Painting Calipers

[2BIT]

I have been toying around with the idea of painting the front calipers. I went to the local Autozone and bought some HVT High Temp Red spray paint for painting brake calipers. What is holding me back from doing this is that I don't want to have to take the front brakes all apart to do it, mask everything off, etc, etc. Thats just too much of a pain in the *** for a simple project.
I was wondering if instead of spraying the paint on the caliper, what if I used a small paper cup sprayed the paint in the cup, and then brushed it on. I don't see a difference by doing it that way, but maybe some of you guys that have already done this might have a little further insight.....
I read the DIY about using craft paint, and that is my backup plan, but I don't think the craft paint dries to a bright finish like the regular spray will.

[XTRAWLD]

There are three options., with some variations.

1. Leave everything brake wise intact. Take off rims, mask everything off including the rotors, and put a blanket on your car (cause of overspray) and spray the calipers.
2.Take off the calipers completely from the assembly and spray them off the car. (You'll obviously have to bleed them.)
3. Spray the paint in a cup and brush on.

The plus and minus of all this.

1. Minus - Time to take to and prep (masking, blanket....I had major overspray) Don't forget the time to un-mask everything.
Plus - Pretty decent results.

2. Minus - You'll have to basically do a brake job, bleeding and everything.
Plus - Amazing results, better than in number 1.

3. Minus - takes forever to paint them by brush, see brush lines, little hairs getting stuck, waste alot of paint.
Plus - don't have to mask.

You can as well take off the calipers, suspend them with a wire, but leave them attached to the lines as to not have to bleed them and cover everything else up.........

I used method one as I found it to be the simplest for me. If I ever do it again though, I"ll more likely be doing number two. I only use method three for touching up, and even then I don't like it.

[TheWickedestOne]

Option four: Pick a non-windy day, remove wheel, and spray at close range. Paint on the rotors will burn off

[SWortham]

I'd get a brush-on caliper paint kit. They're kinda pricey, but the paint will go on thicker than any spray-on methods, look better, and last longer. So in my opinion it's worth the $40.

I did mine with G2 Caliper paint:
http://www.gldomain.com/elantra/TibBrakesInstall/PaintedCalipers20004_zoom_564px.JPG
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/g2/caliper_paint.jsp

The only thing better would be getting them powdercoated. But that's not really a practical thing to do when you only have one set of calipers and you need them to drive the car.

Whatever you do, make sure you clean the calipers thoroughly before you paint them. You'll need some brake cleaner (comes with the G2 kit) and a tooth brush to scrub them clean. If they're oily at all, then any kind of paint will wear off.

[2BIT]

I think I will spray it in a cup and brush it on. Option 3. Anyone use this VHT Paint before? It's not crappy paint so I have to keep re-doing it or anything?

[TNT4ME]

I just loosened the caliber, wore a glove and sprayed it while holding it. Worked great done in about 10 min per side + 1hr dry time (zip tie on the spring and let hang) then back on. 2 years and no chips. Plus the paint will "heat cure" while driving. In the back, I cut a whole in a box and spayed while on the car. Prep work with a wire brush is important though...

just an option (easy one)

[BlackElantraGT]

I'd get a brush-on caliper paint kit. They're kinda pricey, but the paint will go on thicker than any spray-on methods, look better, and last longer. So in my opinion it's worth the $40.

I did mine with G2 Caliper paint:
http://www.gldomain.com/elantra/TibBrakesInstall/PaintedCalipers20004_zoom_564px.JPG
http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/g2/caliper_paint.jsp

The only thing better would be getting them powdercoated. But that's not really a practical thing to do when you only have one set of calipers and you need them to drive the car.

Whatever you do, make sure you clean the calipers thoroughly before you paint them. You'll need some brake cleaner (comes with the G2 kit) and a tooth brush to scrub them clean. If they're oily at all, then any kind of paint will wear off.

Hmmm I didn't think about powdercoating the Tib calipers that I bought. I might go that route instead.

[ilanpro]

I have the duplicolor and is great

[RonnieSan]

I took off my wheel on a hot San Diego day, sprayed the paint into the paper cup and applied multiple coats using a small model brush. As long as the day is hot, the paint will dry quick enough to put on multiple coats at the same time, yet it won't dry too fast that it will get all gunky. Just keep painting until the paint gets a little thick, it will be watery at first, but as you add more and more paint, it will thicken and hold better.

Also, you might want to have some acetone in another cup to clean off your brush once in awhile.

I did one caliper per day, but it only took about an hour per caliper. I just got tired after painting one.

The paint is still in perfect shape after almost a year and I used 500 degree engine paint. Duplicolor I think.

[2BIT]

Well, tried to get started on this today, but was having no luck at all. Wifes XD would not start this morning, dead battery. Jumped it, and went to dealer, they put in a new battery, but didnt get out of there till about 130pm. Got started at 230 on this project and the damn wind kicked up about 15 mph, and every time I went to put paint in the cup, it went everywhere. Finally started to paint and guess what. The paint ATE the plastic cup I was using, and the whole bottom of the cup fell out on the driveway so I had to clean up that mess. I gave up and will wait on this awhile.

Has anyone primed the caliper before painting it? I was wondering if it made any difference because the paint is sure watery when it first goes on.

[NorthernYankee]

A lil off topic...but those times seem a bit weird for livin in Vegas since its only like 10am there right now...am I missin somethin?

[2BIT]

times? It's 912am right now according to the computer

[NorthernYankee]

went to dealer, they put in a new battery, but didnt get out of there till about 130pm. Got started at 230 on this project

or were you doing this yesterday?

--NY

[XDGT03]

I also sprayed the high temp clear coat on mine. it makes cleaning them very very very easy. The first time I painted mine I didn't do this and after a year they looked kinda grungy.

I will be powder coating mine next year.

[2BIT]

The original post was there. I went to add the question about primer, and instead of making a new post, it edited the last one I did. So thats probably why your confused.

[NorthernYankee]

Or it is just my old age...lol

That feature where if you add a new post and no one else replied it just edits your post...it gets kinda confusing.

[2BIT]

Well, the weather finally got nice, no wind, so I am in the middle of doing the driver side now. I decided to spray it instead of brush. I masked everything off. Man talk about a time consuming project. It sucks having to wait an hour for the paint to dry so you can move the caliper and spray another area. At this rate, it will take me 2 days to do both calipers. If I had it to do all over again, I would have left it alone.

[GgellerGT]

Has anybody done all four disc brakes?
I have seen the duplicolor kit in yellow, red, and grey. Since I have a Ralley Red '04 sedan (GT) I am leaning towards the red caliper paint kit. Any thoughts?

[SWortham]

Has anybody done all four disc brakes?
I have seen the duplicolor kit in yellow, red, and grey. Since I have a Ralley Red '04 sedan (GT) I am leaning towards the red caliper paint kit. Any thoughts?

Go for it. Red calipers on a red GT look nice. I've seen at least one like that.

[Jtown]

G2 caliper paint. Its the only way to do it IMO.

[pancit]

duplicolor caliper kit :imnotwort :bowdown:

[Mr. Dan]

This thread is a little old but I have decided to paint my brake calipers and after reading up a bit, I have a few questions.

If I do one wheel at a time, is it okay to use the jack that came with the car to hold it up while I paint? (All my tools are still in Canada and won't be comeing to visit due to shipping costs, so the calipers are staying on.)

Should I put some sort of clearcoat on after I finish to make cleaning easier?

How long do I have to let the paint dry before I can use the car again?