Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

Caliper Paint Question ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 01:24 AM
  #1  
92PGC's Avatar
92PGC
Thread Starter
Pro
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Schwenksville PA
Default Caliper Paint Question ?

I started with rear pass first and after 2 coats on the caliper its blotchy.

I cleaned with brake cleaner then used my wire wheel on bench grinder. Painted with Duplicolor red caliper paint. same process on bracket except in black, no problem.

do you have to prep aluminum differently ?

thanks for the help.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 01:29 AM
  #2  
Evil-Twin's Avatar
Evil-Twin
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Default

Originally Posted by 92PGC
I started with rear pass first and after 2 coats on the caliper its blotchy.

I cleaned with brake cleaner then used my wire wheel on bench grinder. Painted with Duplicolor red caliper paint. same process on bracket except in black, no problem.

do you have to prep aluminum differently ?

thanks for the help.
you need to primer them first. and allow the primer to etch into the caliper. after about 30 minutes a few light passes with do the job. Some time you can get away with out primer but if the paint blotches like to describe, they need to be primered.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 09:56 AM
  #3  
'Shifter's Avatar
'Shifter
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 20,393
Likes: 431
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
Default

I've done 5 sets without primer, each time with Dupli-Color. Are you using the spray or brush-on version? I've only used the brush-on, and they always came out great.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 11:37 AM
  #4  
jrose7004's Avatar
jrose7004
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,828
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Default

I've done 3 sets and have never used primer. I just do several light coats until I get the coverage that I want.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 11:47 AM
  #5  
Mr.Bill's Avatar
Mr.Bill
Race Director
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Default

I used brush on with no primer and still looks great after 3 plus years, I did thin the paint before I used it and it went on great.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 12:30 PM
  #6  
StrangelovesM6Vert's Avatar
StrangelovesM6Vert
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 147
Default

I used high heat engine paint in ford blue after cleaning up the calipers with sandpaper and a wire brush





haven't driven it yet due to winter.

Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Jan 12, 2014 at 02:26 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 03:12 PM
  #7  
Rexde1's Avatar
Rexde1
Le Mans Master
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,671
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
Default

Needs a couple of more coats. It will come out ok and last.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 03:22 PM
  #8  
Evil-Twin's Avatar
Evil-Twin
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Default

I know several people who have had this same problem, even with light coats. I think the problem may be from getting the caliper contaminated with a tire shine or silicon that gets absorbed into the caliper. For some cleaning and primering was the only successful
solution.
Some people spray their wheels wells with a rubber silicone treatment to make them shiny.. over time this spray application prior to painting the calipers make it almost impossible to get paint to adhere. People say its like giant fish eyes.

Last edited by Evil-Twin; Jan 12, 2014 at 03:24 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 04:17 PM
  #9  
JETninja's Avatar
JETninja
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
Default

When I did my M3 years ago, I used lots of brake cleaner, the followed up with a good lacquer thinner. Always did the same when prepping disc rotor hats for paint also, though now they all come cadmium plated.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 04:35 PM
  #10  
jrose7004's Avatar
jrose7004
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,828
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Default

Oh and I used VHT in a rattle can from AutoZone.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2014 | 09:22 PM
  #11  
bighank's Avatar
bighank
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Default You need 4 or 5 coats with only about 30 minutes between coats

After cleaning thoroughly with brake cleaner and a wire brush I applied about 5 coats of brush on Duplicolor Caliper Paint. First 2 or 3 coats looked washed out. After 4 looked better. 5 or more look great.
No primer needed and the box says if you wait more than an hour you must wait 24 hours before applying additional coats.
Had the calipers off and pads off as I was changing pads but never disconnected the brake lines.
Waited a full 24 hours before reassembling. Did a little scratching doing this and used a little more paint to touch up the scratches.
Used white touch-up paint on front pad CORVETTE letters.
They still look great 5 years later.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Caliper Paint Question ?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:03 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE