Anodizing Brake Calipers.

[bensexcessbikes]

Does anyone have experience with anodizing brake calipers?

After 10 pages of searching I didn't see what I was looking for so figured I'd pose the question.

I really hate the Honda gold they colored some parts of their bikes (i.e. calipers and engine covers), so was thinking of going the chrome route, but also thought about anodizing. I am leaning toward anodizing because the coating thickness can be less than chrome, so that's good considering the close tolerances of the brake caliper pistons and halves.

Does anyone have actual experience with anodizing either calipers or other parts? Is it heat resistant?


Thanks!

[Ben710]

I´d like to know, too!

I would think the only thing you had to do was complete disassembly and reassembly afterwards.

[Busy Little Shop]

Originally Posted by bensexcessbikes

Does anyone have experience with anodizing brake calipers?

After 10 pages of searching I didn't see what I was looking for so figured I'd pose the question.

I really hate the Honda gold they colored some parts of their bikes (i.e. calipers and engine covers), so was thinking of going the chrome route, but also thought about anodizing. I am leaning toward anodizing because the coating thickness can be less than chrome, so that's good considering the close tolerances of the brake caliper pistons and halves.

Does anyone have actual experience with anodizing either calipers or other parts? Is it heat resistant?
Thanks!

I have experience with anodizing aluminum parts and Dow 7 magnesium parts...

Yea... anodizing is very heat resistant...

Before you give the OK to have the calipers anodized find if the bore size is
critical... you don't want to add to this dimension and find out later that
the pistons drag more than stock...

You wish to have a chrome finish then I suggest first having the calipers
polished and then clear coated...

[Old Fart]

Anodizing rarely works well on a casting such as a caliper. Typically on a casting it will show a mottled uneven coating therefore as an appearance item is unsuitable. After all, anodic coatings are essentially a dye which relies on the surface consistency for an even coating. But if the caliper is a billet machined part with a nice surface it will work fine. I'd find a similar caliper (casting) that is scrap and try it first to see the results.

+1 on Larry's response to protecting the bores from coating and the reduction in diameter. Anodizing typically is only a few millionths of an inch thick though.

[banda]

Damn it. See, Larry probably said something insightful or interesting or informative there, and I didn't see it because I twit filtered him for harping about V-fours.

[demontech]

tried it, and as old fart said it comes out poor. the casting comes out a matt finnish

[oljackboy]

You could try polishing the caliper then having it clear anodized.

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by banda

Damn it. See, Larry probably said something insightful or interesting or informative there, and I didn't see it because I twit filtered him for harping about V-fours.

I just spit coffee.

[bensexcessbikes]

Originally Posted by demontech

tried it, and as old fart said it comes out poor. the casting comes out a matt finnish

First, thanks everyone for their comments. I really appreciate the info.

Yes the bores were my major concern, but was thinking anodized rather than chrome for that reason.

Second, Demontech, do you have any photos of the calipers when they were done. The mat finish is what I am looking for. I know the texture of the calipers will have an effect on the look, but that's okay with me. As long as the gold is gone...

[demontech]

Originally Posted by bensexcessbikes

First, thanks everyone for their comments. I really appreciate the info.

Yes the bores were my major concern, but was thinking anodized rather than chrome for that reason.

Second, Demontech, do you have any photos of the calipers when they were done. The mat finish is what I am looking for. I know the texture of the calipers will have an effect on the look, but that's okay with me. As long as the gold is gone...

they were done to my buddies 748 that we put the 4piston/4pads. did them in a off brown that i use on billet parts to match my monoblocks. this is the best i can do right now-we surfaced the brembo off later-looks cool i think

[mrgrn]

painted my 51 calipers 4 years ago and they help up fine

left the insides gold and never took out the pistons and replaced all the bount bolts with titainum as well as painted the lettewrs silver and cleared over the whole thing, came out ace for $5

i will do them for you if you send them and pay shipping