Brake Caliper Paint
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Instructor
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Brake Caliper Paint
So I want to paint my stock 99 corvette calipers red this summer. What is the best brand/type of paint to do this? What shade looks best with a pewter paintjob? I have z06 alloy rims (not chrome) atm, but I might put on some hyper-slivers or chrome in the future. Any pics of your cars with details on what you used would be awesome, thanks!
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I'm also interested to know if there is an "official" red that GM used on the calipers. I may have mine powdercoated when I swap out my rotors/pads. I have a bad eye when it comes to the color red and sometimes pick darker or more orange-based colors when left on my own.
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From: Pewaukee WI
So I want to paint my stock 99 corvette calipers red this summer. What is the best brand/type of paint to do this? What shade looks best with a pewter paintjob? I have z06 alloy rims (not chrome) atm, but I might put on some hyper-slivers or chrome in the future. Any pics of your cars with details on what you used would be awesome, thanks!
Good luck on your project
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
How much does powder coating cost and how do you pick the color/shade? Do different shops offer different colors or is there some standard? What are the advantages to powder vs auto zone kit?
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Burning Brakes
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From: Vancouver B.C.
If you paint your calipers you can use a flat smooth mill file to take the paint off the letters and expose the aluminium after the paint has dried. You don't need to paint the letters. Just make sure you place the file flat against the surface of the Corvette logo and use a gentle touch.
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When I had my pewter '00 coupe, I had torch red calipers - looked great. I have used Folia Tec caliper paint on my last two C5s - it is an epoxy based paint that stands up very well and does not show any brush marks.
Here's a pic of the car (although it may be a bit hard to really see the red calipers):
Here's a pic of the car (although it may be a bit hard to really see the red calipers):
Burning Brakes
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From: Long Grove IL
My C5 has Z06 calipers on it, but on my dad's SHO I painted them with a 2-part epoxy paint from "G2" It's time consuming as it's brushed on, but it seems to be pretty durable and dries to a nice hard gloss finish.
Powder coating is the best option though if you can swing it.
Powder coating is the best option though if you can swing it.
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I've always painted with the Duplic-Color, with very good results, but after a while they dull down a bit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Waldorf MD
I used Duplicolor's Caliper Paint Kit, you brush it on, takes about 4 coats. It contains ceramic and looks great and wears great. The kit contains: paint, brush, and cleaner.
Last edited by Oldvetter; Apr 14, 2013 at 10:25 AM.
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
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Going with powdercoating opens up all sorts of colors. A local powdercoater has a wall full of color samples, probably 40-50 choices. You can go with a body color or all sorts of contrasting colors. The "Corvette" lettering can be simply sanded to reveal the aluminum or they can be painted to contrast with the color you choose.
You didn't say if your calipers are original to the car of if they had been replaced at some point, but if it turns out that's something that's needed, you can get Z06 calipers which are already powdercoated in the factory red and they are ready to install on the car.
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Have read positive reviews of the G2 two part system.