924Board.org

[manouchehr]

Hi guys
while doing the brake swap i'm depending on the collective for all these questions arising as i go along.

I'd like to clean up the calipers while rebuiliding them. just not sure on the finish. I'd like them silver. my options are:
a/ get them powdercoated
b/ spray paint them with special caliper paint
c/ paint them using the two part paint offered by performance products. (does this create a smooth finish or does it leave the surface rough as it is?)
I've used the spray paint a few years ago on my 924 calipers, but found it is not very durable when handling the calipers , changing pads eg. It did hold up well to brake fluid spills.
my powdercoatingguy tells me to paint them because powdercoating does not like brakefluid dripping over it.

any input?

second question.
I got myself some sweet phonedials 15x7 and I'll wrap them in 205/60 Toyo tires. in the rear i should be fine, but in front Gohim advised me there would probalbly be some rubbing. Now I dont mind rubbing, just not on my car. my car has factory rolled fenders. anyone out there any experience running 15x7 using 205/60 tires?

thanks!
(by the way , its a 85 924 NA)

[gohim]

There are different type of powercoating, and if you get the right type to begin with, powercoating will hold up fine to brake fluid. Afterall, this is one of the biggest advantages of powdercoating. Maybe the shop that you visited is not the best place to have the work done?

First, there is the flexible/rubbery stuff. This stuff does not hold up in automotive use (from my experience). Thule used to use this stuff on all of it's auto rack purposes, and from what I have experienced, it only lasts two to three years in direct sunlight.

Then, there is the hard stuff. The hard stuff comes in several flavors, matte finish, and gloss finish. The matte finish appears to be less durable, and it may be porous. The gloss is definitely more durable, but make sure that you do not get a metallic (the metallic particles are exposed unless you pay extra for a 2nd coat of clear over the top to seal, and they will corrode over time, and dull the finish).

Powercoat also appear to come in different heat ranges. When I had my wheels powercoated, the shop doing the work let me go through their catalogs from the powdercoat manufacturers to pick what I wanted. I read the product descriptions, prep, shooting, and curing instructions.

I don't know if the early calipers had any finish applied at all, the way that they rust. Later production 944 calipers had a yellow cadmium plate finish to resist rust.

Personally, I would consider powdercoating in the original yellow cad, or black or red. Just make sure that you are getting the hard type coating, with the highest temperature rating, in a non-metallic color.