Sand Blasting Calipers

[HRV-00S]

Hey Hey,

 

I just picked up some HILUX 4x4 calipers for my rolla and was thinking about giving them a coat of paint to clean them up a bit.

 

I was thinking about chucking them in the medium blaster at work, but I don't want to strip them because they work fine.

 

Can I just mask off any areas that should be avoided like the pistons? obviously it will need some heavy duty tape or a few layers at least.

 

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the do's and don't's.

 

Cheers Dan

[WinKE55]

I thought you would of taken the pistons out of it before you try and sand blast it? Or I just thought maybe just a good strong cleaning agent.

 

Though I'm sure other will answer your questions more educated then me hehe.

[smitty1]

I thought you would of taken the pistons out of it before you try and sand blast it? Or I just thought maybe just a good strong cleaning agent.

 

Though I'm sure other will answer your questions more educated then me hehe.

When they were doing the GTR brake upgrade on the R33 4door in Zoom a while back, they used an industrial degreaser and scrubbing brush (maybe a wire brush) before they painted them.

 

Cheers, Ian

[flat out]

iv herd that disk break cleaner will strip them back like new, worth a try

[Rollaboy2608]

never sand blast calipers. if you get the fluid galleries full of sand you'll struggle to get it all out, and it will cause leaks.

 

use a soft wire wheel

[philbey]

yeh, the rule of thumb with sandblasting is: if you don't want sand hard to get places, don't sandblast.

 

Even with masking the sand gets in everywhere!

[HRV-00S]

So thats a no then, fair enough.

 

I was just being a lazy bastard anyway

 

Thanks guy's

[KE30_KE35_KE55]

So thats a no then, fair enough.

 

I was just being a lazy bastard anyway

 

Thanks guy's

 

No proplem blasting them, I have many times before usually before dismantleing, plug all holes ,mask up rubbers ,blow off with air before painting.

[Pieman]

Industrial strength degreaser like POR15's one, a toothbrush, assorted wire wheels and tiny dremel wire wheels works well. Just be careful of the rubber boot around the piston.

[love ke70]

just don't paint them :cool:

[HRV-00S]

just don't paint them :dance:

 

 

 

Hahaha,

 

I like your style :cool:

 

Why paint when you can polish them 8/

[tas_ae71]

i brought wheels that had been sand blasted, i wouldnt recommend it with alloy anything, they are quite deeply pitted, take quite a bit of sanding to get the dish to its original spec. alloy is just too soft....

Edited March 27, 2008 by tas_ae71

[HRV-00S]

i brought wheels that had been sand blasted, i wouldnt recommend it with alloy anything, they are quite deeply pitted, take quite a bit of sanding to get the dish to its original spec. alloy is just too soft....

 

 

 

I think it would depend what blasting medium was used and who was using it as well, but yes your right about the alloy being easily damaged. I've cleaned up some calipers with a soft wire wheel and if your not careful it can make a real mess real quick especially if you plan on polishing them.

 

 

I've got a pair of old xt130 corona calipers that I might test out in the blaster first, see how they go :D

[love ke70]

soda blasting may be a better bet...

[HRV-00S]

soda blasting may be a better bet...

 

 

 

Yeah, I'll have to find out what there running through there unit. I asked one of the 3rd year apprentices before and he looked at me like I was an idiot and said it was sand? not the brightest spark in the shed.

 

The stuffs almost white and kind of glass like, and slippery as f@#k when it gets on the floor.