Suspension & Brakes - Painting my Calipers tomorrow...Any tips?

Im painting my camaro z28 cayenne red metallic calipers....red cause i didnt know what other color would look remotly good....but im planning on takin off the calipers to get a nice clean look....any tips from any one?

does anyone reccomend any other color besides red..or a way to make this look more of a darker red?

i like red, thats what i used, make sure you grind them down 1st, then several coats of paint, and finally some clearcoat, and let it dry!!!

I suggest getting them powdercoated if you can go a while without your car. I painted mine and I'm not really happy with the results.

powder coating works best

but if you're cheaper

make sure you use heat resistant paint cause they will flake evntually

here's my paint scheme:
http://www.lhndesign.com/images/paintedcalipers.jpg

im using duplicolors caliper paint system...im takin the calipers off it this going to be difficult process or pretty easy? i want to clean my rotos also...

Pretty easy in my book, just take your time and allow time in between coats to dry.

Any help on color choice...for cayenne red metallic z28....

I would say red, as it's the only color that doesn't look cheesy IMHO. (those red and black ones excepted) Go look at what colors they have in high-temp paint and pick one. Make sure you use the high-temp, otherwise they'll look like crap in no time.

make sure they are spottless!!!! any dirt and they will flake......powder coating is the only way.....1000 times more durable than duplicolor.....you will be doing it over again with duplicolor......powder is for life!!!!! just makesure they are very clean before you start the process.... good luck :thumb:

Same advice on cleanliness of the caliper, make sure VERY clean, but my buddy did the duplicolor kit and it turned out fine!! He did his in black though...no that it makes much difference I guess. One other thing you may want to consider since you'll have them out apart...if using stock rotors you may want to shoot the center hats black or silver to cover up the rust. Hell, even use any left over duplicolor you have if theres enough and you like the color. Nothing enhances the finished look more than a nice set of painted calipers but is easily ruined when sitting next to some rusty brake rotors.

For you guys that are getting them powdercoated...where are you having that done?

Same advice on cleanliness of the caliper, make sure VERY clean, but my buddy did the duplicolor kit and it turned out fine!! He did his in black though...no that it makes much difference I guess. One other thing you may want to consider since you'll have them out apart...if using stock rotors you may want to shoot the center hats black or silver to cover up the rust. Hell, even use any left over duplicolor you have if theres enough and you like the color. Nothing enhances the finished look more than a nice set of painted calipers but is easily ruined when sitting next to some rusty brake rotors.


actually i decided on painting them black and i got some high temp gloss black caliper paint...im going to be cleaning them tomorrow b.c i sent money to bfranker for decals a couple days ago to have them overnighted and he has yet to even respond...but i painted the 2 rear wheels with gloss black krylon plastic stuff and it came out really nice...i painted my rotor hats already with high temp...dupilcolor dark silver or grey...came out pretty good....and im going to be cleaning my calipers tomorrow with a wire wheel dremel attachment and the rest with brake cleaner...hopefully brent franker can send me these caliper decals asap b/c im only here till sunday b/c im on spring break from college....(at what point should i put the decals on the calipers?)

Def let them dry inbetween coats. I was in a hurry and they turned out crappy. Gonna have to do it again.

Vengence Racing does powder coating now...

Vengence Racing does powder coating now...

O RLY...

MeentSS02, what does that mean?

Also, I concur: "you will be doing it over again with duplicolor......"

I have to touch mine up every spring.

MeentSS02, what does that mean?

Also, I concur: "you will be doing it over again with duplicolor......"

I have to touch mine up every spring.

As in "Hmmmmmmmm...didn't know that. I'll have to look into it." a.k.a. "Oh really..." My painted calipers have held up surprisingly well over time, but I took around 4 days total to do it. Some chips, but overall, I've been happy. If I had more downtime, I would have had them powdercoated.

I cleaned with simple green allowed them to dry and sprayed them with 10 coats of regular black spray paint, results were good.

If you are going to clean tham and paint them with regular ole paint you really need to use a primer that is made for aluminum products called Zinc Chromate. This will help to insure the paint will stick to the alum caliper.

what i am in the process of doing is this: I got some paint matched GM paint(benefits of being a parts guy) went to home depot and got some "automotive" primer, and its the best damn primer i have used. one coat was enough primer, then i put 5 coats of paint, then tonight i am going to use a high temp clear on top of everything. its really easy in my book to compare of things i have done.

i am using a wire wheel and a dremel for every caliper...im doin it right now takin a break every caliper and it is shining them to a metallic color aka getting them really clean....then going to use high temp caliper paint...made by plati-kote(temp up to 900 degrees) then i got a clear coat....

http://www.gaugemagazine.com/2006/February/NewPalestineIndependenceShow/images/GaugeMagazine_NPIndependenceShow_001.jpg

Here was my old Beretta. Auto Zone sells a Cayenne Red spray paint that is the exact color. Sorry you cant really see the calipers but it was a right on match.

Chad

hmm i didnt paint them yet i should probally look....

Tip - Learned hard way yesterday...cover the fluid input areas where the lines connect as painting this area caused some tough fits and PITA leaks. Also on the brackets, keep the powder out of the area the pins slide, and keep paint off the business end of the brake pins.