M030 Callipers Painting

[gajh]

I am looking at painting my M030 callipers and wonder what the best method is to remove the old lacquer and paint and if I should split the callipers in half. I was thinking about using paint stripper and a wire brush, luckily there is no plate lift.

Thanks in advance

 

[robdimond]

Do not split the calipers in half!
There is a note in the workshop manual saying not to. The bolts and torque specs are not available. Apparently they can warp and it's not possible to get them back together properly.

The best method is to get them blasted and replace all the seals/check the pistons. Paint stripper will work on the laquer.

If the seals are the old scraper ring type it will be very expensive to replace the seals/pistons as only available from Porsche.

 

[robwright]

+1 for that do not split the callipers. Opening up a can of worms.

 

[zcacogp]

Interesting. Why would the calipers warp if you split them in half?

The reason I ask is that I did split both my rear ones in half, despite the (strong) warning in the manuals. I asked my indie why this was a bad idea and he said he didn't know, so I went ahead and did it.

That was about 60,000 miles ago and all has been well since. Was I lucky?


Oli.

 

[gajh]

I think i will take caution and not split them just in case

Thanks

 

[robdimond]

Interesting. Why would the calipers warp if you split them in half?

I think it's one of these questions like 'can you re-ring alusil bores without re-honing them'. Many people do and it's fine.
I don't really understand the mechanism for warping. Something to do with temperature cycling and the bolts keeping the two halves under compression?

Perhaps you really need a factory jig to ensure the two halves go together properly?
Anyway... it's possible to do a very good powder coating job, remove the caliper plates (i'm a big fan of the welding a nut on technique!) and change all of the seals without splitting them, so why take the risk?

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: robdimond
Perhaps you really need a factory jig to ensure the two halves go together properly?
Anyway... it's possible to do a very good powder coating job, remove the caliper plates (i'm a big fan of the welding a nut on technique!) and change all of the seals without splitting them, so why take the risk?

It certainly is possible to do this, but access to the plate bolts is much easier if you split them. And I was curious why splitting them would be a bad idea - it's a question I have asked before and never had a very satisfactory answer to! However the bolts are certainly done up very tightly indeed, which lends weight to the 'warping' theory.


Oli.

 

[gajh]

Well it was all going well stripping them and then one of the bleed nipples snapped, so tried to use an easy out which also snapped so i am now a bit stuck with a broken nipple (calliper that is) with a broken easy out stuck in it. So looks like i will have to drill it out using ever increasing drill bit sizes until i can get the thread of the nipple out, has anyone had experience with this type of problem and is there an easier solution

 

[Kongsodoken]

Drill and helicoil

better to clamp to a pedistal drill, you need M10x1 helicoil tap[]

 

[vitesse]

Personally,I wouldn't think a helicoil repair is appropriate on a brake caliper bleed nipple--however I stand being corrected.

 

[Kongsodoken]

worked perfectly on mine[] ........I know it the route that "porschecalipers.co.uk" take

 

[gajh]

Well I have finally got around to getting the broken nipple out, managed to use the method of using a bolt welded to the nipple and a little bit of heat and all is good. Now just to finish stripping and getting old paint off. Can anyone recommend a good company for powder coating.

Thanks to all those that provide advice on how to sort this out

 

[zcacogp]

I didn't powder coat mine; just applied some black smoothrite paint. (Calipers don't get as hot as everyone thinks they do - they have rubber seals in them and those wouldn't last very long if they did.)


Oli.

 

[gajh]

that is just the normal paint on hammerrite paint is that correct

 

[J.C944TurboMan]

Would you consider painting them red ?
There are loads of different High Temperature paint offered on ebay , all different colours .
Then just apply some small Porsche caliper stickers once you have painted them.

 

[tobybanks]

I was talking to the guy at Big Red and he wont split Brembo alloy calipers because of the Bimetallic corrosion between each of the alloy castings and the big bolts holding them together.He reckons you may be lucky and get a couple of them undone and removed , but you're pushing the envelope to get all four undone and removed.

Toby

 

[gajh]

Why the question about RED? I do like the yellow or gold, I was thinking of just painting the porsche lettering a different colour so wouldn't need the calliper stickers.

 

[gajh]

I have decided not to split them as it could cause problems

ORIGINAL: tobybanks

I was talking to the guy at Big Red and he wont split Brembo alloy calipers because of the Bimetallic corrosion between each of the alloy castings and the big bolts holding them together.He reckons you may be lucky and get a couple of them undone and removed , but you're pushing the envelope to get all four undone and removed.

Toby

 

[J.C944TurboMan]

Red stands out more through the wheels , that's all . You can paint them any colour your hart desires .
There are loads of different colours to choose from .

I am also a Communist

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: gajh

that is just the normal paint on hammerrite paint is that correct

Yes. You can thin it with some acetone and spray it if you are feeling so inclined, but a brush works just fine.


Oli.