Hi guys

I have a set of 4 pot calipers which I got off of a Scooby net member and they are in fantastic condition but I want them painted to match the rest of my car as at the moment they are just metal colour etc.... so my question is this...

Do I refurb them myself and paint them or send them to somebody like godspeed or scoobyworx ???

time isn't an issue so if I do them myself and they take a few weeks to do that's fine but is it worthwhile getting them done by the experts...

they need to be silver with black writing as they have the Subaru lettering on...

thoughts please

 

I must confess I recently sent my AP 6pots off to be refurbed at a very well known outfit over Xmas. Went for black calliper and white AP lettering. Within 24 hours the lettering started 'falling off' as the stickers were not secured correctly - saw the peeling letters myself when the callipers arrived but needed the car so put them on - the callipers were already over time. The lettering was stick on jobbies. I have been promised replacements over the phone. No show. Letter of complaint. No reply. Phoning next week. Don't have especially high expectations in their ability to rectify the fault. Bought new disks, pads and even had the bells refurbed at the same time, so I was spending a fair whack with this company.

Lesson: next time get the job done locally or do it myself and avoid self-proclaimed experts who cannot even secure lettering. I now have a very nice/expensive set-up with half the letters missing - look fecking ridiculous. It's like having a stunning girl on your arm . . . . but she has a big bushy 'tash sitting in the middle of her face. There's a lot right, but one thing wrong that spoils the whole thing.

 

I would go with scoobyworx. Have had calipers from both Godspeed and scoobyworx and scoobyworx were far better quality imo ( powder coated as opposed to painted).

 

I've used Godspeed and Brake Caliper specialist for colour changes on my calipers, both did a good job. ��

 

I should have added my will not have stickers on as they have Subaru letters embossed on the calipers

 

If it's the standard 4 pots with the raised SUBARU letters then I've done a set before with caliper paint from halfords. Just buy the tins and use a brush.

 

and who hasn't painted calipers in the past.... but the real question is would they look as good doing them yourself or is it worth the money having them done by a professional ?

I can make sure the metal is 100% clean and grease free etc etc but is it better to send them away ??

 

Do 'em yourself, esp if they aren't on the car.

Once painted, and Hammerite is as good as it gets, behind the wheels they look great.

 

so if I put in new pistons and dust seals etc are they guaranteed to work etc once on the car with pads ???

 

Why wouldn't they?

Two tips: make sure the bleed nipples are fitted so as to be at the TOP, (you'd be surprised how many have got it wrong), and DO bleed carefully.

 

Don't mean to high jack the thread but having a similar debate by myself. Upgraded my old 2pots to 4pots. I stripped as much old s**t off as I could and painted them and came up tidy. Now noticing that the one piston is sticking a little.
Do I send off for pro refurb or take them off again and start from scratch. They are the embossed 4pots and I know some companies send a refurbished non embossed set and refund when you send yours in. Any thoughts?

 

You can buy a pair of new non oem 4 pots for £100 these days
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRONT-PAIR...QAAOSwLnlWodoq

or the wrx pro for £165.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUBARU-IMP...AAAOSwL7VWjSAe
To me that negates the need to refurb, just bin/flog whatever.

 

Did you rebuild them or just paint the caliper bodies? The sticking piston will be to do with the pistons themselves and the seals. Will need stripping and rebuilding. Just treating the bodies to a strip and paint only makes them pretty.

Easier enough to do yourself with all the guides on here or just contact an y of the usual traders mentioned.

 

I stripped them (didn't split them in half) and put new seals. The pistons looked in good enough condition to not warrant new ones but maybe regretting that decision. Would moisture within the piston while leaving overnight be the cause maybe?