Question about painting calipers...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
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From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Question about painting calipers...
I installed shiny new rear calipers last winter, and now they are orange from a light layer of rust. :(
My question is it too late to paint them? Do I have to remove the rust (it is just a fine surface layer)? What paint is recommended (black)?
Thanks. :cheers:
[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 4:41 PM 8/22/2002]
My question is it too late to paint them? Do I have to remove the rust (it is just a fine surface layer)? What paint is recommended (black)?
Thanks. :cheers:
[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 4:41 PM 8/22/2002]
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
I painted mine with Red Devil Polyurethane "red". The calipers shouldn't get any where near as hot as the pads or rotor so hi-temp paint shouldn't matter.
I've had mine painted about a year & a half without problems. :chevy
I've had mine painted about a year & a half without problems. :chevy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Milford NH
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
A buddy of mine uses "Engine Enamel" paint. He claims it is more durable and required for heat. Not sure if it is factual or not. :confused:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
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From: Far side of the Moon
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
I painted mine red using Rustoleum Professional paint I got from Home Depot. :)
Red paint disipates heat the fastest. I just had to say that. :lol: :lol: :D
Red paint disipates heat the fastest. I just had to say that. :lol: :lol: :D
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
You do not need special heat paint. Even normal paint will survive on the engine block. I used the same paint that the car was painted in for the block and over years it has never burnt off.
As for the calipers you should remove as much loose rust as possible but the color is strickly what appeals to you.
As for the calipers you should remove as much loose rust as possible but the color is strickly what appeals to you.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Pacin'California)
Steel wool the rust off, then paint black. Black has the best heat transfer... the brakes will cool off faster.
I have never been given a good explanation to this, even in school, can someone here answer this question ?
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Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Question about painting calipers... (MotorHead)
First time I heard that in a long time, been trying to figure out why that is. Even in the electronics industry they say heatsinks painted black will work better but I don't know why.
I have never been given a good explanation to this, even in school, can someone here answer this question ?
I have never been given a good explanation to this, even in school, can someone here answer this question ?
On a side note- I used the 500 deg Hi-temp paint on my block and then took a propane torch to it and the paint didn't flinch. It was un-marred. :eek: Just to be sure I then coated it with POR-15! :D
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Hamilton, ON, Canada
Re: Question about painting calipers... (MotorHead)
In theory, black should get rid of heat quicker because darker colours have a higher emmisivity--meaning they radiate heat faster. In practice, conduction heat transfer may be the governing factor-due to all that air blowing over the calipers.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 558
Likes: 22
From: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
My question is: what paint will, or will not, stand up to being slopped on, by brake fluid, during the yearly bleeding operation. Is one more durable than another??
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
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Re: Question about painting calipers... (Kim72)
I've used Rusto-o-leum Hard Hat industrial quality paints. I've spilled brake fluid over it and it has held up just fine. Looks just like the day I painted it.
I'm not sure if you can buy the stuff in the US but I think you should. The aerosols are long silver colored. They have them in all kinds of cool metal colors like aluminium, stainless steel and so on. I thoroughly sandblasted my calipers w/ rough AlOx media so all the rust was gone (and alox acts sort of like a rust inhibitor) and then used primer before painting.
Marck
I'm not sure if you can buy the stuff in the US but I think you should. The aerosols are long silver colored. They have them in all kinds of cool metal colors like aluminium, stainless steel and so on. I thoroughly sandblasted my calipers w/ rough AlOx media so all the rust was gone (and alox acts sort of like a rust inhibitor) and then used primer before painting.
Marck
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
Thanks. I want to paint them black, as that is the original color I think.
Having a black surface to aid in heat transfer is only effective when radiation (photons!) is the primary mode. In the case of a warm brake caliper, heat flux by convection is how the caliper is cooled. The local convection coefficient is a function of surface geometry and the thermal boundary layer. :crazy: I doubt the caliper actually gets that hot when compared to the rotor. In my last term of school, I designed and built a braking system for a lightweight racecar. I used aluminum rotors that were hard-anodized black. They worked well.
:cheers:
Having a black surface to aid in heat transfer is only effective when radiation (photons!) is the primary mode. In the case of a warm brake caliper, heat flux by convection is how the caliper is cooled. The local convection coefficient is a function of surface geometry and the thermal boundary layer. :crazy: I doubt the caliper actually gets that hot when compared to the rotor. In my last term of school, I designed and built a braking system for a lightweight racecar. I used aluminum rotors that were hard-anodized black. They worked well.
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Kim72)
My question is: what paint will, or will not, stand up to being slopped on, by brake fluid, during the yearly bleeding operation. Is one more durable than another??
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,936
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Question about painting calipers... (Turbo-Jet)
Having a black surface to aid in heat transfer is only effective when radiation (photons!) is the primary mode. In the case of a warm brake caliper, heat flux by convection is how the caliper is cooled. The local convection coefficient is a function of surface geometry and the thermal boundary layer. :crazy: I doubt the caliper actually gets that hot when compared to the rotor.
Yeah, Yeah, that's what I meant to say! :lol: :lol: Mystery machine---the wheels are polished aluminum American Racing Torque Thrust II's, 16x8 with 4 in backspacing.
