Cleaning LS400 Alloy callipers

Have just got my LS400 callipers and they are in a pretty dull unloved state. What's the best way to clean these up? seems a shame to paint them as they are alloy, is there a low effort cheap alloy cleaner on the market? Was thinking along the lines of a "gunk" type of paint on, and rinse off sort of stuff.

dilute some truck wash with warm water and work in with a brush.

Best to use brake cleaner.

dilute some truck wash with warm water and work in with a brush.

Ok thanks, guess this is the same stuff they use at the jet car wash places?

Best to use brake cleaner.

Yeah its the outer housings that need cleaning not the calliper pistons themselves. Will have them apart and replace all the seals and clean the pistons then. Such a shame that your discs are from the early model and the smaller type. Just about to pay twice the amount that you are asking for them to get a set of larger ones.

Let me know where you got the seal kit from Shane, I might be needing a set too

I'd still try brake cleaner on the outside and a tooth brush

I'd still try brake cleaner on the outside and your girlfriends tooth brush

edited

Save you a xmas pressie i guess

Let me know where you got the seal kit from Shane' date=' I might be needing a set too[/quote']

 

There's a thread on here somewhere that lists all the Mr T part numbers. Was going to go for oem parts as all the cheap repair kits seem to be for the UFC10s. Are you in work today, could pop over this afto to return your coil pack as I am off.

 

edited

 

Haha, yeah thanks for that Not good enough for my brake callipers though, too worn after using it to clean the chicken coup.

I used brake cleaner and then hot soapy water to clean my calipers, they came up a treat.

I used brake cleaner and then hot soapy water to clean my calipers, they came up a treat.

Well seems like brake cleaner is the cleaner of choice then, will give it a try. Thanks all.

Try big red caliper repair kits shane. i used the seal kit. very good

Try big red caliper repair kits shane. i used the seal kit. very good

Great info, thanks.

Just to give you some idea how I did it. (LS400 fronts and MKIV TT rears)

first I sandblasted them and rebuilt them with the big red kit.

Then I painted them with the MKIV TT brake OEM color. (I love that color.)

One of the best upgrades I did on my Supra.

Best regards,

Herbert

Nice work Herb

Just to give you some idea how I did it. (LS400 fronts and MKIV TT rears)

first I sandblasted them and rebuilt them with the big red kit.

Then I painted them with the MKIV TT brake OEM color. (I love that color.)

One of the best upgrades I did on my Supra.

 

Best regards,

 

Herbert

Did you strip the two halves apart ?

I've done a few full caliper rebuilds and you have to be very

careful shot blasting or media blasting as the grit gets stuck where

the internal o ring seals are that link the two halves. Arrowed in blue

Unless you take them apart its very hard to get it out if not

impossible, i tried with the last set i did and even washing

through with brake cleaner and compressed air the area by the o ring

was full of grit.

@ swampy: thanks

@ dnk: Yes, they have been completely ripped apart. and rebuilt with new seals, pistons etc. Basically they are new now.

I completly rebuilt mine apart from the pistons, i ordered the seals and pins etc from Rockauto.com, parts arrived in just over a week, even with shipping you will find a massive discount on the price!!

Thanks guys, some great leads here. Herb, yours look really nice and Dunk, your photo made me wonder if I could powder coat them, what do you think? I can get small amounts of powder coating done FOC. The repair kit from Big red isn't expensive at all, but will take a look at Rockauto before I commit.

@ dnk: Yes, they have been completely ripped apart. and rebuilt with new seals, pistons etc. Basically they are new now.

Thanks guys, some great leads here. Herb, yours look really nice and Dunk, your photo made me wonder if I could powder coat them, what do you think? I can get small amounts of powder coating done FOC. The repair kit from Big red isn't expensive at all, but will take a look at Rockauto before I commit.

These are powder coated

Your powder coaters need to know what their doing with calipers

as the threads and piston bores need to be carefully masked.

Once the calipers are pre heated and the powder coat has been applied

you need to remove the masking and then pop them back in the

oven to bake.

This is very tricky and fiddly to do as you can't touch the caliper

These are powder coated

 

Your powder coaters need to know what their doing with calipers

as the threads and piston bores need to be carefully masked.

 

Once the calipers are pre heated and the powder coat has been applied

you need to remove the masking and then pop them back in the

oven to bake.

This is very tricky and fiddly to do as you can't touch the caliper

Yes they had that powder coat appearance that's what made me think about it. OK thanks for the advice, my eldest lad can get bits done at work and he can also hopefully make sure they do it as you have suggested.