Sandblasting brake calipers

[RoadHazard]

Sorry for all these noob questions.

What exactly do I need to do before sending the calipers to sandblasting? Do I need to disassemble everything e.g. pistons, carriers, etc? Any particular parts I need to protect against the sand and how should I do it?

And afterward, what else can I do with them beside painting? I want them to look factory.

Thanks.

[KenC]

I'd leave them full assembled to protect the machined surfaces. I'd just paint them with a silver caliper paint. Most aggressive pads will turn them brown in a few days.

[athayer187]

Leave them fully assembled, and leave the dust boots installed. When you get them back, paint them (over the old dust boots) and let the paint dry. Then you should perform the rebuild, you'll have nice clean new boots and nice painted calipers.

I like VHT flameproof paint for calipers, plenty durable and won't burn off or brown.

[AndrewBird]

I personally would strip them completely down. Then just tell who ever is sand blasting them to not blast the inside cylinder where the piston goes. If you leave stuff on, all it will do is cover up areas that you would want sand blasted and/or trap sand after sandblasting.

[RoadHazard]

Thanks for all your input guys.

However, at the end, I decided not to get them sand blasted. I just washed them down as best as I could. Then I painted them in the front to freshen them up a bit.