Methods for painting calipers???
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Posts: 5,213
Received 184 Likes
on
133 Posts
Methods for painting calipers???
Hey guys, I plan on painting my calipers and wondering how many of you just left the calipers on and masked the area, or if you completely removed the caliper.
If leaving the caliper on, do you have enough flex to get behind the caliper as well?
Thanks
If leaving the caliper on, do you have enough flex to get behind the caliper as well?
Thanks
#2
Le Mans Master
Pull caliper loose but don't disconnect the brake line, mask off the wheel well and surrounding spindle. Paint what you can reach, let dry enough then turn caliper around and do what you missed. Unless you intend to go to a NCRS Judged show, it'll be fine.
#3
Burning Brakes
Best to take them off. you can not get behind the caliper to paint. and do it right, if you take them off than you can spray them and they will come out much better, and smoother. (GINO)
#4
Burning Brakes
I left mine on the car. Cleaned them with Simple Green. Painted with rustoleum Sunrise red using a foam brush. Applied about 4 light coats and painted everything that i could see and reach. That was 9 years ago and they still look good.
#5
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Puyallup Washington
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 0
Received 285 Likes
on
134 Posts
There is no need to remove the caliper from the brake line. Remove the caliper from the rotor and support it so it does not hang by the brake line. Clean it well. I used a wax and grease remover. When they are clean rough the surface of the calipers with a scotchbrite pad. Then clean again. Then mask what should not be painted and spray one side of the caliper with at least 2 coats. When the paint is dry turn the caliper over and paint the other side.
I had the paint store mix Electron Blue paint for me and put it in spray cans. High temp paint is not needed unless you are really giving the brakes a good workout, such as track racing.
I had the paint store mix Electron Blue paint for me and put it in spray cans. High temp paint is not needed unless you are really giving the brakes a good workout, such as track racing.
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2004
Location: Oklahoma City OK
Posts: 58,259
Received 1,675 Likes
on
1,298 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I left mine on the car but I pulled them off of the rotor.
#8
Instructor
Member Since: Apr 2012
Location: Melville NY
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#10
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2004
Location: Oklahoma City OK
Posts: 58,259
Received 1,675 Likes
on
1,298 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
#12
Burning Brakes
#14
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,914
Received 19,289 Likes
on
13,964 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
When I painted mine, I just took them loose from the caliper bracket, supported them to keep the weight off the brake hose, then cleaned them well and painted them. Turned out great and yes, you can do the back side of the caliper with them still attached to the car.
#16
Drifting
Member Since: Oct 2002
Location: Langhorne PA
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I did mine, I went another way. I took the brake pads out and reassembled the caliper on the bracket. I was then able to feed newspaper around the rotor and spray the entire brake assembly. Took emery cloth (like sandpaper) on a flat block to bring out the "Corvette' letters. When all was dry, I replaced the brake pads. No prob.
Dan
Dan
#17
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Oct 2007
Location: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13
I painted one with no primer. Took more paint to look right. Then used primer, the other three looked great with two coats. I hand painted my letters with a super fine brush in a walmart brush assortment. I used duplicolor red caliper paint. It's slightly darker than torch red but only a real ana vette guy would say anything about it. Besides a nice coat of brake dust and you'd never know
#18
I used the G2 kit from Mid-America but I used a 1/2" artist's brush instead of the cheezie brush supplied. I cleaned with the supplied brake cleaner and a wire brush in my electric drill, masked off the pads and bolts and applied 4 light coats. It didn't look very good for the first couple of coats but by #4 they looked very good. Later the same day, I removed the masking tape and just touched the Corvette script with a fine sanding drum in my Dremel tool. I didn't paint my brackets for fear of running out of paint, which was a mistake. There was plenty of paint but by the time I realized that fact, it was too late.
Okie
Okie
#19
Burning Brakes
I bought the G2 kit direct from G2 . I used LeMans Blue Metallic as a complementary colour for my pewter coupe. I bought a couple of artist's brushes, put the car on jack stands and removed all the wheels because once mixed, the epoxy paint has a limited working life. I used the supplied cleaner and some stiff brushes and rags to clean the calipers and brackets. I left them hooked up and did minimal masking; Yeah I probably missed a few spots on the backs, but they look fine with several coats and unless you pulled off the wheels and took a mirror to inspect the backs of the calipers you will not see any flaws. I had lots of paint for the brackets and calipers; two or three coats were enough. When the paint was fairly dry I used a smooth mill bastard file to clean the paint off the Corvette script. I just held the file perfectly flat against the letters and smoothed the paint off leaving the bare aluminium script showing. The file left the lettering smooth and shiny. it contrasts well with the navy metallic paint.
#20
Drifting
Pinched the brake hoses with vise grips and took mine off. You have to be careful and just get enough pressure to keep the fluid from coming out but not damage the hose. Shops do this all the time.
I then got some bolts that threaded in to block the ports, masked the pistons and boots with duct tape and into the blast cabinet. Then a coat of epoxy primer and a couple coats of single stage urethane I had left over. I just took a sanding block with 400 wet and took the paint off the letters.
Not the average DIY job I admit. Funny thing is someone evidently put Z06 calipers on at some point. I thought they were just painted red but when I took them off it was evident that it was a factory job. I didn't care for the red on a blue car...just clashed to me.
I then got some bolts that threaded in to block the ports, masked the pistons and boots with duct tape and into the blast cabinet. Then a coat of epoxy primer and a couple coats of single stage urethane I had left over. I just took a sanding block with 400 wet and took the paint off the letters.
Not the average DIY job I admit. Funny thing is someone evidently put Z06 calipers on at some point. I thought they were just painted red but when I took them off it was evident that it was a factory job. I didn't care for the red on a blue car...just clashed to me.