Restoring the colour to Brake calipers.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I have a set of blue spots that have faded to a light grey colour, is there a way I can restore the dark colour to them? They seem to have the traditional lumpy almost porous finish to them.
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MarkJ · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Karma :

Are these what the calipers look like?
https://www.classicmotorcycleparts.gb.com/ekmps/shops/demonxjr/images/xjr1300-brake-caliper-blue-spot-front-right-hand-5dm-2580u-00-1296-x-972-.jpg

Have the blue spots faded, or just the caliper body? The blue spots look anodised to me, so maybe try an electro platers. Main body of the caliper just looks painted so maybe just try some caliper paint.

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

Aluminium can be re-anodised but if the surface is corroded and rough then the new anodising will be too unless you had them blasted first.

Paint would be the simplest but would be really annoying whenever you want to strip them - i.e. cracking around the caliper body and chipping where the massive torx bit goes in.

Souleh · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Karma :

Those cans of brake and chain cleaner DO work a bit to get the edge off.

You could easily go through a single can doing a caliper mind you as it blasts out at some fair pace

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

The caliper body itself can be painted with high temp caliper paint or powder coated. They'd need to be stripped and well masked off first but it is pretty common to paint calipers.

Someone on here has bright orange calipers Surprised

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EDIT: Brake cleaner leaves a white residue, my wheels currently look rather shit from overspray of brake cleaner, have you tried cleaning them with a water based detergent and a stiff nylon brush?

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

I used to get asked this a lot, "Can we borrow the tool to remove the blue spots please? I want to send them off for a refurb." Oh how we laughed, there is no tool, IIRC I don't even think they come out but its been a long time since I've looked.

Send them for dipping then high temp matt black them. That's how Yam do it. Thumbs Up