5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

bbk caliper cleaning....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 03:19 PM
  #1  
TorridoMax's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 148
From: New York
bbk caliper cleaning....

alright here is what im up against.. I bought a bbk kit here on the org. and i received the calipers at first sight i though they were painted black.. To my surprise they are actually not painted at all they are just that dirty, i scrubbed a very small section with a soft wire brush and they came perfectly clean, i would like to leave them the aluminum color and maybe just spray them with a few coats of clear, actually was gonna paint them silver but i like the aluminum look.. any ideas on a cleaner that i can dip these in or that will loosen up a majority of the (im assuming) brake dust that has been baked on..
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 04:13 PM
  #2  
Puppetmaster's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (48)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,551
From: Fairfax, VA
I bought some 6th Gen calipers from a junkyard and they were filthy when they arrived. I just sprayed the heck out of them with brake cleaner to get rid of the dust and fluid. Once they were dried out, I used several coats of high temp paint. I just did the final coats this past Saturday, so I can't say how the paint is holding up.

If you have to clean the pistons, IIRC, per the FSM you have use clean new brake fluid. I think you're also not supposed to use compressed air, but use a dust vacuum if you have to.
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 05:28 PM
  #3  
Torgus's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,202
From: Boston Baby!
brake cleaner.
nice max.
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 05:31 PM
  #4  
IHAVEA2KMAXIMA's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,428
From: SoCal
And steel wool
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 05:50 PM
  #5  
SoonerFan's Avatar
Cletus
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,676
From: OKC, OK
BRAKE cleaner
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 05:54 PM
  #6  
TorridoMax's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 148
From: New York
i tried the brake cleaner that came with the g2 paint kits, it just runs off and does nothing i mean this dirt is really on there, tom ill pick up some more wire brushes and steel wool... thanks for the replys
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 05:56 PM
  #7  
Puppetmaster's Avatar
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (48)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,551
From: Fairfax, VA
CNC brake cleaner worked fine for me...

I have a wire brush that I didn't have to use.
Old Mar 24, 2008 | 05:56 PM
  #8  
SoonerFan's Avatar
Cletus
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 23,676
From: OKC, OK
foaming engine degreaser
wire brush
brake cleaner on a rag
Old Mar 25, 2008 | 05:47 PM
  #9  
bwinter7's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 547
From: Albany, NY
Or you can send them to me, and I will blast them with some Aluminum Oxide, or ceramic bead, to clean them up. But of course, that will cost you a bit more than a couple of cans of brake cleaner lol.

With blasting, It would leave the surface scratch-free (assuming you were to use the wire brush on all of it). And after that, you could spray them with clear and it would look like they were off an 09 Infiniti. Just a thought...
Old Mar 27, 2008 | 04:13 PM
  #10  
TorridoMax's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 148
From: New York
ok i tried the brake cleaner again and the engine de-greaser and wheel cleaner and goof off, and wd40, no luck im thinking i might have to get this **** blasted off as bwinter suggested...
Old Mar 27, 2008 | 04:46 PM
  #11  
irish44j's Avatar
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 27,285
From: Burke, VA
You bought my old set.

They were painted with G2 black, at least twice, although some of it had come off when I cleaned them with brake cleaner...

here's what they looked like when I first put them on (they are pretty clean in this pic) - as you can see, they are painted black.


Last edited by irish44j; Mar 27, 2008 at 04:50 PM.
Old Mar 27, 2008 | 04:47 PM
  #12  
A32_s0kud0b0i's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 18
From: Houston
Its a particular bottle i used... tha majority of tha CAN is GREEN and they spell it BRAKE KLEEN... REALLY good stuff!
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 06:42 PM
  #13  
TorridoMax's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 148
From: New York
ok went to the store today and got some kleen strip and applied it with a small brush let it setup and presto! all the paint, dirt and whatever else is gona i was a lil afraid of it eating through the boots, but this stuff is like a gel and does not run much... Irish did u rebuild these calipers i noticed the boots are different.. would u recommend rebuilding them or what they are not goin on til i get some 18's but i figure while they are off might as well rebuild if need be... How would i know if they need to be rebuild the boots are not torn or anything... thanks everyone
Old Mar 28, 2008 | 07:23 PM
  #14  
TorridoMax's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 148
From: New York
on top of there good cleaning stripping i decided to paint them anyway, i had them behind a wheel and they just dont stand out much g2 paint silver and black was my choice...


Old Mar 30, 2008 | 07:00 PM
  #15  
irish44j's Avatar
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 27,285
From: Burke, VA
Originally Posted by TorridoMax
ok went to the store today and got some kleen strip and applied it with a small brush let it setup and presto! all the paint, dirt and whatever else is gona i was a lil afraid of it eating through the boots, but this stuff is like a gel and does not run much... Irish did u rebuild these calipers i noticed the boots are different.. would u recommend rebuilding them or what

I rebuilt them not too long ago. Then I stripped a bleed screw on one so I bought a reman'd one from Pep Boys, which had just been rebuilt as well. So both are rebuilt fairly recently, although the dust boots might differ a bit...it's just cosmetic.

I wouldn't bother rebuilding unless you start getting fluid leaking throug the seals (it will splatter on your wheels if/when it happens). I would say the seals/boots are (in general) good for around 4-5 years before a rebuild is necessary.

cliffs: don't bother rebuilding, they're fine.
Old Mar 30, 2008 | 07:02 PM
  #16  
irish44j's Avatar
retired moderator
iTrader: (38)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 27,285
From: Burke, VA
btw, painting looks good.

in the top one in the pics, you can see the little dimples where I took a dremel and fixed the "N," which had gotten all smushed up somehow
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BPuff57
Advanced Suspension, Chassis, and Braking
33
Apr 16, 2020 05:15 AM
BkGreen97
Maximas for Sale / Wanted
2
Apr 2, 2016 05:47 AM
imported_Nismo_max
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
Sep 21, 2015 07:24 PM
bbsitum
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
4
Sep 11, 2015 04:55 PM
beerman1378
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
1
Sep 8, 2015 02:19 PM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:10 PM.