Polished brake calipers

**Jared** · 09-24-2009, 12:39 PM

I remember seeing someone polish their brake caliper on a vn900. Has anyone done it to their nomad? If so, what's the process and was it a difficult task?

lasse · 09-24-2009, 02:19 PM

I haven´t done it on the Nomad, but I did it on
my previous bike, 1500 classic. It´s just a little bit of
sanding and polishing

,

**Jared** · 09-24-2009, 02:20 PM

Lasse,
Did you use a wire spin brush to get into the deep areas? After you got it shined up, did you coat it with anything?

cactusjack · 09-24-2009, 02:46 PM

It would be difficult to do, given the shape of the Nomad calipers. I was thinking the other day some chrome plated calipers would be nice, though.

**Jared** · 09-24-2009, 03:01 PM

I think if you were to put a round wire brush on a drill, you could sand the cracks pretty good. After that, use a polish compound and a buffing bit to shine them up.

**Jared** · 09-24-2009, 03:02 PM

I'd like to polish up the lower fork tubes and the hand controls as well.

**Jared** · 09-24-2009, 03:06 PM

I found it. Check these kawasaki polished calipers out. They turned out very nicely.

http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...otor-pics.html

cactusjack · 09-24-2009, 03:39 PM

Man! Those are really sharp looking. That's a heck of a lot of work in those things.

**Jared** · 09-24-2009, 03:42 PM

I wouldn't do the rear, just the front. It does look like a lot of work. Probably not difficult but time consuming. I get about 4 months in the winter when the bike is parked. I'm coming up with a lot of fun things to keep me busy in the garage while I can't ride.

cactusjack · 09-24-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utah Motorcyclist

I wouldn't do the rear, just the front. It does look like a lot of work. Probably not difficult but time consuming. I get about 4 months in the winter when the bike is parked. I'm coming up with a lot of fun things to keep me busy in the garage while I can't ride.

I don't have an extended period of time when I can't ride. I'd almost have to buy a second set of calipers and polish them up then swap 'em out.

**ringadingh** · 09-24-2009, 07:44 PM

I polished my final drive housing earlier this summer, It only took about twenty minutes with a buffing wheel mounted on a lathe.
You could get at the tight spots on the calipers with a die grinder or a Dremel tool.

chainsaw · 09-24-2009, 10:53 PM

Check out this site. Prices look alright too. www.thechromeshop.net

AlabamaNomadRider · 09-24-2009, 11:49 PM

If you polish the inside of the calipers your brake pads will last lots longer. The downside is that you don't stop worth a $hit.

Just a little humor guys. Don't jump down my throat.

lasse · 09-25-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Did you use a wire spin brush to get into the deep areas? After you got it shined up, did you coat it with anything?

I just used sandpaper, from coarse to really fine (water sanding),
the I polished it. The rear caliper on vn1500 classic is rather
easy to polish, due to the fact that it haven´t got any
deep grooves. And no, I didn´t coat it with anything.

lasse · 09-25-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

I get about 4 months in the winter when the bike is parked.

Well, there you go. That will be more than enough time to
shape up those calipers..

09-24-2009, 12:39 PM	#1
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Polished brake calipers I remember seeing someone polish their brake caliper on a vn900. Has anyone done it to their nomad? If so, what's the process and was it a difficult task? __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-24-2009, 02:19 PM	#2
lasse Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Västerås <sweden Posts: 123	Polished brake calipers I haven´t done it on the Nomad, but I did it on my previous bike, 1500 classic. It´s just a little bit of sanding and polishing ,
	0

09-24-2009, 02:20 PM	#3
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Polished brake calipers Lasse, Did you use a wire spin brush to get into the deep areas? After you got it shined up, did you coat it with anything? __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

09-24-2009, 02:46 PM	#4
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Polished brake calipers It would be difficult to do, given the shape of the Nomad calipers. I was thinking the other day some chrome plated calipers would be nice, though. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

09-24-2009, 03:01 PM	#5
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Polished brake calipers I think if you were to put a round wire brush on a drill, you could sand the cracks pretty good. After that, use a polish compound and a buffing bit to shine them up. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-24-2009, 03:02 PM	#6
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Polished brake calipers I'd like to polish up the lower fork tubes and the hand controls as well. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

09-24-2009, 03:06 PM	#7
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Polished brake calipers I found it. Check these kawasaki polished calipers out. They turned out very nicely. http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...otor-pics.html __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

09-24-2009, 03:39 PM	#8
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Polished brake calipers Man! Those are really sharp looking. That's a heck of a lot of work in those things. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

09-24-2009, 03:42 PM	#9
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Polished brake calipers I wouldn't do the rear, just the front. It does look like a lot of work. Probably not difficult but time consuming. I get about 4 months in the winter when the bike is parked. I'm coming up with a lot of fun things to keep me busy in the garage while I can't ride. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

09-24-2009, 07:44 PM	#11
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Polished brake calipers I polished my final drive housing earlier this summer, It only took about twenty minutes with a buffing wheel mounted on a lathe. You could get at the tight spots on the calipers with a die grinder or a Dremel tool. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

09-24-2009, 10:53 PM	#12
chainsaw Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,732	Polished brake calipers Check out this site. Prices look alright too. www.thechromeshop.net
	0

09-24-2009, 11:49 PM	#13
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Polished brake calipers If you polish the inside of the calipers your brake pads will last lots longer. The downside is that you don't stop worth a $hit. Just a little humor guys. Don't jump down my throat. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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