Painted Calipers
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Painted Calipers
Hi Guys. I'm new to the forum and this is my maiden thread. Here's my question.
I was at the tire store over the weekend, and I noticed another C5 was there. It had red calipers, which I love the look of. It turned out they weren't new calipers but a DYI job of painting them himself. I think I'll give it a shot myself. Do you have to remove the calipers to paint them, or can you just leave them on? Also, what kind of paint do you recommend? Lastly, he had the Corvette name painted in white. Do you just take a thin paintbrush and fill in the old lettering? I have always tried to keep the Vettes I've owned over the years completely stock. But, as I said, I think red calipers look awesome. Thanks for your help on this.
I was at the tire store over the weekend, and I noticed another C5 was there. It had red calipers, which I love the look of. It turned out they weren't new calipers but a DYI job of painting them himself. I think I'll give it a shot myself. Do you have to remove the calipers to paint them, or can you just leave them on? Also, what kind of paint do you recommend? Lastly, he had the Corvette name painted in white. Do you just take a thin paintbrush and fill in the old lettering? I have always tried to keep the Vettes I've owned over the years completely stock. But, as I said, I think red calipers look awesome. Thanks for your help on this.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
There ae millions of threads on this particular subject, just do a search. But i did this job about 2-3 weeks ago. I left the calipers on the vehicle and just removed the wheels. I used red "Dupli-color", the kind with a paint brush. It was an extremely easy job, any noob can do it. I only painted the visible areas of the calipers though. If you want a proffesional look and really want to take your time, you can do the entire caliper with them attached or seperated from the rotor. As far as the 'corvette' lettering, just go over it with some chapstick and paint right over it. After a few coats of paint and a few hours of drying, take an exacto-knife or a razor over the letters and they come off very easy. If you want, you can paint them but to me it looks nice the way it is. Also, youre probably going to want to get a wire brush or dremmel tool to clean off the calipers of brake dust. The supplied brake clean isnt enough, and really get in there and scrub it clean.
If you have any questions at all, just PM me...i dont have any "during pics" just after the job pics.
If you have any questions at all, just PM me...i dont have any "during pics" just after the job pics.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,496
Likes: 1,816
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I painted mine on the car. Mask off everything really well, clean the calipers with first Simple Green then laquer thinner, paint with VHT in a rattle can, light coats until the caliper is coated. Remove the paint off the letters by streaching an old t-shirt over your index finger. Dip it in thinner and wipe the paint off the letters. It'll look great!
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
I painted mine on the car. Mask off everything really well, clean the calipers with first Simple Green then laquer thinner, paint with VHT in a rattle can, light coats until the caliper is coated. Remove the paint off the letters by streaching an old t-shirt over your index finger. Dip it in thinner and wipe the paint off the letters. It'll look great!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,496
Likes: 1,816
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,748
Likes: 13
From: Parkersburg West Virginia
Cruise-In X Veteran
Came out very nice.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Simple project.
Get smallest (8 ozs. I think) Sunset Red from Home Depot. It most closely matches the red in your wheel caps.
Get their Artist brush set (about 4-6 brushes). Don't buy a cheap brush or the hairs will come out and stick to the paint.
Lift the car.
Pull the wheel.
Clean the caliper on the car (remember no one will ever see the back side of your calipers).
Start painting. You can painte over the word CORVETTE. After it dries you can shave the letters with a razor blade.
Don't be afraid to paint on a two or more coats.
That's it. Good luck! This one of my 1st mods too.
If you have a bright light to see what you are doing, use it.
Get smallest (8 ozs. I think) Sunset Red from Home Depot. It most closely matches the red in your wheel caps.
Get their Artist brush set (about 4-6 brushes). Don't buy a cheap brush or the hairs will come out and stick to the paint.
Lift the car.
Pull the wheel.
Clean the caliper on the car (remember no one will ever see the back side of your calipers).
Start painting. You can painte over the word CORVETTE. After it dries you can shave the letters with a razor blade.
Don't be afraid to paint on a two or more coats.
That's it. Good luck! This one of my 1st mods too.
If you have a bright light to see what you are doing, use it.
Last edited by rickko; Jun 9, 2008 at 09:45 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
As Rikko says above - paint over the letters, you do NOT have to put chapstick on them - let the paint dry, then take a razor blade and go accross the letters - the paint comes off the letters with NO!!! effort - trust me, this IS the easiest way!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,050
Likes: 7
From: Canadian Rockies
How can we go through a caliper painting thread without a link to the legendary Junkman how-to. 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1799588
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1799588
Yeah, that thread is the shiz-nit
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 0
From: Inland NW
Did my brake calipers a couple of weeks ago, one caliper @ a time, just don't recommend the brush that comes with the dupli-Color kit...otherwise the kit is great...also recommend you ensure all the dust, crud is completely away from this project before painting.......Looks so much nicer than the stock boring look....
