SteveL1

I painted the calipers today on my '06 C230 with the G2 silver kit and it looks like crap. Very steaky and no where near what I have experienced in the past from the red or black G2 kits. I assume that it's due to trying to brush on the metalic paint instead of spraying. I have to redo these and the only way to do it right is to remove the calipers and tear them down so I can bead blast them and start over.

Anyone done this before or have an idea where to find some tech articles or instructions? Other problem is that this is my daily driver so whatever I end up doing will need to be done over a weekend.

Actually, if I could take the two torx bolts on the front out, I could blast them and hand sand the caliper without taking it off. What happens if I take one bolt out at a time? This feasable?

Thanks for the help!

Blake P

I wouldn't take them apart. I remember one guy said he loosened one of the bolts and it ruined the caliper completely. I had the same experience as you with the silver G2 kit. What I ended up doing was sanding the surface smooth where most of the paint was still there, but perfectly smooth, then applied a few coats of silver Duplicolor caliper spray paint that I found at Kragen. After letting it dry, I applied the caliper decals and was very happy with the result. I did mine before installing them, but you should be able to mask off everything around the caliper and spray while on the car... just be extra careful not to get any overspray on the car. Good luck!

SteveL1

As I was laying in bed last night, night being able to sleep, I wondered if I were to use a large c-clamp to hold the claiper together while pulling one bolt out at a time, would this keep the seal intact?

I also thought about doing what you did, but I sent G2 a message about my problem and will wait for their response before doing something. They now show using a Pre Val aeresol spray unit to apply their product in their installation video and would prefer to do that over using another brand of paint. Maybe they will send me another kit so I can do it right.

They should really reccomend spraying the metalic colors!

Boom vang

For what it is worth my TR6 has 2 pot calipers on the front end and a similar bolt holding the 2 halves together. It is strictly warned in my workshop manuals not to separate the 2 halves. I know of people that did and never could get them functioning properly as they continued to seep or leak. The Calipers that are on this car are based on 50 year old technology so maybe the MB are fine, but then again today's automotive industry is built around 'replacing components rather than rebuilding'.

Based on what I know and my experiences, I would not venture to take them apart on my Benz unless you are prepared to purchase new calipers if they don't work and they can be very expensive.

JDC55

Never ever ever ever take the calipers apart. And you should also never ever ever ever bead blast calipers.

blown93lx

For your safety, i say just buy new ones ... suck it up, experience learned.

Hope it works out

Blake P

No way, his can be salvaged with a little sandpaper and caliper spray paint.

SteveL1

OK, OK I will not take them apart. I'm going to wait and see if G2 gives me another kit and then sand and spray as Blake did. Thanks for the input!

Blake P

Atta boy. Just sand lightly with medium/low grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth. Try to retain at least some of the G2 paint, as it makes for a nice solid base coat. When you spray, just use slow smooth motions and spray for 1-2 second intervals so the paint goes on in light coats and doesn't run. Good luck!

Moviela

Sorry to say that you cannot split a caliper and reassemble it with workshop tools. These antilock brake calipers work at pressures much higher than those of earlier disc brake cars. The bolts and seals are single use components. They must be assembled using a precision jig so that the fluid passages align properly. The torque on the bolts mut be applied in stages. The threads on the bolts are a "purpose interference" fit that makes them hard to turn, but prevents them from shaking loose. This interference fit causes the casting threads to be slightly deformed. If the bolts are removed they cannot simply be reinserted.

SteveL1

The good part of all this is that when I painted the calipers, I installed new rotors and Morse Ceramic pads. Got them seated as I should and have to say that they stop extremely well and absolutly no noise!!!! Will take a day or so to see how the dust is, but it's gotta be way better than OEM was.

The Morse pads were just released and I may be one of the very first to have them on. Price was not bad either at $64 for the fronts. I will try to post a review in the brake thread in a day or two after I have some miles on them. Thanks again for the info, and hopefully this will keep someone else from doing something stupid!

kompressor85

now i'm nobody's fool when it comes to cars.... why should you never in a thousand years take calipers apart? something rediculously different about these calipers?

EDIT: nvm....... should've read the rest of the thread

C230 Sport Coup

As in a British vintage, Triumph Tr6?

Boom vang

Yup the real thing with the sweet sound that ricers are trying to replicate!