Coating Calipers.

[mannanan]

I’m afraid I have no idea on pricing these days so could anyone please give me a rough idea of cost here in the UK. Looking to get my old front callipers from the F2 cleaned and coated as a single stand alone job. I have stripped them down so it’s just two callipers in four halves. Preferably a Ceracote finish if it’s not cost prohibitive. TIA.

[geoffers997]

I got mine vapour blasted and then I painted them with VHT calliper paint.

I’m no paint expert but they came up a treat.

Update: I did the callipers 2 years ago and they’ve stood up well. The paint is brake fluid resistant.

[steve63]

I've done a set of F2 and a set of LC calipers in 2K satin black. I'm gambling that they won't need any kind of extra heat paint on them but time will tell.

[jon]

I would have thought calipers don’t get hot enough to need high temperature paint?

Even cylinders can be done without high temperature paint.

I’m sure I sprayed the top case, cylinders and head in satin 2k on my F2 from memory.

Jon

[abar121]

Jun 13, 2023 17:19:12 GMT 1 geoffers997 said:

I got mine vapour blasted and then I painted them with VHT calliper paint.

I’m no paint expert but they came up a treat.

Update: I did the callipers 2 years ago and they’ve stood up well. The paint is brake fluid resistant.

Is that with DOT 4 brake fluid?

I still haven't found a paint for the calipers / m/c that will hold up to brake fluid. I've tried 2K, other caliper paint brands etc.

[dusty350]

Cerakote is brake fluid resistant. Paid 40 quid last time I had one blasted and coated, but that was a couple of years back.

Dusty🙂

[midlifecrisisrd]

Jun 15, 2023 13:48:51 GMT 1 dusty350 said:

Cerakote is brake fluid resistant. Paid 40 quid last time I had one blasted and coated, but that was a couple of years back.

Dusty🙂

I need to be building a painting shed and going into business cerakoting calipers lol

Steve

[charles13]

Jun 15, 2023 15:46:35 GMT 1 midlifecrisisrd said:

Jun 15, 2023 13:48:51 GMT 1 dusty350 said:

Cerakote is brake fluid resistant. Paid 40 quid last time I had one blasted and coated, but that was a couple of years back.

Dusty🙂

I need to be building a painting shed and going into business cerakoting calipers lol

Steve

That’s what I do but it’s not that easy, aside from the vented (to the outside) paint booth, I bought an industrial oven that uses 2 40A breakers, an industrial sandblasting cabinet (that promptly blew up my 5hp 2 stage compressor, so now I have a Industrial Quincy 5hp 2 stage that is twice the size (the compressor pump alone weighs over 200lbs) then; theres the big Acetone tank and; Cerakote is not cheap, it is a very bad Carcinogen so… my oven had to be vented to outside the garage, I needed a fresh air source, tyvek suits for every application and a respirator not to mention all the disposable filters for the booth and the paint guns. All in it is a very expensive startup but nothing beats Cerakote products for durability, heat dissipation and Color choices, nothing.

[midlifecrisisrd]

The C series isn't too bad. Not as toxic and no oven required but still enough heat, oil and fuel resistance

Sounds like a nice set up you have

Steve

[geoffers997]

Abar121 - I don’t recall which brake fluid I used and I’m away on a job for a few weeks so can’t check. For what it’s worth I got it in Halfords

As for Cerakote - I got my exhausts done well over a year ago and they are fantastic. Not a mark on them, worth every penny.

[mannanan]

Hmmm. Well I had a quote for the pair for around £110 and I guess post pandemic prices are well up on 2019 prices. My thoughts are these are a pair of callipers that are original to the bike so maybe it’s a case of getting them done for any future owner who may want to fit them should I be forced to sell. At the moment, the Triumph 955i callipers fitted are staying as they are fantastic and light years ahead of the originals. I have no intention of selling the bike as it now 23 years in my ownership but just thinking ahead for posterity. It still seems a bit pricey and not sure what to do really as I see it as a bike that I have a duty to conserve.

[dusty350]

Just checked some dates and it was 2019 when I got it done;

20190817_113501 by dusty miller, on Flickr

So I think £110 for a pair is a decent price now. As said, it's expensive stuff to buy but totally impervious to brake fluid, oil, petrol and heat so perfect for calipers

Dusty

[4l04ever]

I have had a few sets refurbished by Nick Chambers. A good option if you don't want to do any of the work yourself.

[JonW]

FYI, DOT4 is not what you should be using in the OEM brakes... its DOT3.

(it wont make any real difference to its paint stripping characteristics, but it will treat the seals correctly)

[JonW]

While I agree that you dont need heat resisting paint, calipers shouldnt get too hot, I use VHT caliper paint after blasting and cleaning up. Its a good colour and if the finish fails you can get it off as needed.

