The Brakes!

[cruisin-davey-g]

Hi: I just signed up to the forum & am new to all of this, but not to owning "America's Only True Sports Car!"

I need to know if anybody out there has ever had a set of stock stainless c-3 brake calipers "powdercoated"? Any help on doin' this will be greatly appreciated. & thanx!

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Welcome Cruisin' Davey!

Welcome to Corvette Action Center.
I'm sure someone will be along soon with an answer for you.
Heidi

 

[Ctfoodguy2000]

I can't help you with your question, but I wanted to welcome you to the Someone will give you some help shortly....

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Hey....Thanx much for the "welcome" Now, if I could just get an answer to my question on the powdercoating of C-3 brake calipers, everything would be OK in "Mud-ville". Anybody out there ever have any C-3 brake calipers powdercoated? Thanx much to any replies.

Dave (Proud to be an owner of "America's Only True Sports Car!")

 

[Tweek]

I have never done it but, I don't see why it could not be done. They would have to be apart without the seals. I do small runs of powder coating on slotcar parts, anything metal can have this process done, as long as the temps reached in the curing process won't harm the piece being coated. I use powders that are cured at 450 degrees for 30 min. I use an electrostatic coating process or standard fluid bed, but in your application electrostatic spraying would be your best bet. Are you going to try this yourself, or out source them? By the way WELCOME

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

Hello Davey me'lad...

-well when Vette-drivers refer to "stainless-steel"-calipers, apparently what they really mean is that the original Iron-calipers were at some point rebored and "sleeved" with S/S-sleeves so as to obviate any future degradation of the caliper-bores; --you just pop-in new rubber-seals when you perhaps install new brake-Pads!! PowderCoating is just a type of optional high-grade durable baked-on paint, applied by the refurbisher as to make'em look real'pretty like (and resistant to brake-fluids); --but actually, you can do a damn nice job yourself by applying a couple-coats of aerosol Epoxy such as in a Red or Black color (technically, black is actually absense of color)!! Also, check and see if all of the brake/flex-lines (hoses) are just black-rubber looking, or are they of the superior S/S-braided type, -the latter s/s-hoses giving much better brake-pedal action (more firm feeling)...
Regards, ~Bob vh
:cu

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

I have never done it but, I don't see why it could not be done. They would have to be apart without the seals. I do small runs of powder coating on slotcar parts, anything metal can have this process done, as long as the temps reached in the curing process won't harm the piece being coated. I use powders that are cured at 450 degrees for 30 min. I use an electrostatic coating process or standard fluid bed, but in your application electrostatic spraying would be your best bet. Are you going to try this yourself, or out source them? By the way WELCOME

Thanx for your input & thanx for welcoming me to the Forum. Yeah, I know it can be done. But, the question here is when to install the stainless sleeves into the bores. Before the powdercoating process, or after. If installed before, there's a chance that they could warp or distort & possibly not work well after the piston is installed. You would think that the temp needed to cure the powdercoating (approx. 425 degrees) wouldn't hurt the sleeves at all, but I can't seem to get a definate answer from anybody. On the other hand, if I wait until after the powdercoating process is done & then install the sleeves, there's a good chance that the powdercoated finish on the calipers could be damaged, because the calipers need to be put into a "jig" in order to press in the sleeves & the jaws of the "jig" may mark up the powdercoated finish. See what I mean? "Damned if you do, damned if you don't" . My plan is to take the stock caliper castings, smooth & shave 'em & remove all of the casting marks & imperfections. Then have them powdercoated (silver flash or almost chrome color) & when thry're finished they'll look like billet aluminum stock corvette delco calipers & look mucho-great on my show 'vette.

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Re: Hello Davey me'lad...

-well when Vette-drivers refer to "stainless-steel"-calipers, apparently what they really mean is that the original Iron-calipers were at some point rebored and "sleeved" with S/S-sleeves so as to obviate any future degradation of the caliper-bores; --you just pop-in new rubber-seals when you perhaps install new brake-Pads!! PowderCoating is just a type of optional high-grade durable baked-on paint, applied by the refurbisher as to make'em look real'pretty like (and resistant to brake-fluids); --but actually, you can do a damn nice job yourself by applying a couple-coats of aerosol Epoxy such as in a Red or Black color (technically, black is actually absense of color)!! Also, check and see if all of the brake/flex-lines (hoses) are just black-rubber looking, or are they of the superior S/S-braided type, -the latter s/s-hoses giving much better brake-pedal action (more firm feeling)...
Regards, ~Bob vh
:cu

Hey, Bob, thanx for takin' the time to answer my request! Check out the reply that I put in for "TweeK" to get a better understanding as to what I plan to do with this brake project. If all of this works out, I'll be changing any of the brake lines & opting for stainless (either hard pipe or braided). This is all going on a '72 coupe that I'm working on & it'll be just for show. looking to get to "pros-pick" at one of the "Goodguys" show.

 

[silver 80]

If you have a lot of$$$$$ go with the all aluminum calipers and have them polished and clear coated.

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

If you have a lot of$$$$$ go with the all aluminum calipers and have them polished and clear coated.

Hi ya "silver80" thanx for the reply. Yeah, I thought about goin' that route & dion' an aftermarket system fer the brakes. But, after doin' a little research, I found out that it would be a real PITA, because most of the aftermarket brake places (Baer, Wilwood, Brembo, etc) do not have a direct bolt on application for C-3 Corvettes. Guess there's not enough demand for them. Anyway, I'd have to fabricate my own brackets, find a sutable spindle assy, etc. etc. etc. (you can see where I'm goin' with this). Also, the aftermarket brake manufactures want to slap their company name & Logo's all over their products & I'm trying for that "clean" look. Besides, it would be cool to have a set of stock Delco Corvette Calipers on a 'vette that will look like they're billett aluminum, so at the shows, you can keep everybody guessin'.

