieve excellent, long lasting results. I also powder coated my fork legs the same correct satin black as long as I was replacing springs and fork seals.
IMG_8016.jpg
 
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