Paint your brakes?

You don't need a $40 dollar can of paint to do that. Just use any high temp engine paint that you want to use. Its going to look just as good. I've done the calipers on a few cars that I've restored and its not rocket science. Don't spray it directly on the calipers. Spray it in a papercup so it puddles at the bottom and then paint it on with a brush. It will be a neater job and you won't get any overspray anywhere. You can do it with the calipers still on the car too. Its really easy work.
 
Just adding to what the fuzz said. Use a foam paint brush instead of a bristle brush. Also mask what ever you do not want to paint even when using a brush, the paint may run.

One last thing: prep, prep, prep.

Depending on the age and condition of the caliper
1. Clean
2. Brass wire brush
3. Sand
4. Clean with Prep Solvent
5. Paint, may need multiple coats for good coverage
6. Reassemble and torque to spec


Eric
 
I find people to get alot of unwanted overspray and mess when they spray the fuzz's method is the best dont even have to remove the caliper unless you want to paint the back which isnt really needed. Clean the wheelwells while you got the wheels off to. ;)
 
LandofAloha said:
Would a primer be needed in one of those steps?
Click to expand...

Depends on the kind of paint. PlastiKiote has Brake Caliper paint which is one step. A Primer probably would not hurt anything.

Maybe Koop will reply to the thread.

Eric
 
Great point. When it comes to metals nothing beats powder coating! except maybe chrome. mmmmmmm chrome....... Anyways. I'm not with fuzz on this one. Spraying is the ONLY way to do it right. You can do a good job with a brush and seeing as how it's just a caliper it's not going to be a big deal but if you want it done right. You MUST!

1.) Remove the caliper
2.) Prep the metal by one of three things
*thorough cleaning including a prep solvent
*Sand blasting. (CLEAN WELL AFTERWARD IT"S A HYDROLIC BREAK!)
*Sand
3.) Go over it again with a prep solvent.
4.) Depending on the paint you can skip this step, but it will never hurt. Prime
5.) Paint. Use multiple coats to get desired result.
6.) Again optional. Clear.

This is the only way that i would personaly paint my own calipers. Other ways will work, but I don't believe you could achieve the same results any other way. You do also have to know how to use sprayable paint though. Runs are a nightmare on a project like this. Good luck.
 
I agree that taking them off and spraying them is the best way to do it. I wouldn't say that its the ONLY way though. If you are going to leave them on your car to paint then the only way to do it right is to brush it on. If you take them off your car then the only way to do it right is to spray it on. Like you said, they are just calipers. If you just want to make them look better than the cruddy gold or silver ones that your car comes with then whatever works. I brushed them on while being on the car and you'd never know it wasn't sprayed. No drips or anything. I used like 3 coats of the paint and 2 of the clear.
 
I would seriously consider powder coating them. You could probably find a local shop that would do it for about 70-10 bucks per caliper. But make sure they do it right :D
 
Thanks! I have a few options now :-) I am considering getting some fancy rims and would like to show them off to their best advantage. This gives me a place to start when pricing out the total cost.
 
WHOAH!
Before you go spend $100 you may consider doing it yourself. You puff the powder on (no I'm not kidding) and bake it at 400°F or whatever the instructions tell you. That's all provided you wish to disassemble the unit. It's easy to use and all the powder you don't want attached you just brush back off with a dry brush. When you have it right, you bake it on. You can collect the "overspray" or "overpuff" (mwahahaha) and reuse it!
This stuff is unbelieveably durable.

WARNING- Powder coating can be addicting and you will end up powdercoating everything that doesn't move in your garage!

A great review with PICS!:
http://www.dragstuff.com/techarticles/powder.html

Here's one seller of powder coating supplies:
http://www.eastwoodco.com/email/default3.asp?skw=HCCATWP&SRCCODE=1CJBAN8

The prism additive is way cool!

FUZZ- Tell me you tucked the mullet up under your hat, got down, and buffed the calipers after you painted them!
 
Well while i do think powder coating is awsome it is not as easy or as perfect of a coating as they were making it out to be on that web site. It's effective and very slick but not the end all in apearnce modification. Paint still has some advantages as does iodizing. It all depends on what you're going for. For calipers powder coating will work great. Not everyone wants to spend that much when you can get a can of clear and high temp paint for under 30 bucks.
 
I agree, and it really depends on the skill of the user but once you have the finished product you like, it stays that way much much longer. If you like to frequently change the look of your stuff, powder coating is a bad idea.
 
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