Chrome brake calipers?

[PartTimer]

I am toying with the idea of chroming my brake calipers and brackets. With the calipers I don't think that I would be able to submerse the entire caliper, but I could do the visible areas. How would chrome plating hold up on these? I have a feeling they are made of pot metal so I may need some sort of kit? Would it be possible to leave the calipers attached to the car and do the process?

[mcaswell]

You'd really need to submerse the entire part for an even finish.

If they'ew pot metal, you'd need to pot metal prime them, copper plate, nickel plate, chrome plate. Look at our <a href="/triple.htm">Triple Chrome Plating Kit</a>.

It would be extremely difficult to plate these while still attached to the car.

[PartTimer]

Hmm, I thought I replied to this, oh well. I think submersing the caliper is out of the question due to the moving parts associated with it. The entire bracket is okay to due, but I could probably due about 2/3 to 3/4 of the caliper. I am not too worried about a totally even finish, after all how many people see the back of the calipers! How would I go about finding out what the parts are made of?

[mcaswell]

I imagine they're steel. Are they very light or heavy feeling? Light would be pot metal. It's rare to find pot metal on a part that takes some sort of pressure, like a brake caliper. Pot metal doesn't stress very well.

The test for Pot Metal is to take a small drop of battery acid and drop it onto the part. If it fizzes, it's pot metal.

[PartTimer]

Would the "hard chrome" kit be a better choice due to the exposure to elements and heat?

[mcaswell]

Hard chrome is something different...you want decorative. So, yes, a 2 Gallon Triple Chrome Kit would do the job.

[PartTimer]

You da man!

[upncoming]

if your still around. did you have to tare the caliper down when you plated it or did the rubber on the pistons survive the tank time. thanks.