2g GSX caliper paint job

[Enjoi577]

Just a few basic questions that I cant seem to find an answer too. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS AND MY TERMINOLOGY MAY BE WRONG.

First off, took the calipers off and decided to repaint them since the other guys paint is all chipped and looks horrible. I took them apart, pulled the pistons (the two bolts that like, screw in a little bit, but are more of a "pin" to hold it together...that makes sense right, that they would be the pistons?) and made a drill bit with a wire brush and attached it to my power drill. Iv been "grinding" away all the paint off and pretty much getting the calipers down to bare metal with the wire brush/drill bit/thing.

Question 1: When I pulled the pistons out, they may have gotten dirty. Im not positive, but theres the chance, so do I need to clean it any specific way before I put the calipers back together? Or should I not touch it and leave the lube on thats already on it? Seems it would make sense to clean it and reapply brake fluid or oil or something.

Question 2: The little hole the piston slides into (opposite end of the "Screwing" part), should I lube it up in there or what? When I unscrewed the piston as far it would, then started pulling, there was an obvious suction, so will this just happen when I reconnect the brake lines and flush the system and all that, or should I rub some brake fluid in the hole before I put everything back together?

Thanks for bearing with the bad explanations...

 

[Enjoi577]

Or if anyone wants to point me to a thread I may have missed, thatd be cool too. Thanks!

 

[Enjoi577]

Also, feel free to tell me to delete this part or not answer or whatever. I have black rims with a gold decal on them, gold lug nuts, and a white GSX. Do you guys think it would look good to have the calipers gold and match everything, or would it to much gold or too flashy or what? I cant decide if I should paint the calipers classic red, or...."ricer" (???) gold? I dont know, Im at a crossroad and not very good at photoshop. Plus it doesnt help that apparently NO ONE has done that (according to google images), but maybe thats for a reason? eff.

 

[Insane20]

I believe your referring to the caliper slides, to answer your questions you need to wire wheel the slides then put either anti seize or silicone paste on the slides. Then for the holes spray brake clean in them, put the slide in and work it in and out. Then hit everything with brake clean again, apply some more lube to the slides, then put it together making sure everything is nice and free.

 

[Enjoi577]

ok, so wire wheel the bolts that only half screw, then put some anti seize stuff; got it. Spray brake fluid in the holes, ok. The two bigger holes with a rubber ring are very rusted. Anything I could/can do to fix that or is it just how it is? Also (I just noticed), out of the 4 slides, 2 are different from the rest and eachother...is this any reason for concern?

 

[RamenPride]

ok, so wire wheel the bolts that only half screw, then put some anti seize stuff; got it. Spray brake fluid in the holes, ok. The two bigger holes with a rubber ring are very rusted. Anything I could/can do to fix that or is it just how it is? Also (I just noticed), out of the 4 slides, 2 are different from the rest and eachother...is this any reason for concern?

The half threaded bolts are the guide pin and lock pins (I think you referred to these as "pistons," but those are the two large cylindrical objects inside the caliper). I think the top pin is the guide and has a rubber bushing at the end, the bottom pin is the lock pin and does not have a bushing. You can always buy new ones if they're that corroded. Do not spray brake fluid into the holes on the bracket, use brake cleaner. If the holes on the bracket where the pins bolt are rusty and corroded, that means water has gotten inside. You might need something similar to a large pipe cleaner to clean it out. You do want to use fresh brake & caliper grease, but make sure you get all the old grease out. Some greases aren't compatible and you'll likely end up with sticky calipers if you don't get the old grease out first.

 

[Enjoi577]

Ok that makes a lot more sense. One of the rubbing bushing was stuck inside the caliper, thats why they looked different. The two large cylindrical objects, pistons, are more rusty then the holes that the pins go into. I bet water has gotten in there, but cant understand why. How would I prevent this in the future? Ill be sure to clean the inside of those with brake CLEANER though. When you say get the old grease out, do you just mean the old brake fluid thats inside? I take the brake bolt (the one with the hole in it) out, and just...turn the caliper upside down right? How else would I get that brake fluid out?

 

[2slow4now]

I believe he's talking about the old grease in the slide/guide pin holes.
If you want the paint to stick you need the surface as clean as possible. Brake cleaner everything.

The internet is your friend. https://www.google.com/webhp?source...US469&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=caliper rebuild
Might be a few tech articles on here to help. Have fun.

 

[Afizzle]

When you get a chance, spray the bleeder valves with some PB blaster or equivalent and break them loose while the caliper is off the car. Sounds like your calipers are rusty and those bleeder valves are easy to break, and you will need them to bleed the brakes after you reinstall the calipers.

 

[pksystems]

What I did when I powdercoated my rears (haven't done fronts yet)

Leave piston in the caliper for entire process to keep bores clean.
Pushed the piston all the way into the caliper. Left the piston seals in place. (will use a rebuild kit to replace all seals)
Pulled the slide pins. Plugged the slide pin holes.
Remove rubber flex line to try and get rid of any excess fluid.
Cut old caliper flex line in half, reinstall/tighten and plug cut end with a screw/tape. I was replacing mine with new braided lines.
Leave bleed screw in place. Break it loose, and retighten (they will be replaced)

Sandblasted everything, including the hollow section in the middle of the pistons.

Cleaned/etched the caliper with RustBullet Metalblast phosphoric acid cleaner. It's bascially an acid etch primer.

Wipe till clean, let air dry.

Toss it in oven to outgas. Clean again if necessary.

Powdercoated.

Dis-assemble the caliper. Pull rubber boots. Put a rag over some wood, place it in caliper as a backstop, shoot piston out with compressed air (watch your fingers).

If you used paint, be careful with cleaner/fluid. Brake cleaner took a tiny bit of gloss off my Powdercoat. It will probably eat most paint.
Clean piston/bores with brake cleaner/clean rag. Put a light coat of brake fluid in bore.
Rebuild caliper. New piston seals, new piston boots.

Clean out any gunk in caliper slides. I put a couple pipe cleaners into a cordless drill. Fold/twist the cleaners a couple times till they are ~2" long.
Spray in some liquid wrench/wd40 whatever, and run the drill for a bit. Wipe pipe cleaners on a rag, repeat till the bores on slide holes look clean.

Grease slide pins with caliper lube.

Reinstall pins in proper locations. There are letters on the caliper, and pin heads. (L) Lock, and (G) Guide I believe.

Painting should be similar, just skip the outgas bit. Don't really need to sandblast, just give them a good scrub with wire brush and clean with brake cleaner.