Rust Alert: Check your front brake caliper pins

I'm wrong, they're steel and they rust too when not maintained.

 

Yes, provide us with a quote and let see how many people would be interested! Would you work on titanium as well?

 

From IPNPULZ photos, the pins look to be zinc plated. I see hints of zinc dichromate (yellow) on the clean spots on the 2nd photo.

If you put those pins through a wire wheel, that will scrape off any zinc coating. Albeit its just a light coating of zinc, but doing this will cause it to corrode faster.

 

I also thought about painting them to protected from rusting as well.

 

At $4.18 per side, I'd just replace them every few years if it concerns you. Seems like less hassle than painting.

https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2017/toyota/tacoma/brake/disc_brake_caliper_guide_pin_kit.html

 

in 4 this

 

That's probably the best solution but I would probably do it once a year for my conditions. My main point was that you shouldn't ignore these until it's time to change the pads because by then it will probably be too late. And when you change the pads you should definitely have an extra set of pins on hand in case you damage them in the process of getting them out.

 

Caliper pins have been rusting since the stone age. Not a Toyota unique problem by any means. It's just a consumable part. With enough ingenuity, kroil, gumption, and beatin' tools you can get the rustiest slide pin out of there no problem.

Stainless is not the way you want to go. Stainless + salt + heat + stress = cracking. Titanium could work maybe, or you could just change them out when you do pads like the other 9 billion people on the planet.

 

Just did my front brakes last week and nothing had rust. Pins slipped out by just grabbing and pulling them with two fingers. The rotors weren’t even rusted. One of the benefits of living in the desert.

 

Someone needs to pull a pin and take it to fastenal and see if there is a stainless one available. They seem to have (or can get) everything under the sun.

 

You're right but I still think it's worth preventing them from seizing in the first place since it's easy to pull them whenever the wheels are off. And if you think you are going to do a quick pad change and you're not expecting that extra work and don't have replacement pins on hand then it can be a real hassle.

Since the pin goes through a hole in the pad, it's entirely possible for the rust to get bad enough that the pad stops moving and then your braking is compromised.

 

Could just buy precision ground/tight tolerance stainless rod from McMaster Carr that matches the pin diameter. Cut to length with excess and drill holes on each end. Affix the mushroom end with a cotterpin.

Although, I'd just get replacements and lube them up once in a while, but that's me.

 

I’m going to pass on titanium (Btw commercially pure or alloy?) and just go straight to carbon fiber. Will save me about 2 ounces per side.

 

Expect the extra work.

You're underestimating the power of hydraulics. Brakes can stick ON but they're not gonna be rusted open.

6Al4V is what you want. Pure grades are for chemistry students.

 

Holy crap! Those look like they came off of a car from back in the 70's!!

 

I have got to get a life and quit reading all this stuff......

 

I have the machine shop running a couple of these off to get an idea of the cost. The material is a basic 304 18/8, cold formed to the main pin diameter. 316 may be a better option. Need to hit up folks in the know to see what the stock pins are likely to be made from.

 

Here's a hand full.... They cost more than I thought... titanium would be crazy expensive. I'm going to check and see if mass producing them will get pricing to an acceptable level.

 

Good Job, they look awesome!!!