Question on painting calipers.

[Guest]

I am in the process of putting my 750 back together and I need to repaint my calipers. I know I need to clean and remove all old paint and brake fluid. My question is what paint to use and what should I use to block off the piston so I don't get paint in the piston cylinder? I have all new seals for the caliper and figured I would install them after the caliper is painted.

[t3rmin]

Cleaned mine off with simple green/clr/wd-40/soap and water. Plugged the orifices with wads of paper towel. Didn't mask the piston or rubbers at all, which I should have, although it looks like they'll still work fine with a bit of paint on 'em. Used red Rustoleum and was very careful not to get any brake fluid on 'em when mounting them back up.

So far so good, but I've only ridden it about 1 mile. ;-) Looks killer, though!

[Mike_H]

I would use a paint designed for brake calipers. I used rustoleum last year, and my brakes looked like poop this year, so I have to repaint them again. I think the heat buildup it too much for standard spray paint. I'm trying Duplicolor's Caliper paint this time...Supposed to have ceramic in it, so it resists heat better. We'll see. I know it looks really good freshly sprayed!

[beergood]

I've used DuploColor's high heat engine paint, and had good results on other projects.

As for covering the pistons, I just shoved paper in there, and that worked pretty well, shove some on the threaded holes as well.

One thing that is absolutely paramount, get those things as clean as possible. Even the smallest hint of brake fluid will lead to some pretty ugly results. I sanded, cleaned, rubbed with mineral spirits and cleaned again and one of my calipers would still bubble up. I recommend a good primer as well, because it is easier to get off if it starts to bubble, and it dries a lot faster. So if/when you make your bonehead mistake (as I did) you don't have to wait a day to retry.

[knotzilla]

I used Dupli-colour gloss black caliper paint too and it looks great. I wiped the caliper with laquer thinner twice and the paint adhered really well. In addition I polished the caliper mounting brackets and the round section on the caliper itself down to the aluminum and buffed it to a mirror like shine. Sorry no photos yet. Ted

[J_C]

Brake fluid will strip even caliper paint extremely quickly. Be very careful after painting!

[Tom MLC]

Ditto the pre-cleaning. Probably the most important step. Gotta start with a well prepped surface. I left the piston in, and masked the rubber boots. Filled the bleeder & banjo ports with a wad of paper towel.

Two even coats of caliper paint. With about a half hour in my wife's oven after each coat. Keep the oven VERY LOW. Maybe about 100 - 120 degrees.

[oldschoolorange]

for what it will cost, have the calipers bead blasted and then powdercoat them, for what it is going to cost and the time that is involved in messing with paint that will look like hell in a year or so it is the best way to go. I think I was quoted $5-$10 per caliper to powdercoat, I bead blasted them myself at work

[doug g]

I am going to have them powdercoated.

[oldschoolorange]

"You have chosen......wisely"