[philmill]

Jun 16, 2023 2:01:47 GMT 1 JonW said:

FYI, DOT4 is not what you should be using in the OEM brakes... its DOT3.

(it wont make any real difference to its paint stripping characteristics, but it will treat the seals correctly)

Thats interesting Jon, I've been using DOT 4 on all my last couple of brake rebuilds, I thought it didnt affect the paint (my hybrid had a leak and the paint wasn't affected) but I'm more concerned about the affects on seals, is the damage a long term or short term problem??

Phil

[midlifecrisisrd]

I'd say if the calipers have been rebuilt the new seals would be dot 4 compatible

Steve

[steve63]

The question I repeatedly ask and have never found an answer to is "what process did Yamaha use to coat the original items, calipers, engine cases, cylinders etc.?". It seems that whatever they use is impervious to heat, brake fluid and petrol but the only thing we can put on now that is impervious to those thing is a material not around back in the 70's. So what is it. They didn't even seem to use any primer either.

[midlifecrisisrd]

No doubt a paint we are no longer allowed due to H&S

Look at the original PJ1, was petrol proof but apparently is so lethal if you looked at the tin you will die a horrible death

How are we still alive? Remember having sticky nostrils till it cured as no such thing as masks back then without questioning your sexuality 😬

Steve

[JonW]

Jun 16, 2023 8:09:14 GMT 1 philmill said:

Jun 16, 2023 2:01:47 GMT 1 JonW said:

FYI, DOT4 is not what you should be using in the OEM brakes... its DOT3.

(it wont make any real difference to its paint stripping characteristics, but it will treat the seals correctly)

Thats interesting Jon, I've been using DOT 4 on all my last couple of brake rebuilds, I thought it didnt affect the paint (my hybrid had a leak and the paint wasn't affected) but I'm more concerned about the affects on seals, is the damage a long term or short term problem??

Phil

Wasnt it DOT 5 that was a silicone fluid as wouldnt eat paint?

It swells the seals if they are not compatible.

[JonW]

Jun 16, 2023 8:16:11 GMT 1 midlifecrisisrd said:

I'd say if the calipers have been rebuilt the new seals would be dot 4 compatible

Steve

Depends on what kit you used... whos to say what fluid the kits expect as the packets dont and maybe they are made to the original specs.

[84rzrider]

Probably not a popular choice but I run DOT5 in all my bikes and it works great for me and doesn't eat paint.

[JonW]

Ive used it in classic cars, but never in bikes. I think we talked about 'silly-fluid' before on here, im sure bare had something to say about it lol

[charles13]

Isn’t dot5 hygroscopic? I used it in my race bikes because of the boiling point but changed it often.

[JonW]

Jun 16, 2023 14:43:31 GMT 1 charles13 said:

Isn’t dot5 hygroscopic? I used it in my race bikes because of the boiling point but changed it often.

all brake fluid other than the silicone fluid takes on water

[4l04ever]

Has to before 5.0 to be the silicon based stuff. 5.1 is compatible with dot 4.

[stirling11]

Most Japanese vehicles, 2 or 4 wheeled use(d) DOT3

There was an ingredient in the DOT4 that was illegal in Japan

If your bike has the original brake lines and seals then DOT4 will affect them, the lines lose their rigidity and when the brake is applied they will bulge out leaving you with little or no brakes, similarly the seals will swell and jam in the master cylinders

I’ve seen it on a Toyota Landcruiser back in the 80’s, the mechanic I was assisting couldn’t get brake pressure on the pedal, which when depressed went to the floor, all lines were bled multiple times, so no air in them, then I spotted one of the rubber lines bulging when he pressed the pedal

I asked him what fluid he was using, he said DOT4 of course, that’s when I showed him the top of the reservoir where it said use DOT3 only, I’d obviously come across it on my bikes so it was the first thing I looked for

All brake lines and seals had to be replaced on a fleet of 60 vehicles, an expensive way to find out you’re using the wrong fluid

I can’t vouch for new or OEM type lines if they have the same issues, however if you read the top of your reservoir on the master cylinder it will say to use DOT3

Braided lines aren’t affected, however your rubber seals may well be

Check with your supplier would be my advice

HTH

[stirling11]

Back on topic, like JonW I used VHT calliper paint

You need to bake the calliper after painting, I used the gas BBQ, put the halves in cold and allowed them to heat up and cool down slowly

The paint becomes fluid and creates a really good smooth finish

At $26 AUD per can I did about 6 sets, and the paint is brake fluid proof