TT Aluminum 300zx caliper polishing gone good ;) - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

brage · 01-19-2003, 09:10 PM

Got the calipers polished up and installed them today... look great!

(previously my attempt in painting them went bad:http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...threadid=21555)

pics:

Before:

After:

sechick - it is a pearl white 1995 SE (S14)

-Jeff

*DSC* · 01-19-2003, 09:12 PM

Very nice job!

HippoSleek · 01-20-2003, 07:53 AM

To me, that looks so much better than a color.

What did it take to polish them? At a shop or ?

thelinja · 01-20-2003, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HippoSleek
To me, that looks so much better than a color.

What did it take to polish them? At a shop or ?

I think he said he used a wire wheel.

I think they look great blage. A helluva lot better than when you had them black.

*sykikchimp* · 01-20-2003, 09:52 AM

I guess since they are aluminum no need to worry about rust....

Might look even nicer with a some clear coat on them...

excellent work!

*crioten* · 01-20-2003, 10:02 AM

good work man, i liked the black ones as well, but these look just as good. keep up the good work

glen

tnord · 01-20-2003, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HippoSleek
To me, that looks so much better than a color.

What did it take to polish them? At a shop or ?

agreed. unless the "color" is black with silver "nissan."

kandyflip445 · 01-20-2003, 12:16 PM

I like it. I think that black with a silver nissan would look really good too.

brage · 01-20-2003, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kandyflip445
I like it. I think that black with a silver nissan would look really good too.

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...threadid=21555

uiuc240 · 01-20-2003, 12:45 PM

WOW. Now I want to polish mine. Tell me the steps you took please. I want this.

Eric

*crioten* · 01-20-2003, 01:32 PM

are the stock calipers for a s13 made of Aluminum as well? if not what are they made out of?

thanks
glen

brage · 01-20-2003, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by uiuc240
WOW. Now I want to polish mine. Tell me the steps you took please. I want this.

Eric

Basic process

Get yourself these things:

1/2 HP 6" Ryobi bench grinder - $39 @ home depot
2 fine brass wire wheels - ~ $14
1 cotton buffing wheel - ~$5
1 stick of black buffing compound - ~$3
SAFETY GLASSES - $5

Then you just remove all of the guards/grinding wheel from one side of the grinder, and put on the wire wheel... push the caliper into the wire wheel and pull it through... you just basically do that until it is nice and shiny if there are any wierd bumps you can't get rid of try using 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper (that is what i used - not very much though) Then just put the cotton buffing wheel on the griner and put the black compoung on the wheel (just hold the compund into the wheel while it is running) then you just buff the caliper with the cotton wheel... wipe off any excess buffing compund from the caliper and you are done.

If you want to clear coat them you'll actually have to scuff up the surface w/ 400 grit wet/dry paper so the paint has something to stick to.

I'm not sure what is going to happen to them - IE how long they will stay clean/shiny. Also you may want to apply some auto wax to them I use McGuires - I don't know if it is going to help much.

-jeff

HippoSleek · 01-20-2003, 04:22 PM

Actually, the wax is a good idea, but it also made me think of cooking spray! While not exactly ideal for rotors, it works well in keeping brake dust from permanently collecting on wheels.

A little Pam will allow you to wash even the nastiest Hawk dust off your wheels with a simple hose down. I may work equally well on calipers.

KiDyNomiTe · 01-20-2003, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brage
Basic process

Get yourself these things:

1/2 HP 6" Ryobi bench grinder - $39 @ home depot
2 fine brass wire wheels - ~ $14
1 cotton buffing wheel - ~$5
1 stick of black buffing compound - ~$3
SAFETY GLASSES - $5

Then you just remove all of the guards/grinding wheel from one side of the grinder, and put on the wire wheel... push the caliper into the wire wheel and pull it through... you just basically do that until it is nice and shiny if there are any wierd bumps you can't get rid of try using 220 grit wet/dry sandpaper (that is what i used - not very much though) Then just put the cotton buffing wheel on the griner and put the black compoung on the wheel (just hold the compund into the wheel while it is running) then you just buff the caliper with the cotton wheel... wipe off any excess buffing compund from the caliper and you are done.

If you want to clear coat them you'll actually have to scuff up the surface w/ 400 grit wet/dry paper so the paint has something to stick to.

I'm not sure what is going to happen to them - IE how long they will stay clean/shiny. Also you may want to apply some auto wax to them I use McGuires - I don't know if it is going to help much.

-jeff

More things to FAQ

tnord · 01-20-2003, 05:43 PM

yeah, i like the black better. too bad it didn't work out.

Bbandit · 01-20-2003, 06:02 PM

thats a clean work man
i have to agree with Tnord for liking the black ones.. but this is not bad... not bad at all

USMC240 · 01-21-2003, 11:09 AM

much better, i took a wire wheel to a whole bunch of stuff, it got addicting, i almost wire wheeled my cat.

01-19-2003, 09:10 PM	#1
brage Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 181 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	TT Aluminum 300zx caliper polishing gone good ;) Got the calipers polished up and installed them today... look great! (previously my attempt in painting them went bad:http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...threadid=21555) pics: Before: After: sechick - it is a pearl white 1995 SE (S14) -Jeff

01-19-2003, 09:12 PM	#2
DSC New Title Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: VA Posts: 3,454 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Very nice job! __________________

01-20-2003, 07:53 AM	#3
HippoSleek Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: elsewhere Posts: 2,081 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	NICE To me, that looks so much better than a color. What did it take to polish them? At a shop or ?

01-20-2003, 09:52 AM	#5
sykikchimp WOW addicted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the moon Age: 43 Posts: 6,525 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I guess since they are aluminum no need to worry about rust.... Might look even nicer with a some clear coat on them... excellent work! __________________

01-20-2003, 12:45 PM	#10
uiuc240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Naperville, IL Age: 45 Posts: 2,093 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	WOW. Now I want to polish mine. Tell me the steps you took please. I want this. Eric __________________ 2002 Mazda Protege5 1989 S13 w/SR20DET (sold)

01-20-2003, 12:16 PM	#8
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 39 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I like it. I think that black with a silver nissan would look really good too.

01-20-2003, 04:22 PM	#13
HippoSleek Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: elsewhere Posts: 2,081 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Actually, the wax is a good idea, but it also made me think of cooking spray! While not exactly ideal for rotors, it works well in keeping brake dust from permanently collecting on wheels. A little Pam will allow you to wash even the nastiest Hawk dust off your wheels with a simple hose down. I may work equally well on calipers.

01-20-2003, 05:43 PM	#15
tnord Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,975 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah, i like the black better. too bad it didn't work out.

01-20-2003, 06:02 PM	#16
Bbandit Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas and now Jakarta Age: 42 Posts: 2,674 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Bbandit Feedback Score: 0 reviews	thats a clean work man i have to agree with Tnord for liking the black ones.. but this is not bad... not bad at all __________________ ==>>TGL GARAGE<<==.. RIP! S13 coupe KA-T @ 0.5 Bar = SOLD! A31 Cefiro + SR = Current

01-21-2003, 11:09 AM	#17
USMC240 Leaky Injector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Camp LeJeune NC Age: 41 Posts: 60 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	much better, i took a wire wheel to a whole bunch of stuff, it got addicting, i almost wire wheeled my cat.