Brake caliper color

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Bryce

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Hi, I'me today sand blasting my brake calipers but would like confirmation of what the origional caliper color was for a 1973 CSL Golf. They have been (very badly over rust) painted gold, but the local BMW shop think that gloss black was the origional color? Can someone please confirm.

Once these are painted I can start reassembling the engine/subframe etc.

Thanks, Bryce
 
They were cadmium plated which gave it a gold color (colour) with a refractive quality that has traces of other hues. Cadmium is toxic and from what I've read the manufacturers are discontinuing it's use. When I rebuild my calipers I plan to paint them a dull gold which should approximate the original finish. If you are bent on making it as close to original as possible, Eastwood has a 3 step spray paint kit - never tried it.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=722&itemType=PRODUCT
 
Bryce, Steve in Auckland here, I did all my brakes last year and had the calipers Procoated in black, give them a ring they may do a goldy colour?
ph auck 274 5459.

PS hows progress going on yours, mines still in the panelbeaters with it's arse in the air getting rust cut out! BUT he tells me were nearly there (haha) and then i've still got to paint and put it all back together as well as renovate the house, run a bussiness and play with the kids, so maybe next year?


Steve
 
The Eastwood paint is terrible, and I doubt it would hold up under heat.

I did my 635 calipers in red.. My wife says it's like a girl wearing red panties...Now you can see why I love my wife... ;-D

S
 
Thanks guys for the help. Steve I'll give them a call Monday.
Started reattaching bits to the motor today which felt great after months of pulling things apart.
Bryce
 
I finally got around to making a few phone calls and found an aerospace company near here that can cadmium plate the calipers for me. It's amazing what is still done in "environmentally friendly" New Zealand!
 
Brakes are reborn.

Well I finally got around to sending brake bits to be plated and just got them back. They went all rusty and came back looking brand new. I've yet to install them so I'm hoping that they also work like new! But they look awesome.

The place that did then normally works on plane parts so their work seems first rate. If Cadmium plating can't be done in the USA as I've been told, then I'd highly recommend that parts be sent here (NZ) to be "reborn". Packaging was also excellent if you need them shipped. They also matched/etched the cylinders and pistons so assembly should be easier.

Cost was $NZ350 (approx US$280) for all the parts (including nuts and bolts). If I could figure out how to post pics I would!

Thanks for the replies from those that the help sorting these brakes.

Bryce
 
TILLA said:
They were cadmium plated which gave it a gold color (colour) with a refractive quality that has traces of other hues.itemID=722&itemType=PRODUCT[/url]
Click to expand...

When I rebuilt the engine in my Coupe I had all of the iron parts cadmium plated. They were silver right out of the cadmium tank. The plating shop gave the cadmium plated parts a gold Irridite coating that made them really pretty. I would guess is what BMW did with the calipers.
 
Bryce,
See from your pictures you split the calipers
That's something I have been afraid to do as I believe you need special stretch bolts - can you get them? Plus you have to torque them up to a value I don't know
If you do know, please let me/us know as it would make life easier in the brake department!
Cheers
Malc
 
retorqueing split calipers

Malc:

This subject was tangentially addressed on the E28 Board, but perhaps not completely and I am not clear the opinions expressed translate to ATE E9 brakes. FWIW, there is no strong concensus respecting whether the same bolts can be reused on M5 calipers. http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?p=355290

In any event, I consulted the E3 manual (blue notebook No. 2) on the subject. Jan 76 amendment. It states:

"Do not separate the two halves of the caliper unless a leak is detected. Remove the expansion bolts. When installing: Do not re-use the expansion bolts." Tightening sequence 1 ÷ 4

Under torque specifications front caliper halves = 45 to 55(Nm)/4.5 to 5.5 (mkp)/33 to 40(ft.lbs)

Rear caliper halves (if any one is interested) are torqued to 22(Nm)/2.2(mkp)/16 ft lbs.

Years ago, when I did not know any better, I routinely split calipers used fat "0" rings that were a few pence from the dealer and even reused the same bolts. I remember the parts counterman telling me the O rings were "viton." A mechanic there suggested the "0" rings were common at our local hardware and marine supply store. I am pretty sure Wallach and N have them, but I would not be surprised if they couldn't be sourced from many other places.

When I needed a special fastener that I could not locate at the hardware store or dealer, I would visit a machinist with an aviation background near the local airport. I seem to recall he would measure the overall length and thickness of any used bolts he had and compare them with a sample new-unused fasterner to determine if the fastener was still suitable. I know he did this for head bolts and think he did it for anything else where safety and durability might be an issue - rod bolts etc. Needless to say, head bolts were not torque to yield back then and I can't say I wondered that much about the caliper bolts. Never had any problems though.

HTH
 
Malc said:
Bryce,
See from your pictures you split the calipers
That's something I have been afraid to do as I believe you need special stretch bolts - can you get them? Plus you have to torque them up to a value I don't know
If you do know, please let me/us know as it would make life easier in the brake department!
Cheers
Malc
Click to expand...
Both caliper bolts and seals are currently available. Look at this:
http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component...e,viewtopic/t,303083/highlight,caliper+bolts/
 
Thanks Malc for the heads up - no I had no idea and just unscrewed the calipers! So while they look pretty, now I need to get them working! I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks very much Bill for the answer. I had brought new seals from Carl (Nelson) when I was in Cal last year, but will need to buy the rest of the needed bits.

I'm currently building a garage to put the car in once complete so haven't been focusing on the car for a while - no point building the car to have it sitting uncovered on a sand dune! This will give me time to gather the parts from Wallothnesch but I'll call Carl Nelson first to see if he has the parts as he has helped lots so far.

Cheers,
Bryce
 
Caliper Bolts

Hi Bryce. BMW still list bolts and repair kits as available for these calipers I will check my price list for them tomorrow and let you know!
Cheers Warren
 
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