caliper paint? Do or Don't? [Merged 8-8] painting calipers brake brakes

[tunerkid]

whenever i become unlazy i will be painting my fronts red - i cant paint the rears caus ei have a shitty RS :thumbdown but with my car i think it will look tits.

 

[WSU99GSX]

Anyone used a kit like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2470089531&category=33563

 

[drive_eagle]

tunerkid, you can paint your rear brakes. just paint the drums black. it looks hella nice rather then rust and dirty metal.

back to the post, i wouldn't recommend any color to paint them, but i don't see a problem with it. color is gonna be the question i have for u?

 

[wret]

Tip: do a good job spraying them with a quality, high temperature paint. No matter what paint you use it will chip, peel, fade, burn, soil, etc. Just get a bag of those cheap little paint brushes and everytime you have a wheel off, spray some paint in the can cover and touch them up. It's actually easier than trying to get them clean and shiny through a spoked wheel.

 

[aznlangjai69]

what should be done first before applying paint? like how do you get the rust and stuff off?

 

[slow guy]

Originally posted by greathuskie
remember to sandblast your calipers before you paint, the finish will look 10x better and last longer

^read fool

 

[ldstang50]

yes it is definetly worth it

 

['96_Talon_TSi]

Originally posted by aznlangjai69
what should be done first before applying paint? like how do you get the rust and stuff off?

take them off the car, use some aircraft remover to get the factory finish off, and spray them with high tempurature paint while they are off the car.

 

[VOTBLINDUB]

its not lame, its more a protection against corrosion issue. u can paint them with thermal paint, or better yet, get it powder coated, it'll outlast the car itself

 

[mitsugsx95]

I would say its worth it if you have the spare time, but its a major PITA. Unless you want it to peel off in about a week or so, your going to have to take most, if not all the rust and crap off the caliper (which takes time). Paint them red or black... the usual.

 

[eclipsed95]

I painted my calipers red a few years ago. It really does stand out against the chrome rims, and helps from the shitty rust look. I'll be repainting them black this summer though, the red doesn't really stay red. It's more of an orangy red now.

 

[STECARS]

how about chrome? like harleys. will that last ? Which one is better chrome or powdercoat in regards to not chipping?

 

[Mattitude v1]

I'm going to paint my brake calipers and have read many threads. I'm going to mask everything off rather than remove them. I plan to clean them first with brake cleaner and steel wool. Then use a wire brush or sand them. Is it a bad idea to use Rustoleum 'Paint Over Rust' Paint if there's still some rust as an initial coat? If I do, I'll probably go right over them with 1200 degree paint. Otherwise, I'll use high-heat primer first then paint over it. Has anyone done a clear top coat as a final coat? I was thinking about using Rustoleum Crystal Clear Enamel as a topcoat. I used this on my valve cover and it gave it a constant wet look.

Also, I'd like to know if anyone has tried that Dupli-Color Brake Caliper Paint Kit and if it's any good.

 

[telly699]

I just finished doing this over the weekend. A few notes...

Make sure that if you use the "paint over rust" paint it is rated to at least 800deg. If it is not and you coat it with the 1200deg stuff the udercoat will still flake ruining your 1200deg coat.

Also, what I neglected to realise befor I started, is that most high temp paints require the painted surface to be exposed to high heat in order for it to cure. You could try and let the heat from braking cure it after you get it back on, but you WILL chip the paint trying to get them on. I absolutly HAD to bake mine in the oven. Maybe it was the paint I was using, but before they baked I could scrape off the paint with my thumb. I just put them in my oven for the reccomended heat/time as per the paints instructions. I baked calipers at 400 for 1 1/2 hours with the center piston o-ring still in it. I removed the rod boots and the bleeder cap. BTW: I used the 1200deg rated block paint.

As far as prep goes I took off the boots and bleeder cap (they are easy to get out ) and left the o-ring in. They are harder to get at and easier to tear. Then I cleaned the metal thuroghly with a metal brush... steel wool would not have cut it on mine. I even had to bust out a 60 grit sand paper on that calipers ass. Im sure a variety of chemicals would work fine. I used Acetone, (dont hit that o-ring) carb/choke cleaner, and a brake clean at the end. Hey, I wanted them clean. Then rinse with soapy water.

