LS6427

iTrader: (2)

My damn car got hit on Sunday by some jackass that left the scene while I was at the beach. But good news today, gonna get the whole car painted out of the deal through insurance.....and it needs it big time...12 year old paint. I do have to throw in like $400.00 because this shop can't put it all on the insurance company, but thats cool with me.

While its down the body shop is going to let me take all 4 calipers and brackets off so I can first sand and polish them real smooth.....then paint them. I will be chrome plating the brackets.

Questions are:

Calipers:

Whats the best paint kit to buy? I want them painted red and very smooth like the exterior paint on the car is smooth.

OR....after I sand and polish them, can this painter thats doing my car hit them with the same color red that he's doing my car with??? Just a thought.

Brackets:

Is it ok to sand them and polish them before chroming, or should they just go straight to the chrome shop?


Thanks.

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99zee

iTrader: (4)

I would get the calipers cleaned up and smoothed out and have the painter paint them to match. I sanded the casting marks off of mine before painting them and it didn't take too long. You can do the same thing with the brackets just paint them in a contrasting color or the same color. I used Plastic-Cote Caliper paint from the parts store. Can't help you with the chrome process. I would assume they would need to be clean and smooth and ready to be dipped or you will have to pay the chromer to prep them.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

So the car body paint will handle the heat of the calipers?

Also, should he clear coat them too?

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99zee

iTrader: (4)

Yes, I cleared mine after the decals. As far as the body paint holding up, I don't know for sure. I have had no problems with mine with the spray paint. Just looked at the can and it states "900 degree coating". You could also have them powdercoated. That turns out nice, but it gets expensive. I spent a few dollars for paint, primer and clear and a full days work.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

How about that Dupli-Color brush on kit......

Then I can have him clear coat them.

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Whistler

iTrader: (46)

Regular BC/CC will hold up fine, so you can have the body shop do it with the car. You just have to be careful bleeding them, or switch to DOT-5 fluid, it's much safer for paint.

The caliper brackets should be smoothed by somebody. Either you do it or the chrome shop will do it for you.

97ramsst

iTrader: (162)

Get the brackets close and that will save you some money. The chrome (shop if a good one) will still need to do some prep I am sure...the one I use fills in all the pin holes and pits with brass before plating. Its a very time consuming and expesive process to say the least...

Here are mine...I had mine 90% smooth when I carried them and they still had over 20hrs in finishing them all:

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Looks friggin great.

So you have the calipers chromed??? No problem with heat from breaking?

Looks like the inside surfaces of the brackets are a little rough, which is ok I guess since you can't see that when installed. So just the visible surfaces really need to be smoothed out by me, right????

What shop did you use, maybe I'll send them there. How much did they charge for all that?

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LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Making me think that chromed calipers is the way to go....and just smooth out the brackets and paint them red.

I just thought there might be a problem with heat if you chrome a caliper.

Hmmmm.

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LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Whats BC/CC?

What do you mean DOT-5 is safer for paint? Do you mean it will stay cooler so it doesn't hurt the paint on the hot caliper?

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LS6427

iTrader: (2)

97ramsst,

One other question.

Can I just get the visible surfaces of the calipers chromed and then maybe a inch or so around each edge, but not the entire thing?

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97ramsst

iTrader: (162)

Yes, the whole set up is chromed and there is no problem from heat...they dont get that hot.

The inside surfaces are rough...you cant see them. Smoothing is VERY VERY VERY time consuming and expensive. There is no need to spend time on something you can see. You can smooth your own but they will still need attention by a pro to look their best. Pits need to be filled and sanding lines removed and so on. Like I said there is over 20hrs in prep time on these and they were already "smooth" when I carried them in.

I use S&H Chrome in Madison, TN. Google them and give them a call for a quote...but be prepaired its not cheap. Powder Coating them "near chrome" maybe a better solution if your worried about price.

No, its not like powder coating...you have to do the whole thing.

97ramsst

iTrader: (162)

Pics on the car:

wisker27

Heres some brackets that i powder coated with chrome 160%. They had been on vehicle a while so there not as nice looking as they were, but still looked nice! and cheap about $20 for powder.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Looks damn nice. I've seen so many guys polish the hell out of theirs for days and they still don't look anywhere as good as the chrome.....and it won't last either without alot of polishing maintenance.

What did all yours cost with the 20hrs of prep.....? I want to know just so I have an idea if I want to spend that much or just totally forget the idea.

All I would do is chrome the calipers and paint the brackets red....I think I'd like that best.

Thanks.

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97ramsst

iTrader: (162)

Sent you a PM....