brake caliper refurb

pae · Post by **pae** » Sat May 03, 2008 4:17 pm

Any recommendations for where to get some calipers refurb'd?

I need to paint some, preferably by someone who knows what they're handling - don't want paint all over the bores and threads. An idea of cost would be good, too.

Or is painting them relatively straightforward anyway, and if so, what paint should I use. (Gloss black, BTW, nothing fancy).

Phil

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Sat May 03, 2008 5:27 pm

Hi

Depending what type of caliper you have depends on the finish that’s best, cast calipers are best bead blasted and then electroplated, S type aluminium calipers were anodised (I think) but could be powder coated, and later magnesium calipers tend to be powder coated. These rear calipers have been replated and the results were good.

There are a couple of threads here

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forum/ ... hp?t=16254

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forum/ ... ht=caliper

This guy splits the caliper, I wouldn't recommend doing this as you can plate the cast ones with out splitting them, it looks as if he uses round section o rings when rebuilding them and they should be square section o rings, also you can have problems resealing them as the calipers have been through many heat cycles and once split may not be true.

Kind regards

pae · Post by **pae** » Sat May 03, 2008 7:06 pm

Thanks John, it's actually for the Honda (m'bike) I'm rebuilding. They're aluminium.

regards, Phil

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Sat May 03, 2008 9:11 pm

Hi Phil

There are some special issues with aluminium calipers, but, most importantly, can you get the pistons and seals?

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:06 am

that link to the caliper rebuild was very good. When i did mine it was ment to be a common problem was splitting the caliper halfs was ment not to be done due to resealing them afterwards? is this the case? and if not what do you seal the halfs with?

I don't mind doing them the hard way, with them still intact. But it would easy to split if I can reseal them.

Also At the time I did mine I couldn't find brake grease i just used brake fluid. any one know where you can get this brake grease? I am sure it's out there. I only went to motorfactors..

pae · Post by **pae** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:24 am

nick-moss wrote:Hi Phil

There are some special issues with aluminium calipers, but, most importantly, can you get the pistons and seals?

Hi Nick, yes, parts are no problem from David Silver. What are the issues with aluminium?

Phil

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:33 am

It would be interesting to see a picture of what you are trying to achieve, then I can advise on how to obtain the original finish

pae · Post by **pae** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:40 am

It's not so much trying to achieve an original finish, but having got the bike to this stage (quite a bit further than this actually)...

I'd like the calipers to be a bit more presentable than they were when I started - see following link...

http://uk.geocities.com/cb650@btinternet.com/pic003

Alan @ CanfordClassics · Sun May 04, 2008 9:51 am

Hello Phil,

I am not sure about your motor bike calipers, but the early 911 S calipers are also aluminum. When people have these rebuilt they are generally powder coated, but they were originally anodised. This is due to the extra work and cost in re-doing them correctly. There is a good thread on early S registry in case anyone is interested.

It is not the best pic, but here is a set we stripped, vapoured, slightly polished, anodised and rebuilt. The next sets will be fully polished to obtain a clearer anodised finish.

Thanks

Alan

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:53 am

912uk wrote:I don't mind doing them the hard way, with them still intact. But it would easy to split if I can reseal them

Mark

I am just passing on the advice given to me, unfortunatly I was given the advice after I had allready split mine, I struggled to find the correct bolts as the old ones could not be reused, the o rings are unavailable so I had some made from a specilist company from the correct material, fortunatly for me the brakes resealed okay but I have been told that this is not always the case, so its alot simpler if you can keep them as one unit, also I think you may be able buy new caliper's (cast type)for just over £100 each which seems quite reasonable if you take into account costs of bead blasting, plating, service kits, new bolts, new o rings and you may even need new pistons.

Kind Regards

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:54 am

pae wrote:It's not so much trying to achieve an original finish, but having got the bike to this stage (quite a bit further than this actually)...

I'd like the calipers to be a bit more presentable than they were when I started - see following link...

http://uk.geocities.com/cb650@btinternet.com/pic003

Wow that look great!

Kind Regards

pae · Post by **pae** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:02 am

johnM wrote: Wow that look great!

Thanks John, it's progressed quite a bit further since that pic. Exhausts and carbs are on, it runs OK (first time for almost 5 years) but needs fine tuning. I'm doing all the finish-off bits now - indicators, lights, brake lines and linkages etc.

regards, Phil

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:04 am

I am only going to paint them afterwards mine still look good 7 years on. But ref the seals hmm I am happy to take abit more time to strip and clean them up.. I was lucky last time as the pistons where in good nick..

I just polished them. Still on 98% when the MOT was done 2 weeks ago so i must have done some thing right.

Better get my overhalls on then..

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Sun May 04, 2008 11:49 am

That's quite a change from the way it was!

Powder coating is probably the easiest way to go. Drop me an email and I will give you the details of the guy I use. He is in Suusex.