Painting Calipers

dschribs

dschribs

New member
Can anyone recommend a good caliper paint - or is powder coating the way to go? I know with powder coating I'd need to basically install a rebuild kit in each one after the fact so I'd really prefer to paint if possible.



I see that alot of guys on different forums use the G2 system. Looks like an epoxy based paint. Has anyone tried it?? Would I really need two kits for four calipers and the brackets as the web site indicates?



G2 Brake Caliper Paint Systems



Also, can a professional looking job be accomplished without actually removing the caliper from the vehicle? I'm thinking of just taking removing the pads and hanging the caliper with a wire hanger or something for painting - so I don't have to go through bleeding the brakes.



Thanks!!
 
I did mine, and the rear brake drums (older collector type cars).

Photo's of the Bird with the red is in my gallery under Garage.

I jacked the car up, put it on stands, took off the wheels and blasted with glass bead media.

I put duc tape and carboard to protect the rotor, did not remove the calipers, when I did the blasting.

That removes all the crap.

Key to getting any paint to stay on is "clean", no rust, no grease, just clean metal.

Blew off any residue, sprayed down with brake cleaner, etc, got nice and clean.

Used VHT rattle can caliper paint on one, Dupli-Color on the other car.

Put some reducer on a rag and wiped off any overspray from parts it may have gotten on.

Both have been fine, no peeling, no discoloring, and I used red on one and yellow on the other.

Both of these suppliers make good products and probably private label for all the smaller, boutique paint suppliers.

Grumpy
 
G2 is just the best paint ever...I did one side of the car at a time. Had plenty of time before the paint hardened. Each caliper has about 4 coats.





IMG_2938_wm by Lyonsroar91, on Flickr



For reference, I still have spots of this stuff on my driveway from when I did a previous car 4 years ago. It's THAT good.
 
Another vote for G2 - Brake dust and dirt will not adhere to the calliper surface since adding the paint. The kit includes everything you'll need to get the job done, besides paint you'll also get reactor (special bonding agent), high tech calliper cleaner, mixing sticks, and a brush. Do not attempt to paint the rotor contact surface. G2-Performance Engineering Inc.
 
I guess if some one is locked into a 5 or 6 year payment plan or lease, that means it is going to be a burden to be carried for that amount of time, spending the money, the time to get the calipers just as one wishes them to be, great.

What happens, though, when 3 years or so into the contract, problems that are costly with the vehicle and needed repairs and it's time to move one.

A lot of money has been spent, time and effort for the "brake calipers" to look great for the time you are paying for the car.

Pretty calipers do not increase the trade in/resale of most vehicles.

Nice paint that makes the appraiser go"wow", good tires, the interior not looking like a refuge for McDonald's wrapper products, make the vehicle worth more on trade in.

Not saying to not do the right thing, and if one is like a "few" on this site that have vehicles that are true collector vehicles, with value going up each year, then do the "right thing", one time.

If one does not own the vehicles, if it is going to go away in a few years, why spend the money when the kids will need that money for college, etc.

Just an old farts take on this.

"If doing so "floats your boat", then do it ."



I love cars as much as anyone else on this site, but let's get real!

OK?

Grumpy
 
Not to thread jack the OP's original question. I am getting a BBK for my car but in the mean time I ran across MGP caliper covers. They give a nice finish to the car and can be customized. I have painted my caliper covers prior to this but still love the looks of this. (anyone who knows cars know this isnt a BBK so no poser status is attached) Just a different option, also i ordered a custom engraved one and will sell these shortly.

181-1.jpg


MGP Caliper Covers

Again just offering another option you may not have heard of.

Stock rims are gone too,lol
 
Ron Ketcham said:
I guess if some one is locked into a 5 or 6 year payment plan or lease, that means it is going to be a burden to be carried for that amount of time, spending the money, the time to get the calipers just as one wishes them to be, great.

What happens, though, when 3 years or so into the contract, problems that are costly with the vehicle and needed repairs and it's time to move one.

A lot of money has been spent, time and effort for the "brake calipers" to look great for the time you are paying for the car.

Pretty calipers do not increase the trade in/resale of most vehicles.

Nice paint that makes the appraiser go"wow", good tires, the interior not looking like a refuge for McDonald's wrapper products, make the vehicle worth more on trade in.

Not saying to not do the right thing, and if one is like a "few" on this site that have vehicles that are true collector vehicles, with value going up each year, then do the "right thing", one time.

If one does not own the vehicles, if it is going to go away in a few years, why spend the money when the kids will need that money for college, etc.

Just an old farts take on this.

"If doing so "floats your boat", then do it ."



I love cars as much as anyone else on this site, but let's get real!

OK?

Grumpy
Click to expand...



Wow....Thanks...I think.



The car is paid for and I plan on holding on to it for awhile. It's an '01 with less than 10K on the clock. I'm just not into looking at rusty brake calipers when the rest of the car is flawless. It's got nothing to do with increasing the value of the car. It's purely for aesthetic reasons - the reason most of us are on this forum in the first place.



And thankfully I don't have kids to bleed me dry. One of the reasons I've paid cash for every car I've ever owned.
 
Noting that it's in their best interest to be "better", these folks have a bit to say about DIYing caliper coatings: Goldline Brakes - Rebuilt Disc Brake Calipers



No, no... I'm not fan-boy of Goldline or anything, just food for thought. Last time I redid brake cosmetics I G2'ed the drums on the back of the Tahoe..pretty sure that was the brand I used but I could be wrong. Holding up fine all these years later.
 
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