Powder Coating Calipers

[TheEZest]

has anyone ever powder coated their brake calipers? im wondering if i could do this. also, powder coating also involves baking in an oven type thing at extremely high temperatures. would this be ok for the rubber gaskets and everything in the pistons?

[audisnapr]

are you thinking of powder coating your OEM calipers? You would definitely need to completely take apart the caliper and give them only the caliper core. Anything else would get fried, especially anything rubber. The piston could invariably seize too. Keep in mind, it's not only that things would melt, but as you know, when metal is heated at any temp, parts tend to expand. The piston, which is probably a harder metal than the caliper core may expand and split the core.

IMO, you really don't need to go to that extreme. Many guys on here either spray their calipers with 500 or 1200 degree engine paint that you can get from the auto parts store, or use the various caliper paint kits. Remember, you are only going to see some of the caliper through the wheel as well as a few glimpses of the carrier. You need not paint the entire thing.

[DDQ]

^^^^ Agree. ^^^^^

Just get some high temp engine enamel paint. Only costs about $4 a can, and works perfect.

[TheEZest]

so basically when brembos are powder coated at the factory, it is done before the caliper parts are put together?

the reason i was asking is because i might be able to get some free powder coating done so i figured i might as well try to get the calipers done.

[jefferson88]

to powder coat something it has to be electrically charged so the powder is magnetically attracted to it..... The calipers would have to be taken completely apart and sent to the shop.

[excursion]

The calipers will need stripping and rebuilding. I've had it done to a set on my other car. At the same time it makes sense to get a rebuild kit and replace the piston & dust seals

[TheEZest]

how time consuming is that?

[skene]

very..... its not worth it... just get paint.

[bitterchild]

if you're asking, you can't do it

[TheEZest]

Originally posted by bitterchild
if you're asking, you can't do it

i'd say thats a pretty ridiculous comment.

[Hassmeister]

Originally posted by skene
very..... its not worth it... just get paint.

Old man concurs!

[excursion]

Originally posted by TheEZest
how time consuming is that?

It's very easy, you can rebuild a single piston caliper in about an hour, and that's allowing plenty of time for a few trys at getting the seals to locate in the piston groove. Use plenty of brake fluid on the seals to make sure they seat correctly.

I'm with everyone else though, for a stock calipers it's probably worth painting them. I only had my calipers done as it was a show car. Your call though

[skene]

Originally posted by TheEZest
i'd say thats a pretty ridiculous comment.

I would say that it is not.....

If you walk into a Ferrari dealership and you have to ask how much a 360 Challenge is.... chances are you cannot afford the car to begin with.

The worst thing you want to do is ask how much anything of worth is. It puts you into the pre-qualification of an income factor.