Painting Calipers

GGM

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#1
Does anyone have any info on painting the stock calipers? What kind of paint would i have to use, would i have to do anything to them first...?
Thanks
 

carcus

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#3
VHT high temp engine enamel is what I used. Long lasting and easy to mask the area and spray it in coats. Stuff is cheap and available at all auto parts stores. If it can stand up on engine block temps, no problem for a caliper. Just jack the car up and remove each rim. I did this when I replaced the stock rims. Just let it dry overnight. Hope this helps. Sorry, the pic size is a bit big but hope this helps. The rust on the side of the rotor is normal, I took the pic at a odd angle. Sorry about the BIG size of the pic, the total cost for all 4 calipers was about 3-4 bucks for all calipers....the cost of the paint.

 
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GGM

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#4
Looks sweet! Any advice you can give me if i plan on using that stuff? You just masked the area around it, anything on the caliper that can't be painted ect..? Doing a search i found VHT makes caliper paint in a spray can like the engine enamel, i guess this might be a little better too if i can find it.
 
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carcus

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#5
GGM said:
Looks sweet! Any advice you can give me if i plan on using that stuff? You just masked the area around it, anything on the caliper that can't be painted ect..? Doing a search i found VHT makes caliper paint in a spray can like the engine enamel, i guess this might be a little better too if i can find it.
Just remove the rim, make sure you clean the caliper well and let it dry, then mask off the area with some masking tape and news paper to protect the rotor from getting paint on it, then spray in light coats until it looks good. Had the paint on a few cars before and has never worn off. Looks better in person, the car was dirty in that picture. Takes a while getting all the rims off one by one, paint, replace rim.....but it is well worth it. If you want, do the front on one day and the rear on another. I was putting on a new set of rims so was a perfect time. Again, key is light coats, you do not want drips.
 
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#6
there is a special cleaner for brakes. a spray that gets rid of any kind of oil and grease. see a dealer for car stuff, as autozone (bad example i know [hihi]) and they will know what you are talking about.
besides taping the rotor, tape the wholes for the screws as well. and tape the rotor also from the inside. when you spray around the caliper to get it painted all over, the back side is easily forgotten and very colorfull in the end.
 

GGM

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#7
Thanks. On what side will the holes for the screws be so i have an idea? I'm not too mechanicly inclined.
Carcus, it looks to me that you painted the brake pad underneath also? The open area in the center of the caliper is the pad underneath is it not? If so i'm guessing it's alright and looks better then masking that part off.
 
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#8
cover the wholes where the screws get in. the side that is facing you.
as for the pads, it is no mechanical disadvantage, but when you get new pads you eithere have to paint them too or dirve around with the gray-black look of the pads backside. that is up to you.
 

GGM

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#9
I'm thinking of painting my calipers white, do you think that is going to turn out ok? I'm just think with all the brake dust ect. that it might end up looking bad after driving for a bit.
 

carcus

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#10
GGM said:
I'm thinking of painting my calipers white, do you think that is going to turn out ok? I'm just think with all the brake dust ect. that it might end up looking bad after driving for a bit.
I have seen some pics of calipers painted white, it will come out OK, but you will have to use caliper paint for that instead of the VHT engine enamel as it is not made in that color. I imagine cleaning will be a problem, lots of upkeep with white. Also, one thing you can do is have the stock caliper removed and polished. Just another idea. Your car is alot nicer and newer than mine and I realize you want it perfect. I just do things cheap. They work though, just depends on what you are looking for. The caliper paint kits are to me a rip off.
 

GGM

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#11
I have seen VHT Engine Enamel in glossy white so it is available. The VHT Caliper paint doesn't come in white though, go figure. I think it will turn out ok also, it would look so pimp with the white car IMO [:)] and my new rims (can't wait!)
 
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#12
Painting your calipers is mad easy. Just pickup some caliper paint (NOT spray form) and a paint brush. Remove the wheels, do the painting, and then put the wheels back on and give it like a day or two to drive. You may also want to apply 2-3 coats of the paint, also...and maybe a 2-3 coats of gloss to give it that nice "finish".
 


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