Cleaning brake calipers

[reinventingyourexit]

Hey guys I'm thinking about painting my calipers blue to match my car but until then I would like to clean them up since they're now more exposed because of my new alloys! What do I use to clean them up? Would I be able to clean them without having to take the alloys off?

Also, what paint should I use for the calipers when I decide to paint them? I've heard of people using hammerite but I'm looking for a bright blue colour.

Thanks

 

[dave]

take them off and wire brush them

 

[reinventingyourexit]

I was hoping not to have to take off the alloys as I've just had them aligned.

 

[dave]

taking them off wont effect alinement, i also meant take the calipers off to clean them good, don't paint them with the pads in, and don't paint the bits the pads slide on as that can stick them up

 

[Hellcat]

Gunk... That should clean them up. Then spray them down with brake cleaner. They should then be free of grit and grease etc. Then you can just prep with glasspaper wet n dry and paint.

 

[reinventingyourexit]

Brilliant! Thanks for all the info. Ah so it won't affect alignment? In that case then I may just paint them.

Any ideas what paint this is? Or what I should use?

 

[dave]

smooth hammerite is fine for them and a lot cheaper than calliper paint

 

[reinventingyourexit]

Is it any particular hammerite or does it just say smooth on the tin? Might get going at this at the weekend

 

[reinventingyourexit]

Oh and should it be spray or paint? This guy has some good results with spray.
I notice how he says he left them for two weeks though?

 

[dave]

if you take them off and prep them well like he has then spray away, if not a brush will be easier.
took me 2 hours to get a pair ready for painting today and that was with electric wire brush, now i cant find my silver hammerite

 

[dave]

note how he has masked off where the pads sit

 

[reinventingyourexit]

I think I might clean them up for now then maybe try paint them over the next 2weeks since I'm off. Sweet job there though.

Had a good look at mine today and they're in great condition. Theres only 5000 miles on the car anyways. Is there anything that would clean them up without much effort? Like a spray or something?

 

[dave]

if they are that new you may get away with just brake cleaner

 

[reinventingyourexit]

I'll give it a shot now. Thanks

 

[vtec]

i just used hammerite on mine, and it came out pretty good.,
if you spray them you'll need to re pressurize the brake lines afterwards, or else paind them while there on but that would be messy., .