My caliper powdercoating project (CPP)
09-01-2011, 09:57 PM
#1
Seared
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My caliper powdercoating project (CPP)
Earlier this year, I once again placed the Dung Beetle on its favorite set of AC stands for what I presumed would be a few weeks of normal maintenance & cleaning. For one reason or another, the car remained on its high-altitude perch for something like six months. Yes, that's correct.
Although I tend to really take my time with annual 993 maintenance (oil/tranny/brakes/cleaning), that in no way justifies the extended hiatus on high. One of the reasons for this automotive sloth is detailed below. Another will appear in a separate thread.
So after years of keeping my car clean and detailing the underside during the winter, I finally decided to do something about the stock, black calipers. Overall, they were in very nice shape, but time had taken its toll in the form of scratches, gouges, and chipped paint. The plan was to strip the calipers, bead blast them to bare metal, and then have them powder coated. Or should I paint? But I think powder coat will give a better finish, although painting will be less expensive. And so the intra-cranial discussion went. Week after painful week. At one point, I remember looking at the four bead-blasted calipers on my garage floor, and finding myself disgusted at the fact that they had been in that same position for a month. Or more.
In the end, I chose a powder coater I'd used years ago, EastCoast PowderCoat. The owner, Scott, was more than agreeable to all of my cautions and worries regarding the calipers, masking, the piston bores, etc. I brought a factory 'big red' caliper with me for color matching (thank you Ken), and asked Scott to not only powder coat them in the red we chose, but also to apply a coat of clear powder. By my estimation, the results were fantastic.
Months prior to this, I purchased a complete set of 16 caliper rebuild kits from Sunset Porsche. These Brembo kits come individually packaged with a new piston, new dust seal, new bore seal, and assembly grease. I won't go into the disassembly/rebuild process, as it's well documented on Rennlist already. But I will say that I sent about 10 lbs. of caliper/suspension/etc. hardware off to Jim Ruffi for stripping and yellow zinc dichromate plating...
The last step was to have decals made. I took the borrowed caliper with me to my local sign shop and had them print numerous versions of the "PORSCHE" lettering until they matched the stock dimensions perfectly. This after purchasing decals from Ebay, and stencils from Rennline - both of which were not dimensionally correct.
Enough blather, on with the pics:
Andreas
Although I tend to really take my time with annual 993 maintenance (oil/tranny/brakes/cleaning), that in no way justifies the extended hiatus on high. One of the reasons for this automotive sloth is detailed below. Another will appear in a separate thread.
So after years of keeping my car clean and detailing the underside during the winter, I finally decided to do something about the stock, black calipers. Overall, they were in very nice shape, but time had taken its toll in the form of scratches, gouges, and chipped paint. The plan was to strip the calipers, bead blast them to bare metal, and then have them powder coated. Or should I paint? But I think powder coat will give a better finish, although painting will be less expensive. And so the intra-cranial discussion went. Week after painful week. At one point, I remember looking at the four bead-blasted calipers on my garage floor, and finding myself disgusted at the fact that they had been in that same position for a month. Or more.
In the end, I chose a powder coater I'd used years ago, EastCoast PowderCoat. The owner, Scott, was more than agreeable to all of my cautions and worries regarding the calipers, masking, the piston bores, etc. I brought a factory 'big red' caliper with me for color matching (thank you Ken), and asked Scott to not only powder coat them in the red we chose, but also to apply a coat of clear powder. By my estimation, the results were fantastic.
Months prior to this, I purchased a complete set of 16 caliper rebuild kits from Sunset Porsche. These Brembo kits come individually packaged with a new piston, new dust seal, new bore seal, and assembly grease. I won't go into the disassembly/rebuild process, as it's well documented on Rennlist already. But I will say that I sent about 10 lbs. of caliper/suspension/etc. hardware off to Jim Ruffi for stripping and yellow zinc dichromate plating...
The last step was to have decals made. I took the borrowed caliper with me to my local sign shop and had them print numerous versions of the "PORSCHE" lettering until they matched the stock dimensions perfectly. This after purchasing decals from Ebay, and stencils from Rennline - both of which were not dimensionally correct.
Enough blather, on with the pics:
Andreas
Last edited by AOW162435; 09-02-2011 at 12:48 AM.
09-01-2011, 10:13 PM
#5
Seared
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It's just another pretty tool until you fortify your shop with a large air compressor, dedicated cabinet vacuum, and consumables such as media, nozzles, gaskets, gloves, lens liners, etc.
Sure do love having that thing though.
I'm at a loss for words. Really.
Andreas
Sure do love having that thing though.
I'm at a loss for words. Really.
Andreas
09-01-2011, 10:25 PM
#6
Three Wheelin'
You are one **** ***** freak I mean that in a good way though! These calipers are beautiful in person, your powder coater did a great job! However, last I saw your car it was difficult to focus on the calipers because I was too busy staring at your f**ked up bumper!
Soapy
I mean that in a good way though! These calipers are beautiful in person, your powder coater did a great job! However, last I saw your car it was difficult to focus on the calipers because I was too busy staring at your f**ked up bumper! Soapy
09-01-2011, 10:39 PM
#7
Seared
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09-01-2011, 11:23 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
And what is wrong with that? 
They say there are many ways to do things. I tend to disagree.
Andreas, do you have your own blast cabinet? If so, which one? I bought myself a compressor, and a blast cabinet which will have its own room vented to the outside will be my next purchase.
They say there are many ways to do things. I tend to disagree.
Andreas, do you have your own blast cabinet? If so, which one? I bought myself a compressor, and a blast cabinet which will have its own room vented to the outside will be my next purchase.
09-01-2011, 11:45 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
Very pretty. 
I plan to refinish mine some day (not to that quality I can guarantee) but can't make up my mind on black, red or maybe gunmetal. Any regrets on the color choice, or would you change anything if you had to do it over again?
Those pictures are as high quality as the refinish, which is perfect.
Thanks for posting and sharing the steps
I plan to refinish mine some day (not to that quality I can guarantee) but can't make up my mind on black, red or maybe gunmetal. Any regrets on the color choice, or would you change anything if you had to do it over again?
Those pictures are as high quality as the refinish, which is perfect.
Thanks for posting and sharing the steps
