Brake Caliper Rebuild and Powder Coating Services????

landman · #1 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 05:10 PM

I have planned to powder coat and the rebuild my brake calipers. Nice simple project right? Well as I was extracting the FIRST brake piston I had a C-clamp on one side and using an air house to push the other piston out, with no luck, all of sudden POW the piston shot out like a high power air rifle right in my finger. Long story short since my finger has swelled up the size of the caliper itself and I am kinda burned out on this project does anyone know somebody that provides a service of Brake Caliper rebuild and powder coating (or painting if only possiblity)

Thanks

ossodiseppia · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landman

I have planned to powder coat and the rebuild my brake calipers. Nice simple project right? Well as I was extracting the FIRST brake piston I had a C-clamp on one side and using an air house to push the other piston out, with no luck, all of sudden POW the piston shot out like a high power air rifle right in my finger. Long story short since my finger has swelled up the size of the caliper itself and I am kinda burned out on this project does anyone know somebody that provides a service of Brake Caliper rebuild and powder coating (or painting if only possiblity)

Thanks

**Tifosi** · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 07:18 PM

landman · #4 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ossodiseppia

It's just a flesh wound.

**Richard2** · #5 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 09:37 PM

Air is very violent. A grease fitting will gently screw into the fluid fitting hole, just do it gently and don't tighten it too much, then pump it up with grease. The piston will come out gentle, saving fingers and other important parts.

landman · #6 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard2

Air is very violent. A grease fitting will gently screw into the fluid fitting hole, just do it gently and don't tighten it too much, then pump it up with grease. The piston will come out gentle, saving fingers and other important parts.

1166 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 11:03 PM

I use an old giulietta pedal box and an old used 22mm 1600GTV master cylinder to get them apart. You could do the same thing one your car. I have a brake flex hose with an adaptor to screw into the caliper and then I just pump them apart. I hold the easy piston with a large C clamp and pump out the difficult piston. Then I remove the seal, clean the bore with fine sandpaper, scotchbright the piston, clean the bore, lube the piston and put it back in (it should slide in very easily). Then I pump out the easy piston and can then pull out the cleaned one very easily(the cleaner piston will leak fluid, but I can pump faster than it looses ...). I do it over a baking tray and it makes a mess, but it is VERY easy and safe. I have tried grease, but I hate trying to clean it all up. And you have to be careful with air and the huge cloud of brake fluid it creates when the piston pops out. Yes I drained the caliper first and it was not full of fluid, but what is left can make a heck of a cloud... It only takes a few minutes to do all 4 and I have never had this fail to get out a piston.

Powderman · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 10:39 PM

I have built 1000s of racing brake calipers and also learned the hard way that you dont want your fingers in the way when using air to extract the pistons. Air is still the preferred way , but use a block of wood in the gap and keep your fingers out of the way as that thing can take a finger off. I now powder coat full time and have done many calipers, correctly done by completely disassembling the caliper to blast and clean to bare fresh metal.
Marc the Powder Guy
Creative Candy Powder Coating
www.creativecandy.org

**PMB_Performance** · #9 (**permalink**) 09-01-2009, 09:50 PM

We can restore your calipers but we don't do powder.

Just finished these:

**Tifosi** · #10 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 06:10 AM

Ooohh, them are pri-tee.

Sprintn · #11 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 01:12 PM

PMB Performance,
How much $$$ to get my rear calipers looking like the above photo and working like new?
Thanks
Sprintn

**PMB_Performance** · #12 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 02:14 PM

That would be $299.00 for the pair. We use the USPS Flat Rate Boxes so... $9.85 shipping.

Sprintn · #13 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 02:20 PM

Ooo!!! So tempting. That seems to be the going rate though. Centerline wants $220 a pair for rebuilt rear calipers plus a $95 core charge.
Very nice work!
Thanks

**PMB_Performance** · #14 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 03:25 PM

But they paint theirs...

Do them right the first time.

Sprintn · #15 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 03:38 PM

So... when plating ther is no need for masking any of the surfaces?!?! Even the bore that the piston goes into and travels in?