Good caliper cleaner?

DetailKitty

DetailKitty

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Anyone have any good tips for getting some really nasty calipers clean?
I'm going to repaint a set I bought and they are FILTHY!
Already used an entire can of brake cleaner on them with little results.

Thx.
 
Are they factory or aftermarket painted calipers?
If you haven't already tried Sonax FE, give it a shot.
Another trick we use to do is a stiff scrub brush and brake fluid. Toothbrush for the nooks and crannies.
If all else fails and you can't get the stains out, you could always send em out for an acid dip and nitrate coating.
 
Besides a strong degreaser and Iron-X you are probably looking at blasting or recoating. Either of which will require disassembly for obvious reasons. I do a lot of calipers for my powder coating business and they can be impossible to get truly clean if they are bare cast.
 
Google "Citra-Plus Gorham Maine".

That stuff forks wonders for non acid solution to caked on brake dust. It also removes the blooming off of tires better than anything else I've used to date.

If you're repainting and the calipers are off the car, some muriatic acid will clean that caked on brake dust right off but it's really nasty dangerous stuff so if you don't have the proper PPE I wouldn't use it.

If you do use the acid, follow it with an alkaline cleaner or baking soda to neutralize any residual acid that will be left behind in the casting.
 
Someone else mentioned abrasive blasting too, which would probably be the quickest most effective method. There are plenty of businesses out there that will do it for you.
 
Woah thx guys!

ok,

1. yes, it is factory paint.
2. they are off the car (bought them used as an upgrade)
3. haven't tried any of this stuff yet
4. I do have Sonax FE, so I could give that a shot
5. the acid idea sounds like the start of possible super powers :eek:

I was able to break them apart, so I should be able to get at all the corners and nooks better.
 
Monica, just through I would give u some personal opinion

I have done what u are asking in the past, no matter how much and what degreaser u use to clean, it is impossible to clean off the dirt and stains that is already on the caliper.

Abrasive blasting is most effective, however unless u have the connection to get the job done, basically it will not be worth it to pay full price to do all that. You might as well get some brembos if u actually go through the blasting process.

Just clean as best u can, and in my cases the paint went on fine. Held up good until I sold the car but it was only a year.
Get some g2 caliper paint..... They seem to be good.
However whatever paint u choose, none will withstand brake fluid
 
Yup, got the G2 paint already.
I don't expect to get them perfect, but I don't think they need to be for the paint to go on ok.
 
Use a stiff brush and scrub it with some degreaser at full strength.
It should turn out pretty good. I did that with my old truck and painted the calipers in gold lol
 
DetailKitty said:
Yup, got the G2 paint already.
I don't expect to get them perfect, but I don't think they need to be for the paint to go on ok.
Click to expand...

I painted my rear calipers with G2. I would recommend using brake cleaner with a wire brush. As for the G2, I strongly recommend you paint doing multiple light coats with the supplied brush. Since they're of the car, take your time...what color?
 
EvolutionDetail said:
Use a stiff brush and scrub it with some degreaser at full strength.
It should turn out pretty good. I did that with my old truck and painted the calipers in gold lol
Click to expand...

Woah... gold? Damn! :laughing:
 
Yup I originally bought them to refinish some brembos but I realized unless it is powder coated it will be pointless so I had it sitting in the corner.

So one day I was replacing my brakes on my truck, I bought a set of reman calipers, and painted them before reinstalling it on the truck.
 
28ONE said:
I painted my rear calipers with G2. I would recommend using brake cleaner with a wire brush. As for the G2, I strongly recommend you paint doing multiple light coats with the supplied brush. Since they're of the car, take your time...what color?
Click to expand...

Yep, once everything is as cleaned up as possible, I will tape off the important stuff and take my time.
I'm painting them black... not exciting.
I also bought stickers to replace on them. I will be using high-temp clear to go over them.
 
DetailKitty said:
Yep, once everything is as cleaned up as possible, I will tape off the important stuff and take my time.
I'm painting them black... not exciting.
I also bought stickers to replace on them. I will be using high-temp clear to go over them.
Click to expand...

I painted mine black because of black Brembo's on the front...I've heard of horror stories about clear on G2 paint from my mustang forum. It's been almost 7 months and still glossy. Just put PBL coating on my Brembo's, already have them on the wheels, cleaning is sooooo much easier.
 
28ONE said:
I painted mine black because of black Brembo's on the front...I've heard of horror stories about clear on G2 paint from my mustang forum. It's been almost 7 months and still glossy. Just put PBL coating on my Brembo's, already have them on the wheels, cleaning is sooooo much easier.
Click to expand...

I have to clear over the stickers or they will come right off from what I hear. I've heard positive stories about it. Hoping it's that way for me :xyxthumbs:
 
Blasting and Brembo brakes shouldn't be even remotely comparable. For basic single coat jobs I clean, outgas, blast and coat calipers for $200 give or take.

In my area blasting four calipers should rarely exceed $50 if you are doing all the disassembly.
 
28ONE said:
I painted my rear calipers with G2. I would recommend using brake cleaner with a wire brush. As for the G2, I strongly recommend you paint doing multiple light coats with the supplied brush. Since they're of the car, take your time...what color?
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did with mine. The G2 kit is a great kit. Much better than the duplicolor in terms of gloss and durability.

DetailKitty said:
Yep, once everything is as cleaned up as possible, I will tape off the important stuff and take my time.
I'm painting them black... not exciting.
I also bought stickers to replace on them. I will be using high-temp clear to go over them.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with black. A subtle look is all you need.

28ONE said:
I painted mine black because of black Brembo's on the front...I've heard of horror stories about clear on G2 paint from my mustang forum. It's been almost 7 months and still glossy. Just put PBL coating on my Brembo's, already have them on the wheels, cleaning is sooooo much easier.
Click to expand...

G2 is glossy enough. Keep them clean and they will look good for a long time.

DetailKitty said:
I have to clear over the stickers or they will come right off from what I hear. I've heard positive stories about it. Hoping it's that way for me :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...

I have stickers on my calipers that are painted with the G2 kit. I did not clear over them. But then again I live out in Southern California and I don't have to deal with the harsh winter weather.
 
Thx for all the feedback.
I will post pics when they are done.

For now, here is the before:

 
Meg's Wheel Bright 1:4 will clean your calipers good as new. Iron X type products just won't cut it.

Here is what WB can do (was cleaning rotor hats):

ahujy6eg.jpg


qenemebe.jpg
 
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