I painted my calipers day before yesterday with VHT caliper paint. I still need to paint the Porsche lettering and then clear coat them. If I don't bake them @ +200F for 30 minutes per the directions I must wait 7 days before adding any additional coats of paint.

Does anyone have personal experience with baking calipers with the seals and dust boots installed and the baking not affecting them? I have seen a few posts that argue that brakes get much hotter during use, etc., etc. but haven't found anyone who said they actually did the baking with no ill effects.

All input appreciated.

Mike

 

No personal experience, but 200 degrees F. does not sound very hot compared to pictures I have seen of glowing red-hot brakes in night racing.
Good luck,
Dave

 

i did it, used VHT caliper paint. worked just fine

 

Well, the seals would be dry in the oven though, with no fluid to act as a heat sink. 200 degrees seems like it would be fine though.

I guess the most telling thing, is if it's official brake caliper paint, and VHT tells you to bake them, and doesn't tell you that all the seals should be replaced, then it's probably fine or else they'd open themselves up for lawsuits.

I used the POR15 brand of paint myself, and it didn't ask to be baked.

 

When I did mine, I removed the pistons. Put them in the oven for 1 hour or so at 300F if I remember well.
200F isn't very high so don't see any problem.

 

Thanks guys. I'll bake them out tomorrow.

Mike

 

If it were me...and it's not...I'd pull the boots and seals and then replace them. That way there'd be no fluid in the calibers to spoil the painting and baking and there'd be fresh seals and boots on re-install.

I will grant that getting the pistons in with new seals and boots is a bit tricky. The parts are cheap, though, so having an extra kit on-hand isn't a problem.