How to clean 3.2 Carrera Calipers?
 

Guys,

I have a set of 3.2 Carrera calipers that I'd like to clean up. I've tried soap, water and brillo pads, but I'd like to get a cleaner finish. Could I media blast them? Or what would you recommend?

Thanks!

Have you tried carb cleaner in a spray can? I would chill on blasting as it may roughen the surface and collect dirt faster (but not sure).

If you buy carb cleaner in a one gallon can and dip/soak them that will do the trick if they are disassembled. Rubber parts will swell and become useless in that stuff.

"Purple Stuff"....50/50 mix with water. Adjutate with a wire brush.

I blasted mine with excellent results. Then I was dumb. I sprayed them with WD40 thinking that it would prevent them from rusting. It didn't.

So feel free to blast. Just come up with a better rust preventative than I did.

I sort of half a$$ tried a couple of things, including brake cleaner but they still look pretty grimy. What concerns me is whether or not there is any sort of surface treatment you need to be careful with. Are they anodized or anything? I really can't tell since they are so dirty. I'd like to paint mine but I don't want peeling paint which looks worse that a dirty caliper. Were you planning to paint them or just try to clean them up?

The calipers were originally cadmium plated. New or reman'd ones nowadays are zinc plated.

You can definitely blast them. A fella recently showed his restoration skills here.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/660577-brake-caliper-rebuild.html

He's going to black oxide treat them. I'd have them replated or powder coated. But remember their just iron, so if you leave them raw, they're going to have a nice orangy finish to them.

:)

I bought a small Soda Blasting unit from Harbor Freight and it works wonderful for these small parts.

Do it outside or build a cabinet of some sort (wooden one w a light, gloves & a plastic window will work) that is semi air tight with a vacuum cleaner to draw out the dust.

Cleans aluminum parts like you would not believe.

Len

:)

just a warning... carb cleaner with eat at the rubber unless you are planning on replacing all that.

By the way, I will be posting more pictures tonight to update. I just got done the oxidizing treatment in the lab today. They turned out great. Then off to powder coat on the areas I want powder.

When in doubt, talk to Eric. PMB Performance: About Us (801) 674-3669