Painting/cleaning calipers

[Adam318i]

Right well i've got my 325 calipers and ive started to sand them down.



Still got to do the one on the left, on the one i've done ive brushed away the powder rust, but should i clean the surface with something aswell?

Only thing a have to hand is WD40, this ok? And will it affect the finish when i put the Hammerite on.

Is water ok, i'll make sure its completely dry before painting?

Cheers,

Adam

[E30BeemerLad]

not done this before and someone else will probably have a better idea, but I would avoid using WD40 as it has an oil content so won't help the pain to adhere to the calipers when you start spraying.

I would recommend you use a wire brush on them to shift the rust as much as possible and then if you need to wash them off, I would use parafin or white spirit.

anyone else with any tips?

[Martinaston]

you could try a degreaser as long as it evaporates after

[Adam318i]

Hmmm, ok well i wont use the WD40 then, didnt think it was a good idea

Using the sand paper has got most of the rust off, well the bits that im painting anyway, no point doing the whole caliper as you dont see the back of it.

I'll see if my mate has any brake cleaning spray, if not, might use a bit of white spirit.

Adam

[Adam318i]

Right thanks for your help guys, blagged a wire brush and engine cleaner/degreaser from my neighbour.

Will post finished pics in the styling/ice section.

Adam

[AndyTouring]

I used Halfords brake cleaner to wash off the muck after wire brushing.

Make sure the paint is warm before you start otherwise it starts to go claggy.
Put it on a radiator for a while or in a pan of very hot water to thin out.

[E30Mark]

Put it on a radiator for a while or in a pan of very hot water to thin out.

you got the central heating on then....

[Brianmoooore]

On the lowcost (kitcar) forum, they recommend washing soda, electricity, and a large piece of iron as an electrode to clean rusty calipers etc.

[Adam318i]

Well there both done now so to late for all that malarky

Got a rocker cover on the way and some black Hammerite so thats my next little thing to do

Adam

[Jos]

On the lowcost (kitcar) forum, they recommend washing soda, electricity, and a large piece of iron as an electrode to clean rusty calipers etc.

It don't work very well tbh, I tried it with a few bits and pieces. It smells bad and takes ages to clean anything. The sacrifical anode gets rusty as hell really fast though.

I might give it another go and try leaving it longer, or maybe using 24v instead of 12v.

Don't worry about using WD40, just get a can of spray surface cleaner from Halfrauds, alcohol based 0 residue cleaner, great stuff.

[smithy318i]

You have inspired me to paint mine !

[E30BeemerLad]

bloody hell Smithy, those calipers looked like they had been dragged from the sea bed!

another job on the list

[Adam318i]

, they do look like they've been dragged off the sea bed.

Here's what mine look like now, lovely 325 brakes





The hoses look sweet to mate

Adam

[smithy318i]

bloody hell Smithy, those calipers looked like they had been dragged from the sea bed!

another job on the list

Its the spare set off the breaker. There's still life in them yet !

[Hyperion]

oh my god smithy, those looked finished, i would have just thrown them out without thinking. But great job!

Did you take a tetanus shot???

[dazleeds]

did you beat someone to death with em???

blood red calipers

[glenn]

i did mine the other day too!
did mine with black hammerite.






i also painted the bells in the discs

[dazleeds]

now thats a nice looking caliper

would they fit an e30 without fitting all the 5stud stuff??

[Jos]

bloody hell Smithy, those calipers looked like they had been dragged from the sea bed!

another job on the list

That's the rustiest caliper I think I have ever seen lol, and yes dragged from the seabed is a perfect description, I probably would have thrown that away after looking at it..