Methods for painting calipers???
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
QUOTE=fendermender;1581748619
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.
Cool idea...would this be possible with stainless lines? And, I suppose the pinch must be as close as possible to the end of the brake line to avoid air entering, right?
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.
Cool idea...would this be possible with stainless lines? And, I suppose the pinch must be as close as possible to the end of the brake line to avoid air entering, right?
Last edited by $$$frumnuttin'; Sep 5, 2012 at 09:41 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver B.C.
Stainless lines have a relatively inflexible teflon tube inside a braided cover. I would not do this with a braided line - you will permanently deform the line and potentially cause a catastrophic brake failure. If you want to remove the calipers just bleed the brakes, it's probably time anyway.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 190
From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
QUOTE=fendermender;1581748619
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.
Cool idea...would this be possible with stainless lines? And, I suppose the pinch must be as close as possible to the end of the brake line to avoid air entering, right?
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.
Cool idea...would this be possible with stainless lines? And, I suppose the pinch must be as close as possible to the end of the brake line to avoid air entering, right?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I totally agree, not with braided lines. I still had to bleed the brakes but not a lot. I was trying to avoid getting air into the ABS unit. I've heard horror stories of doing that and needing a trip to the dealer to get em bled.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Did mine when changing brake pads
Removed pads and cleaned with brake cleaner and a small brush. Used red Duplicolor brush on caliper paint. Painted about 5 times to get good coverage. After 1st time they look terrible. After 4 or 5 they look great.
Left brake lines on. After installing pads and replacing calipers touched up small areas scraped during the install. Used a white touch up pen to paint the Corvette logo on the front calipers. 5 or 6 years later they still look fine. Enough paint in the Duplicolor kit for several sets of calipers.
The brush that comes with the kit is garbage but it does work. Might want to use a small flux brush instead.
Left brake lines on. After installing pads and replacing calipers touched up small areas scraped during the install. Used a white touch up pen to paint the Corvette logo on the front calipers. 5 or 6 years later they still look fine. Enough paint in the Duplicolor kit for several sets of calipers.
The brush that comes with the kit is garbage but it does work. Might want to use a small flux brush instead.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 190
From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Another question
So another question...I was at a track event over the weekend and I see a bright red miata with yellow calipers and black wheels, and I have to say it looked Ferrari-esque! The yellow made a nice contrast to the bright red and an excellent back drop for the black wheels. The calipers popped! Now I'm thinking do I want to go with red, yellow, or maybe even blue? Keep in mind my car is TR with black wheels. Suggestions???
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