Caliper paint and baking

[Bill L.]

70 L46 4 spd.

I painted the first caliper with VHT caliper paint. It says to bake them at 200 degrees for 1 hour to fully cure the paint.

Calipers are fully assembled. They were on the car and working fine before I removed them for painting. They were rebuilt by VBP about 4 years ago.

How hot do calipers get during normal use and is it safe to bake them at 200 degrees for 1 hour without doing any damage?

Thanks,



Bill

[Patrick H.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

I did mine while they were apart.

I'd think about using an IR lamp or heat lamp on them rather than the oven, though I suspect 200 degrees "might" not affect the rubber seals.

[Joe T.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

If were going to heat them I would pull the seals and pistons out so there is no rubber to get brittle. I woud also split the calipers since, as I recall, there are rubber "O" rings between the caliper halves and while the heat may be OK for them while they are on the car and working in brake fluid, being dry and heated may cause you problems immediatley or in the future...Just my $.02...

[Bill L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

I may take Patrick's advise and use a heat lamp. Hmmm.

How much is it to taking the calipers apart?


Thanks, Bill

[Jim T.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

The bolts if torqued to specs, they are not going to be easy to remove. Through experience I do not completely remove the caliper until the two bolts holding the caliper halves together are loose enough for removal. The top caliper retainer bolt is usually not easy to get a socket on unless both of the caliper mounting bolts are loose so the caliper can be moved to allow a socket on the top caliper housing retainer bolt. The lower caliper bolt is easily accessable. Same procedure is used to torque the caliper halves together.

[Larry M.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

The bolts if torqued to specs, they are not going to be easy to remove. Through experience I do not completely remove the caliper until the two bolts holding the caliper halves together are loose enough for removal. The top caliper retainer bolt is usually not easy to get a socket on unless both of the caliper mounting bolts are loose so the caliper can be moved to allow a socket on the top caliper housing retainer bolt. The lower caliper bolt is easily accessable. Same procedure is used to torque the caliper halves together.

Jim:

I agree.

But if you have already removed the calipers, you can use an impact wrench to loosen the bolts retaining the caliper halves. (Usually)Takes about 5 seconds with a good impact wrench. Can be done with the calipers on the ground.

Larry

[Bill L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

Well I appreciate all the advise. Thank you.

I have decided that disassembly will likely create more problems and I do not own an impact gun.

I was really hoping I could bake them fully assembled. Since that is not the case, I will try a heat lamp for a little baking, put them back on and use silicone brake fluid.

This is my first attempt at restoring a vette and what a learning curve.

Thank goodness for all the great people on this site willing to share their knowledge! Otherwise I would never get it right let alone finished.


Thanks again. Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

Well I appreciate all the advise. Thank you.

I have decided that disassembly will likely create more problems and I do not own an impact gun.

I was really hoping I could bake them fully assembled. Since that is not the case, I will try a heat lamp for a little baking, put them back on and use silicone brake fluid.

This is my first attempt at restoring a vette and what a learning curve.

Thank goodness for all the great people on this site willing to share their knowledge! Otherwise I would never get it right let alone finished.


Thanks again. Bill

Bill------

I think the calipers will get to at least 200 degrees during braking, but it will be for a rather limited period of time (unless you're on a long, downhill mountain road and you're riding the brakes).

The best way to paint the calipers is to paint the halves when the caliper is dis-assembled (which is how it was done originally, although not with high quality, heat and chemical-resistant paint).

At this point, I think I'd just put the calipers on the car and let the paint "heat-cure" in service.

[Bill L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

Joe,

That is exactly what I will do. If I ever do this again I will know.

Thank you so much.



Bill

[Paul J.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

I think I'd just put the calipers on the car and let the paint "heat-cure" in service.

...Amen....

[Joe L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

Joe,

That is exactly what I will do. If I ever do this again I will know.

Thank you so much.



Bill

Bill------



Take a ride eastbound on California State Highway 120 through and over Yosemite National Park. Just after you get to the entrance station on the eastern side of the park there is a very long, rather steep, downhill grade. When you get to the bottom your brake caliper paint will be completely cured.

By the way, you can only do this from about mid-May until mid-October. At other times, the road is closed due to snow. Besides curing your brake caliper paint you'll get one of the most spectacular rides in the country, if not the world.

[Michael W.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

If the material used for brake piston seals cannot withstand 200*F we're all in deep trouble. Not knowing what type seals are being used on the OP's calipers makes it slightly more difficult to give a precise answer. Here is a useful reference chart:

http://www.sealingspecialties.com/materials.htm

Being that the boiling point of brake fluid is 400*F or higher, I imagine that the caliper seals are good for that temperature or higher.

[Joe T.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

If the material used for brake piston seals cannot withstand 200*F we're all in deep trouble. Not knowing what type seals are being used on the OP's calipers makes it slightly more difficult to give a precise answer. Here is a useful reference chart:

http://www.sealingspecialties.com/materials.htm

Being that the boiling point of brake fluid is 400*F or higher, I imagine that the caliper seals are good for that temperature or higher.

AH...But dry?
I have take calipers apart to hone the cylinders (pre-stainless) and never had a problem with the re-assembly. But if they will get hot enough from use, why not?

[Bill L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

Love California Joe. Some day I hope to get back and in the vette with the top down would be a slice of heaven


Bill

[Bill L.]

Re: Caliper paint and baking

If the material used for brake piston seals cannot withstand 200*F we're all in deep trouble. Not knowing what type seals are being used on the OP's calipers makes it slightly more difficult to give a precise answer. Here is a useful reference chart:

http://www.sealingspecialties.com/materials.htm

Being that the boiling point of brake fluid is 400*F or higher, I imagine that the caliper seals are good for that temperature or higher.

I kinda felt that way too but I think I will bolt them and drive with two feet


Bill