Painted Brake Calipers ??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Painted Brake Calipers ??
I am about to replace my brake calipers on my 74....
THREE Questions....
1. Is it possible to tell from the numbers...are the calipers I am removing the originals? (they are leaky and UGLY)
2. If they are the originals....do I care? This car will never be a Barrett Jackson / NCRS candidate.
3. CALIPER PAINT.....I may paint the new ones....Do the local parts stores sell a special paint....OR....will any High Temp Paint work?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.........
THREE Questions....
1. Is it possible to tell from the numbers...are the calipers I am removing the originals? (they are leaky and UGLY)
2. If they are the originals....do I care? This car will never be a Barrett Jackson / NCRS candidate.
3. CALIPER PAINT.....I may paint the new ones....Do the local parts stores sell a special paint....OR....will any High Temp Paint work?
Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions.........
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
if they are originals, you're gonna want to replace them with ss lined ones anyway, or have them sleeved somewhere, otherwise any rebuild you do has a pretty good chance of leaking again soon. NAPA sells the stock style delco morraine castings with stainless sleeves and new lip seals for a reasonable price if you need to go that route.
As for paint, any autoparts store should have caliper paint that is high temp and supposedly chemical resistant, but the stuff i got from autozone did bubble off wherever brake fluid got on it.
As for paint, any autoparts store should have caliper paint that is high temp and supposedly chemical resistant, but the stuff i got from autozone did bubble off wherever brake fluid got on it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
1)Make sure you replace with SS sleeved calipers. I dont thik it is possible to buy non SS sleeved calipers anymore, but you never know.
2)I would suggest the VBP Oring upgrade for safety (no performacne gain but huge safety gains IMHO)
3) Use a 2 part G2 type system. The finish is soo much thicker/nicer than store bought caliper spray apaint. Ive used the Duplicolor caliper spray paint and the G2 system on a friends vette. The G2 stuff put out a much nicer finish - like wet lipstick.
4) If you dont care about #3 above, any enamel paint will do -spray on or brush on. Does not need to be high temp as other forum members will tell you.
Brent...
2)I would suggest the VBP Oring upgrade for safety (no performacne gain but huge safety gains IMHO)
3) Use a 2 part G2 type system. The finish is soo much thicker/nicer than store bought caliper spray apaint. Ive used the Duplicolor caliper spray paint and the G2 system on a friends vette. The G2 stuff put out a much nicer finish - like wet lipstick.
4) If you dont care about #3 above, any enamel paint will do -spray on or brush on. Does not need to be high temp as other forum members will tell you.
Brent...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
If original unsleeved calipers ... may be worth a few bux as cores for SS rebuild.
Most caliper vendors will buy them if so.
I used silver POR15 on mine. Enamel will not hold up to brake fluid.
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/in/brakes/brakes_98.jpg
Most caliper vendors will buy them if so.
I used silver POR15 on mine. Enamel will not hold up to brake fluid.
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/in/brakes/brakes_98.jpg
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 1
From: St Petersburg FL
St. Jude Donor '07,'13
Take It One Step Further.....
If you order a set from us, we will powder coat them red, yellow or glossy black for $100.00 a car set. If you email me directly at pattie@vbandp.com, I can email you a pic with the color choices.
It looks sharp if you can see the calipers through the wheels. Don't forget we offer a 10% discount to forum members so I can get you a 10% discount on the brake kit (the powder coating service is discount exempt) and the savings will help offset the powder coating charge.
Pattie
It looks sharp if you can see the calipers through the wheels. Don't forget we offer a 10% discount to forum members so I can get you a 10% discount on the brake kit (the powder coating service is discount exempt) and the savings will help offset the powder coating charge.
Pattie
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I painted mine with G2 2-part epoxy, and they turned out great. Before I painted them, I polished all the roughness of the cast iron away, and I removed the cast-in characters with the grinder, and finally filled in the stamped characters. the result are very smooth apearing calipers, and with the lettering, I have fooled more than a few people into thinking they are aftermarket or late model calipers. They are surprised when I tell them they are stock C3 calipers. Here is a pic of mine for some motivation:
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The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by C3 4ME
7t2, that's a damn nice job you did there! I would have bet money they were aftermarket also.
Thanks! One guy at the local cruise night last week wanted to know what company I bought the brake "package" from!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 165
Likes: 7
From: Louisville Kentucky
I painted mine with G2 2-part epoxy, and they turned out great. Before I painted them, I polished all the roughness of the cast iron away, and I removed the cast-in characters with the grinder, and finally filled in the stamped characters. the result are very smooth apearing calipers, and with the lettering, I have fooled more than a few people into thinking they are aftermarket or late model calipers. They are surprised when I tell them they are stock C3 calipers. Here is a pic of mine for some motivation:
yours look super!
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
This thread is so old that those pics used to be on the forum hosted member's web sites!
Here is a pic. These are stock calipers that I spent hours smoothing, then grinding off any raised cast lettering, and then filling any stampings. The paint was 2-part G2 epoxy. I designed the lettering in Photoshop, and then had a vinyl shop cut them for me.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 165
Likes: 7
From: Louisville Kentucky
How do you know what they look like if there is no picture?!?!
This thread is so old that those pics used to be on the forum hosted member's web sites!
Here is a pic. These are stock calipers that I spent hours smoothing, then grinding off any raised cast lettering, and then filling any stampings. The paint was 2-part G2 epoxy. I designed the lettering in Photoshop, and then had a vinyl shop cut them for me.
This thread is so old that those pics used to be on the forum hosted member's web sites!
Here is a pic. These are stock calipers that I spent hours smoothing, then grinding off any raised cast lettering, and then filling any stampings. The paint was 2-part G2 epoxy. I designed the lettering in Photoshop, and then had a vinyl shop cut them for me.
earlier this morning
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: Castle Rock CO
While these are not Corvette Calipers I hand painted them with 3 coats of the Duplicolor Ceramic paint about 3 years ago on my Miata and they have not chipped or faded from the heat. Brake Cleaner and Brake Fuild will melt into them at first but once fully cured they have held up to solvents. My 1977 still has good brakes on it and the Front were painted with a High Temp Gloss Black the rears were not by a previous owner. When I go to fix the rear parking brake I will clean up the rear calipers and paint them Black also.
Use lots of Brake Cleaner and scrub them down good with a brass wire brush before painting Calipers and let them cure for 24 hours between Coats. No need to hurry if you want a quality finish on them. Hand Paint them so it goes on thicker and do multiple coats is my only susggestions.
Use lots of Brake Cleaner and scrub them down good with a brass wire brush before painting Calipers and let them cure for 24 hours between Coats. No need to hurry if you want a quality finish on them. Hand Paint them so it goes on thicker and do multiple coats is my only susggestions.
Last edited by MakoJoe; Sep 11, 2013 at 10:08 PM.