Dave

 

[Tweek]

I would place a little "FEELER" call to one of the aftermarket suppliers, they all powdercoat, and ask them if they do the process with the sleeves in. Tell them your using them for race applications, and your are worried about them under load, they might slip with a little info. I would go for it, both of the metals involved can handle those kind of temps without distortion, and I can't believe the after market suppliers press the sleeves in afterwards. I have an old set in the garage that I tried to rebuld myself, I will mic it out, through it in the oven, re mic it and tell you what I find. I'm real interested if there is any color change in the SS sleeve

Ron

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

I would place a little "FEELER" call to one of the aftermarket suppliers, they all powdercoat, and ask them if they do the process with the sleeves in. Tell them your using them for race applications, and your are worried about them under load, they might slip with a little info. I would go for it, both of the metals involved can handle those kind of temps without distortion, and I can't believe the after market suppliers press the sleeves in afterwards. I have an old set in the garage that I tried to rebuld myself, I will mic it out, through it in the oven, re mic it and tell you what I find. I'm real interested if there is any color change in the SS sleeve

Ron

Hey Ron: Thanx for goin' through the trouble & all that. Yeah, the general concensis is that everybody in the know seems to think the same thing "the heat won't hurt anything". So, just to be on the safe side, I'm gonna proceed with one caliper that I got brand new from Muskegon Brake in Michigan, disassemble it, leave in the sleeve, do my " prep-thingie" to the caliper, send it to the shop I deal with & have 'em powdercoat it, get it back & reassemble it & go from there. If all works out, do the other three! Boy, sounds simple, doesn't it? What we'll go through to make our "Pride & Joys" different & unique.

 

[silver 80]

actually the aluminum is a direct bolt on.
they are from SSBC.( stainless steel brake corp.) Be sure to post a pic of the caliper when it's done.
tom

 

[Tweek]

Well, I cooked it! I see no coloring of the sleeve, and everything mics out the same. I had some discoloration on the castings from not being perfectly clean and the stuff baked on, should of threw them in the blasting cabinet first, but I just wanted to see. You have now given me another project. I'll let you know how I make out with mine, I think I'm doing these in red.

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

actually the aluminum is a direct bolt on.
they are from SSBC.( stainless steel brake corp.) Be sure to post a pic of the caliper when it's done.
tom

Hey, Tom, Thanx for the info! I went & checked them out on their web site. E-mailed 'em about it & found out this: SSBC does make an application for the C-3, but a couple of things I don't like about 'em. 1) they plaster their "SSBC" logo lettering right on the caliper (can't blame 'em for that, getting free advertising) & 2) they don't come with a real nice finish or a finish that I'm lookin' for. To have 'em polished or powdercoated in a color is extra & all of this is really gettin' a little bit too "Pricey" for my blood. I figure that I can do my own finishing work on a set of delco "stockers" & make 'em look real great after they're powdercoated. and, they'd be unique. So, I guess it's a choice thing (that's what I really like about America). If my original plan falls apart, I'll have to go to plan B (SSBC) & use their stuff. Thanx again for your input & help!

I'll post a pic as soon as I get one of them done (so, keep an eye-ball out for it)

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Well, I cooked it! I see no coloring of the sleeve, and everything mics out the same. I had some discoloration on the castings from not being perfectly clean and the stuff baked on, should of threw them in the blasting cabinet first, but I just wanted to see. You have now given me another project. I'll let you know how I make out with mine, I think I'm doing these in red.

Tweek: Wow Thanx for the test results!!!!! Yeah, they should look pretty nice once they're done (I'll try & post pics). Well, I got you interested in it too! Red will look great! I'll be doin' mine in a color called "Almost Chrome" for that plished aluminum look. See, I knew this stuff is Addictive!

Now, if I could just get this "blasted" Vette done & on the road! When that happens, I may have CNN run a story on it (L*O*L) Wouldn't that be cool?

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

Tweek: Wow Thanx for the test results!!!!! Yeah, they should look pretty nice once they're done (I'll try & post pics). Well, I got you interested in it too! Red will look great! I'll be doin' mine in a color called "Almost Chrome" for that plished aluminum look. See, I knew this stuff is Addictive!

Now, if I could just get this "blasted" Vette done & on the road! When that happens, I may have CNN run a story on it (L*O*L) Wouldn't that be cool?

TWEEK: I forgot to ask: How long did you cook it for & at what temp?????

 

[Tweek]

I did 500 just to be sure for a half hour, (thats also all the higher my oven goes) let them cool down in there also. I can't find any ill effects, sooo today I bead blasted them and as soon as I get some nice red powder in the mail I'll coat them. I'll try to get some pics, but someone will definetly have to tell me how to post them, I have NO clue. Are you just cleaning up the rough stuff on yours to make them smooth, and how are you going to do that?

 

[cruisin-davey-g]

I did 500 just to be sure for a half hour, (thats also all the higher my oven goes) let them cool down in there also. I can't find any ill effects, sooo today I bead blasted them and as soon as I get some nice red powder in the mail I'll coat them. I'll try to get some pics, but someone will definetly have to tell me how to post them, I have NO clue. Are you just cleaning up the rough stuff on yours to make them smooth, and how are you going to do that?

"Tweek": I use a number of methods. Air tools (ie. die grinder, angle grinder, etc.), different types of sanding discs & sanding drums. Emery cloth & light machine oil (like 3-in-one) does a good job too for finishing 'em up. Also, a real nice Dremmel tool & acc.

Dave: