lioninavette

Hi Everyone,
I am finally ready to take the wheels off the vette to do a little caliper painting. What else does anyone do when the wheels are off? I plan on cleaning the inside of the wheel and wheel well, but thought I would see if there is anything else I should look for and do.
Thanks in advance!

Ron

ntnsec5

If inclined to do so, lower her. You'll like the look (meaner, agressive) and she'll be more stable and firmly planted to the road. Just my $.02.

chuckster

This is an easy one, cause I just did it. I had her up on 4 jack stands.

1. Detail the inside and outside of the tires and wheels. (Wash, Zaino, Armorall)
2. detail the inside of all wheel wells (wash and Armorall)
3. Lower the car

Schweet !!!!! :D

Sniper168gr

Once a year (although it didn't happen yet) I take all 4 wheels off and detail the under carriage. I clean any corroded parts, spot paint any parts needing some TLC, and wipe all parts down with some preservative (I use Armoral Tire Foam).

G Man

Only thing I can add, is polish your suspension pieces. ;)

Bob C

You may want to take the time to clean and paint the rotors (all not braking surfaces). I glass beaded mine and then taped off the friction areas, then I applied high temp. (1500*) paint in a cast iron color.Here are a couple pictures. I still need to attend to the hubs.




[Modified by Bob C, 1:47 PM 1/13/2002]

geekracer

Check the brake lines while you're in there. :)

Sniper168gr

Bob - NICE JOB!!! :cheers: I'm impressed! I'm going to have to do this as well when I put her on the jack stands this winter! :yesnod:

LoneStarFRC

Might want to adjust your parking brakes so that the @$%# things work like they're supposed to. :) :)

Avanti

Use some dark paint on the inside of the wheels that's always dirty and looks it.

FastC4

Polishing the forged aluminum suspension works wonders. Can use Wenol, or Mother's Mag wheel polish.

Install a set of mirror brake pad covers when you paint the calipers.

Paint the rotors.

PRIMAL

I did my rotors with POR-15. Just wire brushed them and applied the POR-15 (in black)Not on the friction surface of course. So far its been a year and they wash up nice and I have noticed no peeling,rust, ect.
:cheers:
POR-15.com

SDVette

I see you have a 97..

Last weekend I flushed the brake fluid on my 98.. I once thought this was a BS service, but after seeing many caliper re-builds due to water in the brake fluid, I've changed my mind. The fluid on mine was looking like Rio Grande Mud after 3 years, and that is with just normal street driving.

A 1-man bleeder hose ($8 from NAPA) makes it a real easy job...

As with most C5 work, getting the car off the ground is half the battle!

I did this:

1) Remove as much old fluid as you can from the master cyclinder (I used a turkey bastier!)

2) Fill the master to the top with new DOT3 (or DOT4) brake fluid

3) Start with the Right Rear (then LR, RF, LF) and attach the bleeder hose, crack the bleeder valve 1/4 turn, then pump the pedal gently, then wait 15 seconds. Repeat until it looks clear coming out. Tighten bleeder valve and move to next wheel.

4) Make sure you don't allow the master cyclinder to go dry... check it every 15-20 pumps or so and top it off.

When done, remove/add brake fluid so it is at the proper level. It took about a full quart to flush mine.

You probably want to do this BEFORE you paint the calipers... Since brake fluid does terrible things to paint!

Good luck,

REDGAR

Clean the inside of the wheels

Sniper168gr

Really! :eek: I only have 7500 miles on mine, but I'm wondering if I should do the same? :confused: