Wanted: Calipers

SVX10 · #1 01-22-2005, 07:33 PM

I'm looking for all 4 calipers. If they're in good shape (not sticking, seals not torn) that's best, but if they're not I can rebuild them. PM me if you have some. Thanks!

-Mat

n00b on demand · #2 01-22-2005, 07:35 PM

If you can't find them here try car-part.com.....i got my used caliper from there when my front right seized out.

gsodonis · #3 01-23-2005, 07:50 AM

How fast do you need them? My current calipers are in fantastic condition and also painted red with high temp caliper paint (not powder coated). You can kind of see them through the wheels:
pic here

I bought a spare set of all 4 calipers on eBay that I disassembled, sandblasted and polished (removed the casting marks) that will soon either be zinc plated (vendor will do it for me for free) or powder coated (have to pay, but can get red which I prefer). I will ship these to the plater or powder coater next week with a week turn around so I can have my stockers available in about 3 weeks.

n00b on demand · #4 01-23-2005, 08:53 AM

Those rims are hot....what kind are they?

gsodonis · #5 01-23-2005, 01:27 PM

Those are 18" Enkei RS6's. If you like the look of a deep rim, they don't get any deeper.

Linkey: Enkei RS6

SVX10 · #6 01-23-2005, 04:01 PM

I looked at car-parts.com. It's a little un-nerving because they don't give any product description. Are they rebuilt, or just taken off a junker?

Where did you get your rebuild kit? How much are they (20ish front, 17ish rear)? How long did it take you and what tools did you need. I'll rebuild mine if it can be a weekend project that requires no special tools. I'd like to do what you're doing and just have a spare set, but I can't find one.

How is that paint treating you? I'll probably paint mine black or silver when I do this, so a paint review would be helpful so they don't look like crap 2 weeks after I paint them.

gsodonis · #7 01-24-2005, 07:07 AM

My red painted calipers are the originals that came with the car. The previous owner painted them red with caliper paint. The paint seems to holds up pretty well. While I'm washing my wheels, one quick wipe from a rag or brush and they look new all over again. I think that the paint was one of the spray caliper paints.

I painted my previous cars calipers with the brush on 2-part epoxy paint (Foliatec) with the calipers removed from the car. That paint is awesome because it goes on thick and actually fills in a lot of the casting marks, making the calipers look really smooth. The downside is that you have to do multiple coats and then wait in between coats for the paint to be relatively dry. The time I did my WRX, it took me almost 7 hours start to finish, most of it waiting time. IMHO, the Foliatec paint at around $38 (or similar 2 part epoxy paint) is superior to the spray can versions (around $15) because it will hold up better.

I bought spare calipers (from an eBay junker) so that I could either nickel plate or powder coat them without the downtime to my daily driver SVX. I wanted to rebuild my own calipers to know to ensure that my brakes are at their best. The rebuild kits were around $40 for both sets from subaruparts.com (I recommend you go with Subaru OEM replacement parts, not chepos from another source) and the only real tools you'll need are some fine picks to remove the inner seals and the rear piston boot retaining clips (the front calipers boots don't have retaining clips). I'll be taking pictures during my rebuild to prepare a How-to document so If I get done before you do yours, you'll have some pics to go by.

SVX10 · #8 01-24-2005, 10:16 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I would like to do the brush on epoxy paint, but I can't find it. Where did you get yours?

gsodonis · #9 01-24-2005, 11:32 AM

I bought mine here: Folia Tec Epoxy Caliper Paint

About 1/4 of the way down the page. You can get it in 5 or 6 different colors.