caliper rebuild questions
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
caliper rebuild questions
I am currently rebuilding the suspension on my LT4 and I am thinking about powder coating the calipers so I would have to take the pistons apart and then rebuild after the powder coat. I have read the fsm but I am having some trepidation about taking them apart. How hard is it to rebuild. I have minimal skills and obviously brakes are a big deal. I don't want to die because I am an idiot. I am also worried about the rear parking brake assembly. Is this a pita to take apart and put back together? The parking brake is not currently functional so I have to address that anyway. any thoughts? Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
I am currently rebuilding the suspension on my LT4 and I am thinking about powder coating the calipers so I would have to take the pistons apart and then rebuild after the powder coat. I have read the fsm but I am having some trepidation about taking them apart. How hard is it to rebuild. I have minimal skills and obviously brakes are a big deal. I don't want to die because I am an idiot. I am also worried about the rear parking brake assembly. Is this a pita to take apart and put back together? The parking brake is not currently functional so I have to address that anyway. any thoughts? Thanks
Last edited by Joe C; Mar 19, 2012 at 12:26 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
It seems like all the companies sell only red or black powder coated. I am looking for gold and they don't take orders for specific colors. Does anyone know of a powder coater who will use what ever color you want and then rebuild the caliper for you? I know it sounds a bit funny but I have a picture in my mind of what I want the wheel to look like. It's a green car with 5 spoke, torque thrust rims so I want to put the gold calipers and paint the rotor hats black. anyway, thanks and any more suggestions would be appreciated
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 27
From: Athens Ohio
I don't know how necessary it is to powder coat the calipers. I painted mine with a rattle can two years ago and they still look perfect. As long as the surface is clean and you get a good bond with the primer, I don't see a problem. I never disassembled the calipers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 103
From: Olney MD
Calipers
It seems like all the companies sell only red or black powder coated. I am looking for gold and they don't take orders for specific colors. Does anyone know of a powder coater who will use what ever color you want and then rebuild the caliper for you? I know it sounds a bit funny but I have a picture in my mind of what I want the wheel to look like. It's a green car with 5 spoke, torque thrust rims so I want to put the gold calipers and paint the rotor hats black. anyway, thanks and any more suggestions would be appreciated
I like the idea of Gold and green. If you're an old racer, it will remind you of the Lotus racing colors from way back!
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From: Muskegon MI
Andrew
800-442-0335
http://www.muskegonbrake.com
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 68
From: Providence RI
I went through the same thing...gold and all. If I were to do it again, I'd buy a set of j55 fronts with brackets, disassemble than get them PC'd. It was a pain to clean and blast them. Make sure the threads are capped off as well as the area where the crush washers seal.
The rears and the pbrake assembly aren't hard once you figure them out. dorman sells kits to rebuild the rear caliper and it comes with all of the hardware for the pbrake.
DORMAN Part # D352746
They arent easy to come by. There 2 available on the auction site but priced too high. Got them from summit for around 10 bucks each.
It's def worth it, especially if you have a molds and you can see the calipers.
Note: Im in RI and although not right next door, id be willing to help you if needed. Thats what this place is for.
Mike
The rears and the pbrake assembly aren't hard once you figure them out. dorman sells kits to rebuild the rear caliper and it comes with all of the hardware for the pbrake.
DORMAN Part # D352746
They arent easy to come by. There 2 available on the auction site but priced too high. Got them from summit for around 10 bucks each.
It's def worth it, especially if you have a molds and you can see the calipers.
Note: Im in RI and although not right next door, id be willing to help you if needed. Thats what this place is for.
Mike
Last edited by Deepa; Mar 19, 2012 at 09:14 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 2
From: colchester CT
I went through the same thing...gold and all. If I were to do it again, I'd buy a set of j55 fronts with brackets, disassemble than get them PC'd. It was a pain to clean and blast them. Make sure the threads are capped off as well as the area where the crush washers seal.
The rears and the pbrake assembly aren't hard once you figure them out. dorman sells kits to rebuild the rear caliper and it comes with all of the hardware for the pbrake.
DORMAN Part # D352746
They arent easy to come by. There 2 available on the auction site but priced too high. Got them from summit for around 10 bucks each.
It's def worth it, especially if you have a molds and you can see the calipers.
Note: Im in RI and although not right next door, id be willing to help you if needed. Thats what this place is for.
Mike
The rears and the pbrake assembly aren't hard once you figure them out. dorman sells kits to rebuild the rear caliper and it comes with all of the hardware for the pbrake.
DORMAN Part # D352746
They arent easy to come by. There 2 available on the auction site but priced too high. Got them from summit for around 10 bucks each.
It's def worth it, especially if you have a molds and you can see the calipers.
Note: Im in RI and although not right next door, id be willing to help you if needed. Thats what this place is for.
Mike
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