4 replies to this topic

[LXCHEV]

Hi all,

 

Curious to hear what others have done when re-conditioning 2nd hand calipers.

 

I have a set of twin piston VT calipers I'd like to bring back to "as-new" again (with the idea to prolong their life as much as possible).

 

I see 3 options - 

 

1. Polishing

2. Painting

3. Plating

 

Surely plating is the best choice. I've read that zinc is the preferred type of plating. Although is there a difference to consider between alloy and steel calipers?

 

Does caliper paint last or only look decent for a short period?

 

Would love to hear of your results or see any pics.

[Heath]

They're alloy, with a cast iron/steel base right?

 

If so, the best way to "restore" them (i.e. if Holden was making a cut-away demonstration car in their museum etc. with no funky colours) would be hydro/vapour blast the alloy, and zinc plate the cast iron/steel (you can zinc in silver - they call it blue - or gold, or low gloss black, but the black isn't as hardy a finish as the first two).

 

Vapour blasting the alloy will close the pores up a little to keep them looking nicer and cleaner than the fresh cast finish (particularly after they've had 20 years of use). This is what cars like Ferraris and Porsches etc. get all of their cast alloy driveline parts, steering arms etc. done with during restos.

 

On the alluminium bits, the only "plating" you're going to do would be anodising. You could also polish them if you wanted that look but it won't be an awfully low maintenance finish.

 

Paint/powercoating will do a better job of closing up the pores.

 

I don't imagine many people want to show off a sliding caliper design by painting it a bright/light colour. I would just be media blasting them and painting them with black or gunmetal caliper paint, personally. It seems to have reasonable longevity and won't look like it's dirty very quickly.

 

Vapour/hydro blasting before:

After:

Edited by Heath, 08 February 2021 - 01:59 PM.

[dattoman]

Agree... wet blast the alloy and gold zinc the brackets

That's how they would have looked when they left the PBR factory

 

You could dust a coat of silver over the alloy if you wanted too

But realistically... where its located and the work it does... gunna get dirty no matter what you do

[76lxhatch]

I've also clear coated freshly blasted/cleaned calipers in the past too, keeps the alloy look but makes it a bit easier to clean off

[LXCHEV]

Awesome info. I’m keen on the wet blasting as a starting point. Any recommendations of where to go in Melbourne’s outer east?

Thanks gents.