Rebuilding Calipers and Prepping for Powder Coat. Advice Plz

[RandyMarsh303]

I purchased a set of 05 LGT front and rear brakes a few months ago and I am finally getting around to doing something with them.

These dont really need to be rebuilt from what I can see, they came from a low mileage vehicle. But they need to be stripped in order to media blast and powder coat, I have a few questions regarding this process. First off, Can I reuse everything instead of buying some form of rebuild kit (assuming everything is in good condition) ? Are there any tricks to disassemble and assemble? Also very key, What surfaces should I be sure to mask off to prevent damage from the media blasting and also from being coated?

Any rotor and pad recommendations?

Also Need some opinions on color options. My BD is Spruce Green and I am planning on keeping that way :grin: Colors in mind are red, blue, yellow, gold, gloss black, and neon green (my favorite color for anything). I will also be be doing the "subaru" logo on them in some contrasting color black/white. I like the idea of gloss black with neon green SUBARU :smt025 Open to suggestions those are just a few

Thanks for the opinions and dont forget to vote!

PLEASE VOTE EVEN IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND

Something like this
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/08/05lgtfrontcaliper-1.jpg

[harrymaneuvers]

I can help with this. I recommend taping off the entire inside of the caliper with http://www.3m.com/brands/scotch/toughta ... tdoor.html (http://www.3m.com/brands/scotch/toughtape/products_outdoor.html)

Trust me on this... taping off with blue painters tape will not hold up as well when sand blasting.

I would also put some tape over the bleed valve.

If you are going to take the pistons out of the caliper, you might as well spring for the $18 kit that comes with new piston seal rings, dust boots and clips.


Best way to get the pistons out is to take a book or square crow bar that is roughly the same thickness as your OEM rotor.

Put the book or bar in the caliper in the same position that a rotor would be. Get your air compressor and put on a trigger air spout with rubber tip. PSI to maybe 25-40 psi at the most... start REALLY LOW and SLOWLY increase the PSI until you start to see the pistons start to pop up.

Trust me when I say that you need to start slow and low... if you just crank it up to 40 psi and pull the trigger, it will sound like a shotgun went off and hopefully the piston was contained by the book or bar in the caliper. If not, you might be looking for a hole in your roof, wall, hand ect.

DO NOT GET YOUR HAND OR FINGERS ANYWHERE NEAR THE PISTONS AS YOU APPLY PSI TO THE BRAKE LINE HOLE!!!

When I did this the first time, I thought that I could just put my palm down on the piston and slowly increase PSI while feeling the resistance through my hand... piston blasted out and caught the top of my finger... another couple cm's and I very well could have lost a part of my finger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jp2OCidBV4


viewtopic.php?f=12&t=22927 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=22927)


Let me know if you have other questions!!


Pad/rotor combo... I am currently running Hawk HPS pads and EBC Ultimaxx Blackdash rotors... I love them except the HPS pads are really dusty. They bite pretty well though.

If I had to do it again, I would probably just go with a nice set of Duralast C-Max Gold brake pads. They are high grade ceramic with a REALLY nice built in shim system for no noise "guaranteed".

My .02 cents


I vote for Yellow with black lettering as I think it would go great with the spruce green color. Consider that any light or bright color will make brake dust just that much more noticeable.


I would like to see a Flat Black/ Gunmetal finish as even the glossy black will show brake dust dulling the glossy appearance. I really like the way that AMG does their calipers.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/08/imagesqtbnANd9GcTWjPZZBecOVw7U8qaHqVpgfc-1.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTTCRxQ3Fsh8qzsVl_CI4peZUrrvq3R4MRlQqYWfTVPDsHHulOb

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/08/mercedesc63amgbremssattelbremboharearbra-1.jpg

Orange on black?

http://www.ramspeedautomotive.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Mercedes-ML-350-AMG-Grey-Custom-Painted-AMG-Brake-Calipers-Ramspeed-Automotive-2.jpg?9d7bd4

[RandyMarsh303]

Thank you my friend that helps out a great deal. I might be asking some more questions as I start getting them apart but this will get me started. I will definitely spring for the rebuild kit, i did not realize it was so cheap.

I thought about the whole brake dust issue and it does worry me this is why I threw the black in there, a flat is a good idea. Yellow does seem like a good contrast, i love the way all the yellow looks under the hood and whiteline has a yellow parts so that may be the one but still undecided. Also that orange is SEXY just not sure about the orange and green.

PLEASE VOTE EVEN IF YOU DO NOT TYPE A RESPONSE

[harrymaneuvers]

IDK man... the orange and green pops!!!!!

[02_Legacy]

Black with lime green lettering, first off lime green is where it is at! I prefer painting things with a dark main color and very bright accents so its not like LOOK AT ME, but its still something that you can catch out of the corner of your eye.
Just my opinion.

[RandyMarsh303]

40 VIEWS AND ONLY FIVE VOTES... NOT TO MENTION EVERYONE VOTED DIFFERENTLY.

PLEASE VOTE

[Huffer]

Spruce green car?

Black calipers with orange lettering.

[chuckthefuk]

gloss black calipers with flat black letters. subtle yo!