Got any advice on best product/method for getting these little fighters cleaned up to minty mint appearance? I've tried using some WD40 and gentle rubbing which works to an extent but it's almost like dirt gets ingrained somehow in the caliper painted surface. Have a pleasant day everyone.
I've tried many things, but be carefully what you use as I have ended up with silver calipers before. The dirt dose get ingrained, I repainted the front caliper on my 400, looks a treat.
This. The clue's in the name. Give it a good soaking and have a scrub with an old toothbrush if it needs more.
Wynns Brake Cleaner has a nice nozzle on the can which means you can blast the cr*p off. Wynns Carb Intake Cleaner is similar to the Brake Cleaner, but it doesn't evaporate as quickly, so it can 'work' on ingrained cr*p, and then you can use it to blast the muck off..........but check that it doesn't affect the caliper paint......it didn't affect the OEM paint finish on mine.
I bought some new bolts off a guy on ebay as there's no point cleaning the calipers if the bolts are going to let it down. Decide if you want to split the calipers or not. If you split them then you may want to consider a full overhaul and replace seals to. It's what I did as it's the only way to get inside and clean properly. If you can't be bothered to split them then keep the old bolts in whilst you clean - no point messing up the new shiny ones. Then get hold of some Wonder Wheels like this Wonder Wheels Cleaning Kit 1L: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike Make sure you wear rubber gloves, use the stuff on your calipers inside a plastic bowl. Keep a cold tap running nearby, and don't get it on anything other than your calipers. It will mark stainless steel and chrome. The trick is to scrub it in with the brush but don't leave it on there too long. The calipers are just hard anodized and the colour can be stripped out. Regularly run the caliper under the cold tap to remove the product. This stuff is highly corrosive. It will ruin your bolts, and your stainless steel utility room sink. Mine came up like new, and I had tried all the usual stuff, brake cleaner, alloy cleaners etc. It's great for cleaning fork leg bottoms too but make sure you mask off the chrome sliders. I haven't got a close up pic to hand but you should be able to zoom in.
Thanks. Hopefully here's a better pic. They're looking grubby now as I've done a few miles since the rebuild
Like I said be careful with the corrosive cleaner, if the calipers start to turn black wash with water as this is the start of them turning silver. I don't want you to do It i did with a pair calipers and some remote control car parts that started purple and ended up silver!!
