How to restoring classic caliper brakes?
09-11-20, 02:16 PM
#1
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How to restoring classic caliper brakes?
Hi guys. Can you please help me on how to remove these stains from a classic caliper brake to make it oh so shiny again? Its from a 1989 bridgestone roadman. Thanks guys!
09-11-20, 02:25 PM
#2
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Make two more posts and you can upload pics
09-11-20, 02:28 PM
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First deal with any dirt with a simple wash. If necessary try something stronger like simple green or a citrus based solvent.
Second if dealing with rust, evaporust does the job.
Once the calipers are clean try a polish like mothers
Second if dealing with rust, evaporust does the job.
Once the calipers are clean try a polish like mothers
Last edited by bikemig; 09-11-20 at 02:34 PM.
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09-11-20, 02:53 PM
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So tell me what model calipers you have.
09-11-20, 03:02 PM
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Finally able to upload photos. Haha.
Its a dia-compe. I have very little knowledge on bikes. Apologies if this arw silly questions.
Its a dia-compe. I have very little knowledge on bikes. Apologies if this arw silly questions.
09-11-20, 04:18 PM
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Nothing a little elbow grease won't take care of. I'd use Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish, which is sold all over. You can make those look like new again.
If you have a buffing wheel it would take 5 minutes. By hand, a little longer.
If you have a buffing wheel it would take 5 minutes. By hand, a little longer.
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09-11-20, 04:31 PM
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You may want to replace those brake pads; kool stops are very good.
09-11-20, 04:33 PM
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Mothers mag and aluminum works great !!
09-11-20, 04:34 PM
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New pads - too after the calipers are all cleaned up and springs lightly lubed, Kool Stop is a good choice.
09-11-20, 04:47 PM
#12
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It's light oxidation, AKA aluminum rust. It'll come right off with metal polish and a rag and elbow grease, like everyone says. They'll shine like chrome. I typically use Simichrome. Mothers will work, or Wenol, or probably about a dozen others.
FYI those are Bridgestone self centering brakes, made by Dia Compe. Neat design.
It is easiest to polish them if you take them apart. But don't do that unless you're confident in your mechanical skills. They'll clean up well enough if you leave them together. Give the pivot points a drop of oil when you're done.
FYI those are Bridgestone self centering brakes, made by Dia Compe. Neat design.
It is easiest to polish them if you take them apart. But don't do that unless you're confident in your mechanical skills. They'll clean up well enough if you leave them together. Give the pivot points a drop of oil when you're done.
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09-11-20, 05:04 PM
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I use Mothers Polish and on those you my need super fine steel wool first. I think taking them apart will render the best result. But as Salamandrine says be sure you have the skill to correctly reassemble. If not put together right then modulation can be off. They will look like chrome when finished. I usually do it while watching tv. I have done a few sets of side pull and center pull.
09-11-20, 05:11 PM
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All good polishes mentioned above. They’ll clean up the first pic but I doubt they’ll get rid of the spots. 2 or 3 stage wet sand followed by the polish will make them pop. 300/1000 grit (or approximate) for a nice shiny finish. 300/1000//2500 for a high polish finish. All able to be done by hand.
09-11-20, 05:18 PM
#16
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Don't spend too much on chrome cleaner. The cheap stuff works just as good as anything else.
https://www.turtlewax.com/en-us/our-...-rust-remover/
https://www.turtlewax.com/en-us/our-...-rust-remover/
09-11-20, 05:38 PM
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ooh, nice - Dia Compe SCs!! (self centering that really works!) i have two sets of these in use and I think they're kinda great brakes. They always seem to turn up on Bridgestones.
Another cleaning idea is to toss the whole caliper into an Oxalic acid bath - that will take the rust off the steel bits, but will also clean the (unanodized) aluminum back to a brighter, pale grey - from which point the polishing becomes much easier. (I use Blue Magic for raw aluminum, with a scotchbrite pad when tackling the peppering you have here)
You may also want to check & lube everything as part of the clean up - the mechanism is simple and clever, but it does require that parts can turn against each other in a tight "friction fit". a decade or three sitting outside can often end up killing the "SC" part of things until a refurb.
Another cleaning idea is to toss the whole caliper into an Oxalic acid bath - that will take the rust off the steel bits, but will also clean the (unanodized) aluminum back to a brighter, pale grey - from which point the polishing becomes much easier. (I use Blue Magic for raw aluminum, with a scotchbrite pad when tackling the peppering you have here)
You may also want to check & lube everything as part of the clean up - the mechanism is simple and clever, but it does require that parts can turn against each other in a tight "friction fit". a decade or three sitting outside can often end up killing the "SC" part of things until a refurb.
Last edited by niliraga; 09-11-20 at 05:42 PM.
09-11-20, 06:57 PM
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1) disassemble
2) green scotch pad and water
3) metal polish and micro-fiber cloth
4) grease pivots
5) assemble
6) Kool-Stop pads
7) ride
8)
2) green scotch pad and water
3) metal polish and micro-fiber cloth
4) grease pivots
5) assemble
6) Kool-Stop pads
7) ride
8)
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09-11-20, 08:51 PM
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09-16-20, 12:06 AM
#20
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Hey guys! Here's how my brakes look like now. I used 3M metal polish and sanded the parts that didn't come off.
Thanks for all the help.
Thanks for all the help.
09-16-20, 04:55 AM
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Looking good. Now make the call on how shiny you want them. Polish and leave as is, hit them with wet 1,000 grit and polish or go all the way by following up with wet 2,500 grit and polish. They’ll end up like this which is hard to believe until you’ve done it.
DSCN2438 (600x450)
DSCN2438 (600x450)
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09-16-20, 10:52 PM
#22
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Looking good. Now make the call on how shiny you want them. Polish and leave as is, hit them with wet 1,000 grit and polish or go all the way by following up with wet 2,500 grit and polish. They’ll end up like this which is hard to believe until you’ve done it.
DSCN2438 (600x450)
DSCN2438 (600x450)
