New calipers and nickle plated discs......

[Chessers]

After getting most depressed about my rusting calipers and discs I decided to get something sorted.

Off they went to Gerry and Simon at Phoenix and I must say I was most pleased with the results!

The process was as follows (Gerry's text):



Calipers were cleaned and de-greased

Calipers were then stripped, clips, mounts, bolts and sliders stripped off

Brake fluid washed out of calipers

Calipers and mounts shot blasted

Bleed nipples removed and threads protected with ptfe tape, nipples refitted and masked bracket bolts refitted to mounts to protect threads

Calipers and mounts powder coated yellow clips powdercoated black with bleed nipples removed and black oxidised (Gun Blueing), refitted

Calipers re-assembled and hand finished in "M" lettering

Discs removed and shot blasted

Disc rims and bells polished

Discs Bright Nickel plated

Discs and calipers refitted and bled with DOT 5.1 fluid

Edited by Chessers on Friday 9th May 17:10

[Neil.D]

The discs look especially good. Do you think the nickel plate will keep the rust off?

[E36GUY]

Can I ask how much that cost?

Reason is I am going to be replacing mine soonish. Eurocarparts do fully refurbed calipers for less than £100/corner then, if you send them your old ones they will refund £25/corner which seems a pretty good deal to me for effectively brand new calipers.

[belleair302]

I have just had mine done, plus a full caliper rebuild. All in £745. The disks and pads do need to be rebedded but they feel great, look good and I will hopefully be able to get out on track and see how they perform later this month.

Phoneix Motorsport and Gerry / Simon know their beans.

Edited by belleair302 on Friday 9th May 23:08

[Chessers]

IIRC the calipers were either £150 for the four to be sorted. The finish is spot on and well worth it.

They can also replace the seals etc and give the calipers a service but mine are pretty new so didn't need the work.

The plating was around £90 per pair for the discs and again looks spot on especially around the hub part. With regards to rust, yes it does slow down the rusting process massively and if you have it done on new discs (that they can make for you) it also stops the rusting in the disc vanes etc.

The guys also sorted out the refurb on two of my wheels and again finish was spot on.

Can't recommend these chaps highly enough.

If you want contact details just PM me.

[RatBoy M3CS]

You have nickel plated the whole disc..! including the friction surface.. This will wear off and start flaking, with all the debris getting stuck in the pad material,and cooling vents and do nothing for your braking performance, untill you have worn thro' this material and got back to the steel underneath, i would be carefull on your braking, the pads were not designed to work on a nickel surface..

keep an eye on them, and you will wear thro' this coating in a few miles.. should be ok after that..

;)

[Chessers]

Yep you're right been out the last two days with plenty of light braking and most has come off now.

You do get quite a bit of vibration as you are wearing through but virtually gone now.

Cleaned the wheels etc this morning and looked great with the sun shining on them.

Now have to keep them clean -

[8Tech]

Adhesion to the steel disc is extremely good and will not flake like chrome would. Braking surface is NOT polished for obvious reasons and the pads will wear through the Nickel the same as when bedding in any brake, but slower. In this way, the nickel will continue to protect the disc from then onwards on all non-contact surfaces.
One disadvantage is brake "groan" during this break-in period and this occurs in approx 80% of cases but if you can put up with this for the break-in period, and clean and polish the rims and bells now and then, the discs will stay this bright indefinately.