calipers: paint vs. powdercoat
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
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From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
calipers: paint vs. powdercoat
I'm concerned that my painting skills leave much to be desired, for those of you who have painted your calipers, how difficult is it to get a good paint job o your calipers....or should i fork out the extra cash to have them powdercoated?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
It is not hard at all! The paint actually lays on and smooths out on it's own and leaves a smooth appearence.
You just need to make sure that they are clean from all debris on the caliper so the paint will stick!(easy to clean)
The benefit is if you ever need to do touch up, as I do on one of mine, you can!
It just takes a little patience. They'll come out nice and now you can buy something extra with the savings of doing it yourself.
Thanks,Matt
You just need to make sure that they are clean from all debris on the caliper so the paint will stick!(easy to clean)
The benefit is if you ever need to do touch up, as I do on one of mine, you can!
It just takes a little patience. They'll come out nice and now you can buy something extra with the savings of doing it yourself.
Thanks,Matt
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,287
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From: york pa
It is not hard at all! The paint actually lays on and smooths out on it's own and leaves a smooth appearence.
You just need to make sure that they are clean from all debris on the caliper so the paint will stick!(easy to clean)
The benefit is if you ever need to do touch up, as I do on one of mine, you can!
It just takes a little patience. They'll come out nice and now you can buy something extra with the savings of doing it yourself.
Thanks,Matt
You just need to make sure that they are clean from all debris on the caliper so the paint will stick!(easy to clean)
The benefit is if you ever need to do touch up, as I do on one of mine, you can!
It just takes a little patience. They'll come out nice and now you can buy something extra with the savings of doing it yourself.
Thanks,Matt
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
i done my rotors with kylon spray paint , i dont know if the paint got hot and softing took place and the dirt got in the paint but they wouldn't come clean. but then i went and bought the caliber paint kit. and the paint seems much harder and i didnt use the the brush that was in the kit i got one from a craft store
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 2
From: Hollywood Maryland
Painted Mine
I painted mine using Duplicolor's Caliper painting kit and using a hobbyist's air spray gun set. Coated the finished product with High Temp Clear Coat. Came out perfect. However, the paint can easily chip if you scrape the caliper while putting on/removing the wheel. I have to believe the powdercoating is more durable and more forgiving to bumps and scrapes than paint is. However, the advantadge of paint over powder coating (besides the price) is it's simple and easy to touch up a knick or scrape. Not a challenging job, but like everyone says, 90% of a good paint job is in the preparation. Great winter mod. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 858
Likes: 3
From: Livonia Michigan
Paint them by hand with the Caliper Paint kit. Just make sure they are clean before you paint them, use the brake spray cleaner you get with the kit. Actually, many guys use Rustoleum high temp paint and a small brush if you cannot find just the right color that you want. Preparation is the key When using the brush method, apply a coat and let dry, then apply another. It is well worth the time to get that special look!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Bellevue Nebraska
I done mine about two-weeks ago... It was a breeze, I just blew out all the brake dust with the air compressor, then got a wire brush drill attachment and gave them a quick scuff...
Last thing to do was paint them, I ended up using the regular DupliColor Torch Red paint, it is not high temp... So far it is holding up well, but I'm not sure for long-term how well it'll hold up...
I'll have to get some pics up... An easy DIY job and costs maybe $6.00 You can't go wrong!!!
~Chris
Last thing to do was paint them, I ended up using the regular DupliColor Torch Red paint, it is not high temp... So far it is holding up well, but I'm not sure for long-term how well it'll hold up...
I'll have to get some pics up... An easy DIY job and costs maybe $6.00 You can't go wrong!!!
~Chris
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Bellevue Nebraska
As a side-note, get a can of duplicolor clearcoat... It gives them an unbelievable gloss "look" and makes them look so much better! I need to get pictures posted, maybe this afternoon...
~Chris
Last edited by 5ltrEATER; Feb 8, 2007 at 11:54 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 907
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From: Harrisonburg VA
its very easy to do, just clean the whole area well, buy the color you want in a spray can, and paint them, i did a car of mine 4 or 5 years ago and the color is just starting to wear...dont bother doing the rotors b/c the caliper will just rub it all off. This is a good cheap appearance mod though!
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I used some Folia Tec caliper paint on mine over 5 years ago and it is still looking very, very good. It is an epoxy based paint and dries very hard. As long as you get the calipers clean, the paint just brushes on and when it dries, you're all set.
Powdercoating is a good way to go too, but I would imagine that if you ever nick it and chip the powdercoat, it would be much harder to touch up. However, it does look good too. One disadvantage is that you will have to take the calipers off to do the powdercoating.
Powdercoating is a good way to go too, but I would imagine that if you ever nick it and chip the powdercoat, it would be much harder to touch up. However, it does look good too. One disadvantage is that you will have to take the calipers off to do the powdercoating.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,019
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From: Conroe Texas
i did the calipers on my 89' a few years ago with the krylon ceramic paint and they still look good. but i cleaned the he(( out of them before painting ( eagle etching aluminum cleaner ). my question with powdercoating is, how does it affect the ability of the caliper to release heat built up during hard and constant braking?
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Fairfax VA
Powdercoating is a good way to go too, but I would imagine that if you ever nick it and chip the powdercoat, it would be much harder to touch up. However, it does look good too. One disadvantage is that you will have to take the calipers off to do the powdercoating.
...Been running for 3yrs still look good. It was an easy mod......
Race Director
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Getting ready to redo mine in BLACK this time. I have done it three times and it is very easy. I paint the entire thing and then take a sander and touch up to get the lettering back to the metal finish.
