Advice needed on Painting/Prepping Brake Calipers

[Tidybuoy]

I just got a set of Turbo calipers and I want to get them to new condition.

The calipers are in overall good shape but they have been painted once. The prior owner painted everything, including the rubber covers over the bleeder and some of the rubber dust covers.

I'm going to rebuild and replace all rubber parts.

My questions:

What's the best way to strip the paint - I was planning on using a glass beader but I know there are issues with maintaining the cylinder bores. I was going to glass bead being careful to avoid the cylinder area.

Another option would be to carefully use a stripper - any comments?

Is it possible to have these power coated and what precautions must be taken. I was thinking to bring them in with the old cylinder/dust covers in place - then replace the dust covers but would these hold up to baking in the oven?

I want to maintain a completely stock look so I want to strip the bolts that are currently painted black. I was thinking to do these one at a time so as not to split the caliper open.

The Porsche lettering....on these brakes (968) the lettering appears to be painted but I'm sure it's some type of sticker, where can I get these?

Thanks in advance.......................................Vern

[kdjones2000]

Vern,

Not sure about the 968 ones, but I just used an aerosol can of aircraft stripper on my 951 fronts, and that removed the old clear coat without a lot of issues. I have now cleaned up a set of 928 S4 and stock 951 front calipers, so I am beginning to feel like an expert

The stock calipers were painted over all of the rubber bits as well, and the stripper will remove all of that stuff and take them down to metal. Get a stiff toothbrush and maybe a soft wire brush to get it all off, should take maybe 4 applications.

The 951 calipers are already anodized black, and the bolts are Cadmium plated. So they look pretty good with just a good high temperature clear coat on them.





Good luck,

Keith

PS: You could have saved yourself the effort and bought my stock 951 calipers in the first place

[Techno Duck]

I stripped 8 calipers using glass bead. The original finish is pretty tough and i ended up using aluminum oxide because it was taking forever with the glass bead. As long as you plug the brake line inlet there is no problem with media blasting it. The seals will keep all the dirt out. Just make sure you rinse / wash the caliper thoroughly before using it. This took FOREVER to do, and if i were to do it again i would use Aircraft Stripper as Keith said, which is readily available at most autoparts stores.

[Tidybuoy]

Thanks guys.

I used aircraft stripper on my phondials before powdercoating so I will probably go that route on the calipers and finish up with the bead blasting. I think I have 10 gallons of alumium oxide thanks to harbor freight.

Keith, you calipers look great. I hope to do a similar job with mine. And, you answered one of my mental questions....I was wondering where the brake line hooks up (I've only had the calipers for a day and I was just thinking....Hmmm, I did not notice any hookup for the brake lines).

Vern

[kdjones2000]

One other thing: I do not recommend removing the steel plates at either end of the opening for the pads. The Allen head bolts are usually frozen, plus you should be able to clean things up well enough without removing them.

Just for fun, here is a sort of "Before/After" picture:

[DSPTurtle]

Gosh, I wish those would fit on a 1983 NA!!!

[kdjones2000]

Won't they? Not sure about the fitment with early offset...

Certainly could be some clearance issues with 15" wheels.

[Techno Duck]

They do fit, you just need to change the front spindles with those from a '86 944 Turbo. 16'' wheels are also a requirement.

[DSPTurtle]

Not sure that changing the spindles would be an allowable change for 944 Cup. I will check. Anyone got a spare set of turbo spindles laying around