Forte: Brake caliper painting.

This is not really a detailing journey but one of the many DIY journey which I would like to share with everyone.

I was asked by my friend to assist him with painting his brake calipers as the original metal finish just dun look good enough. Being an avid DIY-er and semi-pro detailer, I agreed to give a helping hand and lend him my tools as well.

Owner removing the wheels of his car.


When working with the car up, always use an A-Stand to ensure maximum safety.


After the wheels were removed, calipers were inspected and a cleaning is required. Amount of dirt from a 1 year plus brake caliper.


After cleaning with Optimum Power Clean. Safe on your clearcoat, yet powerful enough to even clean your brake calipers.


After all 4 calipers have been cleaned, this is how black the water is.... macam black oil only.


Amount of brake dust that settled..... which is why we advice washing the wheels with separated cloth as you would not want these to touch your paint.


Owner goes hands-on with the paint. We opt for paint brushing as the brake caliper is not smooth surface and hence brush line would not be visible. And its less messy compared to spraying.


Slowly and precisely painting to ensure minimal if not none of the paint goes beyond the caliper.


Used hair-dryer to quicken the drying process.


End results.... this is the rear caliper.


After wheels have been installed back.


Sweet god... this is nice. Makes me wanna do it to my White Knight as well but nah... i am getting too old for these mods.


Since the owner was here, he asked me to help with removing a sticker that is stuck to his windscreen as well. After removing, we discover a peculiar stain on the same spot. At first we thought it was just glue mark.


After OPC the glue away, the owner was horrified.... I too was horrified....


The sticker has.... discoloured the tinting..... and sorta melted the tint as well. Lesson learned, dun simply stick stickers on your tinting, god knows what kinda glue they use.

Civic 1.7: Why buy new headlamps when you can restore them?

To all Detailen Fans,

I was given the opportunity to restore an oxidized headlamps of a Civic. It was a whacko day as I had to rush back from Melaka for this restoration only to discover later that the owner was in Melaka as well. Not to mention the temperature today is like..... hell on earth.

Without further delay, i present to you......

Today's patient


Previously wet sanded by the owner using 2000 grit sandpaper and hand polished with Soft99 something......(sorry ya, i forgot.) Can still see that the sanding mark is visible


After operation "give me my sight back"


Nice leh.... gloss leh.... shiny leh....


Inspired by Fishy's shot... i gotta do this too


This is what was done, wet sanding using muscle power.
Started with 1500 grit then followed by 2000 grit. ONR as lube and Osren Bubble&Wax as cleaner.


Compounded with Optimum Double Sided Wool Pad + Optimum Hyper Compound (2 - 3 passes)
Polished to a brilliant shine using Optimum Double Sided Foam Pad + Optimum Hyper Polish (enough passes to ensure no more lines.)
Both headlamps were then given the Opti-Seal treatment.


Car was later washed with Osren Bubble and Wax. (yeah, i sorta dusted the entire car with the compound and wool, so its only common courtesy to clean it up rite.)


Sun was setting by the time we were done.


Time spend: 3.5hours (inclusive of washing the car)
Satisfaction level: High but after being praised by the owner it became SUPER HIGH
Products used today: OHP, OHC, Opti-Seal. Osren B&W, ONR

Some tutorial:
- Always sand softly... dun use force as it might create deeper than wanted lines.
- Always sand one direction - makes polishing it off way easier
- Always lube between your paper and the plastic
- ONR is a damn good lube.

Any comments (good or bad) is much appreciated.

White Knight: Loves OPC to bits.

Today I bring to you..... DA POWER OF OPC!!!! Optimum Power Clean

Car is constantly subjected to acid rain (those who stay in Puchong area will understand what I mean)
And as all know so well..... white car and acid rain will not match. Become zebra ada lar.

Amount of dirt from just one short rain shower


Can see tears coming from the eyes also...


This white knight super sexy with sexy mole just below its eyes....


Some unknown stain + acid rain join together.


OPC it away


Acid rain mark from under the rear bonnet


OPC it away


Hidden dirt caked up near the side mirror.


OPC it away with a brush


Small corners between metal and plastic also need to OPC


Roof gaps also need to OPC. Half half.


White car = dirt more obvious.


Even with car shampoo also cannot wash it off


Overview


So white knight says.... OPC it away


More acid rain stains


OPC it away (this is the other side of the car, not inverted image)


Acid rain mark from the door water release holes (this is the area just above the skirting)


After OPC..... (again, this is the other side of the car, not an inverted image)


Shoe shuffle mark.... wish my friends would lift their feet higher when entering and exiting the car.


Easily dealt with OPC


Inspira and Lancer owners will know what mark is this


OPC it away


So remember, OPC is your best pal to fight against......... ACID RAIN. Following are photos of areas I clean but only got 'before' photos. Dun wanna bore u all with the same thing again and again






NOW..........
WHAT CAN OPC DO FOR YOUR ENGINE?
Looks clean hor......


See properly



Simple wipe of OPC and rinse with another wipe of ONR


Closer look at the engine bay


Why.... got sand wan? (car is used mostly for highway, so yeah, sand do get to that area)


OPC and agitate with a nylon brush


Engine oil refuel cap
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Most road side "engine wash" will settle for this result


I settle for nothing less than this


Air filter also got sand on top.....


ONR with a brush (no OPC used here)


Air-cond pipe that is constantly wet being exposed to the elements.... dust sticks to it lor....
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Another wipe of OPC and followed by another wipe of ONR


Water used to rinse both the OPC and ONR cloth. hmm..... dirty leh.


These are the items used to detail the Engine Bay...... Glass cleaner and wheel cleaner and some pee in a bottle.......


In actual fact.... its OPC of different dilution and ONR in the glass cleaner bottle. I love to recycle...... in this age...... recycling is the IN THING =P


Now we go to the INTERIOR.....

Lots of sand, dust and stones


Carpet was taken out to wash with OPC 1:3 and brushed. As there is no coffee, starbucks and etc stains (owner dun drink coffee wan) on the main carpet, its just vacuum.


Side steps.... again with the shuffle marks.....


50/50 on the side steps


Fully detailed driver side


Rear side steps.... tortured by passengers


Kasi OPC it with a mixture of 1:5 and 1:3


Results


The nut cover for the front seats kena kick until came out....


OPC it 1:5


Fully detailed (note, scratches cannot be fix.....)


Door panel.... know which side is cleaned with OPC and which side isn't?


Rear passenger door panel... always kena kick by passengers wan


Dashboard was given a nice OPC bath as well.
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Amount of dirt from the interior alone. Note that the leather seats were not detailed.


Interior was later protected with a layer of nice smelling Meguiars Leather Protectant

Now, sit back and enjoy the reflection shot of a car surface that has not been compounded, polished or corrected even once.





All these nice sweet glossiness is archived by.... ONR Bath.

So..... ppl ask me how many cloth I have to detail a car.....
A full detail will use me this amount of cloth.....

And brushes.....

Total time spend: 3 hours
Items used: OPC 1:0, 1:3, 1:5, ONR, Soft bristle brush, brush, lots of cloths, Optimum Car Wax
Satisfaction Level: Awesomeness

Please leave me your comments (good or bad) as it is much appreciated.