Painting calipers?

[swami]

hi all,
when the weather is better i'm gonna do the '96 brake upgrade and i thought it would be a good time to cleanup and paint the calipers. not a whole lot of info on this forum abot this so i did a google search and opinions run from wire brushing and rustoleum splattercan to highend epoxy kits.
i was looking at the duplicolor kit ($17.99 at advance)since i don't want to spend alot on this then i thought why not get a wire wheel brush to get of the worst off then clean with small steel brushes and brake parts cleaner and finish up with duplicolor caliper paint $7.59 at advance. i want to use silver since my car is dark jewel green with stock slicers.
any hints or suggestions? TIA

 

[K-Dawg]

Just be sure to clean and prep them good. I used the highest heat paint Duplicolor makes (1200 deg?). It has the ceramic in it. Held up great.

 

[ES_8CH_OH]

My only suggestion is to paint them a dark metalic grey, like the 2008 Mustang Bullitt calipers, so they don't show much brake dust. I have had silver calipers in the past. They don't look nice for more than 6 months to a year due to the amount of brake dust that accumulates on them.

 

[swami]

i'm gonna use raybestos pro grade ceramic pads which aren't supposed to be as dusty as semi-metallic. TIA

 

[ES_8CH_OH]

The paint will last as long as you prep properly as k-dawg mentioned. I used a wire brush, sandpaper, and use prep all or naptha to clean the surface of the calipers then followed up with Duplicolor. I just wanted to clean up the appearance of the calipers because they were rusted.

BTW- I have ceramic pads and they make just as much dust as my old pads. The power slot rotors may be causing the additional brake dust but I am not sure. The calipers will look nice when your done, keeping them looking nice is the hard part.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

I'd recommend the Duplicolor as well. While some stores carry a VHT paint rated to 1500° F, the Duplicolor 1200° F paint is more than sufficient, and produces a much higher gloss when finished (if prepped/done properly).

The pre-packaged Duplicolor caliper kit you referred to doesn't have as high as temp-rated paint if I remember correctly (900° F ?), and there's nothing in the kit that's not readily available elsewhere for less.

Here are direct product links to Duplicolor's website, that includes a decent FAQ section in reference to the paint application. Search around for their high-temp paints.

duplicolor Caliper brake kit


duplicolor Caliper paint
​

Just be sure to clean and prep them good. I used the highest heat paint Duplicolor makes (1200 deg?). It has the ceramic in it. Held up great.

 

[RAYJAY]

Just be sure to clean and prep them good. I used the highest heat paint Duplicolor makes (1200 deg?). It has the ceramic in it. Held up great.

used the same here nice gloss even wheel clean does not hurt it

and i have a green car did mine in red with the black wheels looks great

Jeff

this is all i use engine paint the caliper paint seams more fluid less solids than the engine paint

 

[Shota15]

I have done both My SHO and BMW with G2 caliper paint kit, this is a 2 part system, the paint and catalyst, the kit comes with brake cleaner and acid brush, I found the best way to do this is to put the car on 4 jack stands with the wheels removed, disassemble all 4 calipers and clean them with the brake cleaner and a wire brush, once clean remount the calipers back on the bracketa without the brake pads, You will be able to turn the steering wheel for better access as well, I tried the hanging method but does not work well after the first coat when you are trying to move them aronund and the paint is still wet. Start at one caliper and move on to the next and so on, by the time you are done the forth one, the first one will be dry enough for the second coat, then proceed around the car again in the same pattern for 3-4 coats on each caliper, Let dry over night and reassemble, you will be very happy with the results. The next best thing to having them powder coated. It is available at The Eastwood Co. http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/..._SE-_-Google-_-Paint-_-G2_brake_caliper_paint

as well as some other locations on the web.

 

[K-Dawg]

Nice rides!

 

[Jonny Cash]

Vey nice. I notice Fred's old graphic, is that his old ATX?

 

[SleeperStyle]

Hey Jay, remember trying to paint our calipers with that Dupli-Color brush on crap. Guess thats what we get for buying junk form the clearance shelf!

 

[Jonny Cash]

that mustve been 4-5 years ago. I dont even think they sell that junk anymore. Actually the paint itself held up, it was that little ******** brush they gave you that sucked.

 

[jon93]

I have used the duplicolor brake paint kit with not so great results. I prepped the calipers good but the paint is not good enough. Its flaking off after only a year from heat.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

If it's flaking-off, it's most likely due to the caliper-prep.

 

[SleeperStyle]

that mustve been 4-5 years ago. I dont even think they sell that junk anymore. Actually the paint itself held up, it was that little ******** brush they gave you that sucked.

I think I still got it sitting on the shelf in the garage, along with the 12 cans of Oxford Whte you left here!

 

[swami]

it got up to 43deg here today and i did a quickie wash with a brush on the end of a water hose. thanks for the pics Shota15 because when i stood back i imagined silver calipers or red and my first inclination is silver because it matches and isn't gaudy but red says look at my brake upgrade and "redneck" boy racer. i'm sitting on the fence right now. i want to keep the stock slicers. the cobra wheels look nice (but i have a set on my '03 cobra).
thanks for the responses and keep the pics coming guys! TIA

 

[Eric VerValin]

I have used the duplicolor brake paint kit with not so great results. I prepped the calipers good but the paint is not good enough. Its flaking off after only a year from heat.

Mine only flaked in one little spot... I used gloss black, and what I got was fade... same goes for the intake... and I prepped them just fine... Got some new ones from AZ or Advance I cant remember on a swap.


What I think... is that I painted them with a few coats... your supposed to keep them within 10 minuites, and I got a phone call, and was a little late on the last coat. And wonder if it dried / hardend at different rates and screwed it up.

I hear that if you do pass that "window", your supposed to wait a WEEK for it to truly cure before you can paint some more.... just a thought when people say they did it "Right" i like to know what right is... any thoughts? Cause they did look good at first...

 

[swami]

you don't have to use a stopwatch when you paint. if it flaked or wrinkled then there was an oil residue that wasn't removed. the caliper is textured and difficult to clean on the car. anybody got a point and shot thermometer? my mechanic buddy has one and i'm curious how hot the caliper gets and if the duplicolor 500deg is hot enough?

 

[Jonny Cash]

I think I still got it sitting on the shelf in the garage, along with the 12 cans of Oxford Whte you left here!

Now you have a white sho, your all set!

Actually, i think gen2's were a different white.