cleaning caliper

[1967 MkIII]

Almost done with the pulling bits apart and soon get to bolt together again.

The brake calipers have been roughly painted black at some time in the past, which is now half peeled off through dripped hydraulic fluid etc. In order to refurb them:

1) How much can I dismantle without breaking anything? One side came off easily, the other was a tough pull to get it off the disc.
2) what is worth replacing as amatter of course (got new pads already)
3) can I wire brush the outsides with a drill, and later clean with an air hose
4) then just spray it with a high temp spray, masking off where the pads go

Thanks
Steve

[GT6Craig]

Hi Steve,

My thoughts are as below

1) I would remove from disc and replace the piston seals at the very least, and possibly new pistons if the coating has peeled off and or the surface finish is poor. You don't have to 'split' the caliper to do this I don't recall.
2) As above (at least the piston seals). You can use an airline on the fluid entry port to 'blow' the piston out. It should move on air relatively freely, using only your air gun pushed against the hole.
3) Yes, that's what I did with reasonable results. Although I should of used the old pistons to suitably mask off the piston cylinder, and had them blasted.
4) You really need specialist brake caliper paint as you will inevitably get a brake fluid leak at some point and you don't want the paint bubbling off.

Cheers
Craig