Topic: boiled brake caliper in vinegar to remove bleeder PICS, white residue

[wallympls]

Hi everyone,

I try to search for answers before posting, and this is my first.  So thank you for reading.

My front brake caliper had a broken off rusted bleeder with a broken rusted easy out.  In fact it was rusted so tight that it was completely sealed and I was able to push out the piston by pumping my brakes.

I tried a recommendation for removing a rusted bleeder http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=123225.0 by boiling the caliper in vinegar. 

Success, was able to boil and remove the rust and get the easy out removed.  Still needs to be threaded and a new bleeder.  The easy out came out so I wont have to worry about someone ruining a drill bit in there.

BUT

What about the residue all over the caliper?  Any recommendations?

[Greggo]

Sandblast it and paint it.

[Gasturbine]

Sand/blast it, prep, primer, and paint/powder coat. Since its a small part, you could do the latter in your oven.

[wallympls]

I found this here: http://www.antiqueautoranch.com/montana500/adrian/rust.html

VINEGAR

Another way to get rust of metal parts is to soak them in plain household type Vinegar. Use the vinegar straight as it comes from the bottle. Place the part in a glass or plastic container and cover with Vinegar. Check the parts after 24 hours. The surface of the part may look black but just put it under running water and a light brushing will clean it up.

The exterior I plan on wetsanding and buffing.

I am more worried about the interior of the caliper.  I want it clean so the brakes perform perfectly. 

Any recommendations?

[Viktor.J]

I would say dont blast it with sand since it's aluminum. I leaved mine to a shop and they used coconut shells But blastering with glass is also a good option.

[Chachi]

You could get a repro:
http://davidsilverspares.com/parts/by-part-number/partnumber_4722/

Not sure which bike/caliper you have, but some are out there.

[tomkimberly]

You do realize that vinegar is acidic, right? As such, is will disolve aluminum parts given enough time.

Tom

I found this here: http://www.antiqueautoranch.com/montana500/adrian/rust.html

VINEGAR

Another way to get rust of metal parts is to soak them in plain household type Vinegar. Use the vinegar straight as it comes from the bottle. Place the part in a glass or plastic container and cover with Vinegar. Check the parts after 24 hours. The surface of the part may look black but just put it under running water and a light brushing will clean it up.

The exterior I plan on wetsanding and buffing.

I am more worried about the interior of the caliper.  I want it clean so the brakes perform perfectly. 

Any recommendations?

[dusterdude]

Glass bead it

[nccb]

id try some paint stripper first, maybe it will get dissolved off. and its cheaper if you don't have access to anything else.

[lucky]

I would say dont blast it with sand since it's aluminum. I leaved mine to a shop and they used coconut shells But blastering with glass is also a good option.

Viktor.J is right do not blast with sand.
When the bits of sand (glass) get embedded into the aluminum the engine or caliper retains its heat and cannot cool as well.

[wallympls]

I wouldn't sand blast.  Just thinking about cleaning the inside.  Could I just wet sand a little bit to get it smooth or should I just leave it?

AND ON A SIDE NOTE - NOOB QUESTION :

Do I have to do this Captcha for every post?

[Viktor.J]

I tried to sand it down, after 5 hours with sandpaper, steelwhool and acetone I have up. I promise you that if you work 1/4 of Those  hours to sand it down and insteed pay someoneelse to do it you'll have both your mental Heath and some money left in The end

[nccb]

I wouldn't sand blast.  Just thinking about cleaning the inside.  Could I just wet sand a little bit to get it smooth or should I just leave it?

AND ON A SIDE NOTE - NOOB QUESTION :

Do I have to do this Captcha for every post?

No, it is to prevent spammers. I think it stops after 5 or 10.

[RAFster122s]

If you are going to paint it, then wire brush for drill or grinder. Wear heavy leather gloves and expect to drop it a few times so a box below and behind the wheel is recommended.
If you have the white residue in the bore where the piston goes it might be beyond hope. Then I would use a master cylinder or cylinder hone if you can find one for that bore size. Lawn mower shop might have one that could work...

[RAFster122s]

If you are getting too much abrasion, use finer gauge wire brush wheel or use one made of brass

[wallympls]

I tried to sand it down, after 5 hours with sandpaper, steelwhool and acetone I have up. I promise you that if you work 1/4 of Those  hours to sand it down and insteed pay someoneelse to do it you'll have both your mental Heath and some money left in The end

Thats a great idea, but shop labor is $100/hour here

[Bootlegger56]

You could try soda blasting it at home if you have access to a compressor.  Its not going to remove the paint but it might clean up the bore.  Its cheap and biodegradable plus all you need is some plastic tubing and an air nozzle or spring for one of the 14.99 harbor freight hand held blasters.  You can always use it on carbs and other aluminum parts in the future.   The outside would get the paint remover and wire brush on the grinder treatment from me.

[scottly]

Be aware that there is a steel flare seat pressed into the bottom of the hole where the brake line fits; it may be damaged or dissolved..

[Bootlegger56]

Dang Scottly.....I didn't know you could pull that out.....learn something valuable on here every day!!!

[ilikepinkcrayons]

(Warning: Zombie thread revival. Sorry to bring this back from the dead!)

Is that insert pressed in? To remove, just thread in a wood screw and yank it out with vice grips or something? Is that insert still available?

[754]

Sometimes you can shorten a finishing nail, slide it in from the inside...grab the end with visegrips, then tap it out. Yes pressed in , you will want to put it in the other hole for a dual disc.

[AirCanuck]

am I the only one who often just gets a big photobucket image saying to go to photobucket.com/p500 to upgrade my account when people host images?  What, do I have to pay to see the images or something?

[CycleRanger]

am I the only one who often just gets a big photobucket image saying to go to photobucket.com/p500 to upgrade my account when people host images?  What, do I have to pay to see the images or something?

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168102.0.html

You may have to clear your cache after installing the plug-in to make the images appear.

[AirCanuck]

am I the only one who often just gets a big photobucket image saying to go to photobucket.com/p500 to upgrade my account when people host images?  What, do I have to pay to see the images or something?

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168102.0.html

You may have to clear your cache after installing the plug-in to make the images appear.

I thiiink it worked.  Now it says he deleted the images... is that what you see, too?

THank you for the fix

[FuZZie]

Yea deleted