Post what paint you ended up using, and how you think it turns out. And is that clear coat rated hot enuf for the brakes? I would be interested to know how the clear coat works, because my red paint is pretty flat. Maybe I can post some pics sometime...

Sorry this was so long! and nice looking car!

 

[Mattitude v1]

I heard it was harder and pain in the ass to get the brake calipers off. If anyone's got any detailed step by step instructions on removing/prepping brake calipers and how to bleed brakes, etc. (everything involved) please post. I don't want to attempt anything without knowing exactly how to do it.

 

[cuttheduck]

you don't have to remove calipers.
I know plenty of people who have used that high temp paint by brushing it on.
Just spray it in a cup and let it sit a little to thicken up and brush on.
Or just mask everything off and spray. Dont worry about ovens, thats for the full 1200 degree protection. Also there are brake paint kits like G2 that are brush on and look AWESOME, however they cost about 39 bucks.

 

[telly699]

I just bought the block paint because it was the highest temp. before I had read about the neccesary kiln work involved. I figured it could take any temps I could manage to throw at it. If you buy the 1200deg paint you will have to fire up the oven. If your split level apartment did not come equipped with an oven, it seems the 1200deg. paint. may be a little overkill. ( Does any one know what a typical temp. range for calipers? ) I notice that some brake caliper painting kits are rated at 800?

As for masking the calipers off... I know it is possible to paint the calipers with them still on the hub. If you have rolls of masking tape laying around, and are adept in the spray paint arts, this may be the option for you. I dunno, I just changed my rotors at the same time. That way the work was to be done anyway, and I could totally rebuild the calipers, clean and paint them really well. How are you going to clean the years of rust and brake dust from a caliper that is still on the hub? Tommorow I will try and post some pix.

 

[cuttheduck]

Brake parts cleaner and some sanding

 

[Mattitude v1]

The reason I ask is because the brake calipers I've seen that were painted after being removed look 10x better than the ones I've seen painted on the car, which appear dull and fade quickly. I'm going to paint them on the car and make this a whole day task and let them dry for a few days, or a week if possible. The Crystal Clear Enamel I was talking about says do not apply to surfaces that exceed 200 degrees so I won't be using a clear coat unless I can't find a high temp one. I want a nice wet look to my calipers (see valve cover pic below). Here I used Crystal Clear, I guess the valve cover doesn't exceed 200? I just painted this using TURFNNSURF's technique (highly recommend) - brings life to engine bay.

 

[cuttheduck]

Usually people who take the time to remove the calipers talk more time prepping and all but it is not needed. I have seen people use high temp clearcoat though i havent been able to find any myself yet. That G2 paint is expensive but it looks very wet and rubberized almost. I've seen plenty who don't take off the calipers and it has that wet look. It just matters what kind of paint you use and prepping/finishing methods.
Heres a pretty good link on some methods people used.

Click here

 

['96_Talon_TSi]

Dupli-color makes 1200 degree paint that doesnt require kiln baking. They also have 800 degree clear coat. I used it on my valve cover and it looks good, im gonna use it on my calipers sometime soon as well.

 

[cuttheduck]

[QUOTE='96_Talon_TSi]Dupli-color makes 1200 degree paint that doesnt require kiln baking. They also have 800 degree clear coat. I used it on my valve cover and it looks good, im gonna use it on my calipers sometime soon as well.[/QUOTE]

Thats what i've been looking for!!
Where do you find the high temp clearcoat?

 

[telly699]

Here are mine. Dupli-color 1200deg high heat paint. Calipers off the car, thuroghly sanded and cleaned. Oven-baked. Like I said, probably overkill, but it will not chip even with a screwdriver attack.

 

[Toshiro]

I wish mine still looked like this... now they're black with brake dust. Lousy Axxis Ultimates. BTW come on, calipers aren't that hard to remove... plus you get to bleed your brakes afterwards, which is good maintenence haha. I had mine off anyway because I upgraded to the AWD brakes at the same time as my painting. Have fun ricing your car out like the rest of us.

[edit] - I just wirebrushed mine, they don't have to be perfectly spotless. The spots are from the greasy hands that installed them. BTW, shouldn't this thread be in the "non-performance" section?

 

[cuttheduck]

shouldn't this thread be in the "non-performance" section?

No,,painted calipers help you stop faster. The color intimidates the pads so they clutch the rotor harder...

I have to say NICE JOB!! on the calipers for both of the above. They look mighty purrrty