Detailing Discuss detailing your ride within.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Clean & polish front caliper bolts

  #1  
Old 12-20-2012, 12:05 AM
LasVegasHarley's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cool Clean & polish front caliper bolts

Clean and polish those ugly Caliper bolts the easy way.


Before:
Name:  Before_zps9dcb64a2.jpg
Views: 135
Size:  111.8 KB"


After:
Name:  after01_zps9ca3d513.jpg
Views: 119
Size:  170.4 KB" Name:  after02_zpsc7efff1e.jpg
Views: 120
Size:  166.6 KB" Name:  after04_zps186e303c.jpg
Views: 120
Size:  161.4 KB" Name:  IMG_20121219_214238.jpg
Views: 116
Size:  94.1 KB"


It's true, those ugly, grey bolts that are in your front calipers can be poished to look exactly like Chrome. This project took me about 2 hours. I also polished my axle but that was considerably more work.



1. Only remove one bolt at a time, This will eliminate the worry of creating a brake fluid leak at the caliper.



2. Put the treaded end into a drill chuck. Not so tight or you might damage the threads! I had no problems with my threads but I imagine someone could get that chuck tight enough to cause damage to the bolt's threads.
Name:  IMG_20121219_214348.jpg
Views: 113
Size:  69.6 KB"


3. Fold a microfiber cloth in half, four or five times, so that it is thicker.
Name:  IMG_20121219_214203.jpg
Views: 111
Size:  130.5 KB"


4. Dip the head of the bolt on some Mother's metal polish.
Name:  IMG_20121219_214416.jpg
Views: 111
Size:  57.3 KB"


5. Run the drill with the bolt in the chuck at a moderate speed, until it becomes shiney about 3 minutes. (Caution: IT WILL GET HOT)
Name:  IMG_20121219_214440.jpg
Views: 113
Size:  82.9 KB"


6. Wipe off excess polish from bolt head and threads, with a clean rag.
Name:  IMG_20121219_214616.jpg
Views: 115
Size:  69.3 KB"


7. Apply a drop or two of blue loctite to the bolt threads.


8. Reinstall bolt to the correct torque. "17" lbf-ft for the torx head screws, "13" lbf-ft for the pad pins.


Enjoy!
 

Last edited by LasVegasHarley; 12-20-2012 at 12:19 AM.
  #2  
Old 12-20-2012, 03:02 AM
upgradedcbr's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Looks awesome!! Nice to see some detail work in to the bike.

Although a great idea, you will have to do a lot of maintenance to keep them like that. I have a few parts on my Supra that I polished and it is a pita. I bought ARP SS and they always stay polished AND, they are overkill for tensile strength for the purpose in which you are using them for.
 
  #3  
Old 12-20-2012, 11:00 AM
gotcbr's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Nice work! Good tips.
 
  #4  
Old 12-20-2012, 01:56 PM
raylee's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Dirty Jerz
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

LOL, very clever. Looks like I've got something to do on Sunday.
 
  #5  
Old 01-15-2013, 11:22 PM
Cybertank3's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: DMV
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Doing this tomorrow. Never thought of it. Thanks for the write up.
 
  #6  
Old 01-18-2013, 08:48 PM
LasVegasHarley's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Cybertank3
Doing this tomorrow. Never thought of it. Thanks for the write up.
Cool, I am glad you are going to use this method. Post a picture or two in here when you are done. I cant wait to hear your reaction to the difference after.
 
  #7  
Old 02-03-2013, 10:09 AM
wheelnut's Avatar
Welcome Crew
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: newbury u.k
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs up

TOP TIP, im rebuilding my hurricane and read this tip, removed the disc and thought i would polish the bolts up (AMAZING RESULTS) im really glad i read the thread, and thanks for the tip
 
Attached Thumbnails Clean & polish front caliper bolts-image0327.jpg  
  #8  
Old 03-22-2013, 10:17 PM
LasVegasHarley's Avatar
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by wheelnut
TOP TIP, im rebuilding my hurricane and read this tip, removed the disc and thought i would polish the bolts up (AMAZING RESULTS) im really glad i read the thread, and thanks for the tip
Looks good man! I am glad you tried it!
 
  #9  
Old 04-13-2013, 02:00 PM
wheelnut's Avatar
Welcome Crew
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: newbury u.k
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

since i have been rebuilding my hurricane i have used your method on all the allen bolts, its saved me a fortune in new fastners and it makes the old girl look better
 
  #10  
Old 04-21-2013, 02:28 AM
mnazary's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Looks fantastic. Not sure if I have the patience to do it but definitely will try. Thanks for the write up.
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Clean & polish front caliper bolts



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:44 AM.