Powdercoating stock brake calipers

[HooKnBooK]

I was wondering if I should powdercoat my calipers. If so, I was either wanting to do red, black, or candy apple red to match my bov, wastegate and valve cover. Vote please and opinions would be nice.

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[ALynch]

I'd just do them black. And your car looks sick btw

 

[bettfootball]

1. Your car is damn gorgeous.
2. Your car is damn gorgeous.
3. Get them done in red

 

[REVELATION_34]

dude its so much easier to buy some vht caliper paint just make sure your calipers are warm when you spray em so the paint can stick good thats what i did and i should have done that to the rest of my parts in the engine bay but i had it all powder coated ...it costed a pretty penny...

 

[HooKnBooK]

Thanks guys! I'm still trying to decide. I didn't really want to spray paint the calipers because most of the ones I've seen done look like poop

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

I think you should get them done in project mu blue/green color, it looks sick on a red car and thats what I am doing when I get my brakes upgraded

I voted for C,A,R as my choice from the list above though

 

[Paintballaa5]

Go for the candy red. I'm doing mine the same color blue as my vc and other parts. It's a chrome base with a transparent blue on top. It looks incredible. But I have all my own blasting and coating supplies, so it's easy for me to coat lots of parts.

 

[WES_393]

I say paint them a similar color as the car. And paint them yourself, powder coating is a bit much for stock brakes IMO. I sprayed mine with red "Caliper Paint" from the local auto store. I think they turned out great. Here's one pic just to give you an idea. Not the best, but I can provide more if you want.

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[Total Eclipse]

Spray painting calipers can look good too, at a fraction of the cost, you just have to prep them properly (as any painting process) and they will turn out just fine. Powdercoating is more durable, but sometimes can be limited on color (depending where you go), painting is not as chip resistant, but a lot cheaper and you can get any color. Either way, I vote red, just because it will match the car. the other colors will look out of place being the only thing on the exterior that color. Just my $.02

Nate

 

[Silver99OZ]

I would go with black and I would get the calipers blasted and powder coated if you plan on keeping them long term. If you see evo Brembos or a some other brake upgrade in your future then I would probably just paint them to save some money.

I would choose black because it seems to go much better with any color wheel. I painted my calipers red and instantly regreted it because the red looked terrible with my bronze wheels, but it looks fine with my silver wheels that are on now.

 

[Enraged78]

Just an FYI.... Brake cleaner will eat powder coat. Stick with the paint!

 

[HooKnBooK]

Ahhh. So I guess I would have to use the vht caliper paint? I'm guessing that it withstands heat better than normal spray paint.

 

[DSM_PWR]

Stock calipers?

Leave them alone... having them painted/coated any color looks cheap and a "wanna be" big brake caliper look IMO

my 2cents

Unless your getting Brembos, then powdercoat them... will last you ALOT longer than cheapo VHT and look 10000x better

 

[HooKnBooK]

Stock calipers?

Leave them alone... having them painted/coated any color looks cheap and a "wanna be" big brake caliper look IMO

That's what I feared. It already looks cheap enough, but If its not done right then it's really bad. Spending $800 on a set of calipers is definitely out of the question and most used ones are beat to hell and I don't not want bigger rotors than I already have

 

[T is for TURBO]

Stock calipers?

Leave them alone... having them painted/coated any color looks cheap and a "wanna be" big brake caliper look IMO

my 2cents

Unless your getting Brembos, then powdercoat them... will last you ALOT longer than cheapo VHT and look 10000x better

BAH. The stock calipers on my GTI came painted red, and it looks just fine.

I VHTed my calipers black on my DSM because I didn't want them to stick out. Then when I picked up my new DD (GTI) it came with painted calipers and it really started to grow on me. To the point that I wish, and still might, paint mine DSM calipers red.

Buuuut, opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one

Also, like said above. VHT works great is prepped correctly

 

[tz97awd]

I used the Duplicolor Caliper Paint kit. The kit comes with everything you need to do 4 calipers and it's applied with a brush.

Super easy to use and my calipers still look good 4+ years of daily driving + salt. A picture from when I first did them:

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And yea its shitty looking on stock calipers but you should have seen them before I painted em...

 

[talonalex92]

If you want them to look nice, and not look poser. Just paint them black. They will look new and fresh, and wont have a played out red color. Not saying that red is bad, but if you are having all these worries just do them black and forget it.

 

[Jesse2012]

+1 for just painting them, I did a few coats of duplicolor high temperature color then 2 coats of clear, they've been holding up fine

 

[HooKnBooK]

Yeah, I saw that kit at autozone. It doesnt look too bad for it being spray paint. I'll probably just do the vht kit and Black

 

[HooKnBooK]

If you want them to look nice, and not look poser. Just paint them black. They will look new and fresh, and wont have a played out red color. Not saying that red is bad, but if you are having all these worries just do them black and forget it.

Yes. Spray painting them red feels risky. To me...red calipers either look really good or really bad.

 

[talonalex92]

Good call on the black they will be beautiful looking and low key.

 

[2gnt99]

Black will look pretty good (matching roof, tires, etc.).

VHT caliper paint or something like it will probably be your best bet.

Make sure to give the brakes and calipers a GOOD cleaning before you begin painting them with anything. Brake cleaner or a handheld steam cleaner should do the trick.

Note: visit your local newspaper and ask them for as much old newspaper as they are throwing away. Always have enough to layer up and make sure the paint won't get on any other parts of the car except the calipers.

 

[duppydem]

Go crazy and do the candy red

 

[Xmboy]

red caliper paint not powder