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Caliper Paint Question ?

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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 01:24 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 01:29 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 09:56 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 11:37 AM
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I've done 3 sets and have never used primer. I just do several light coats until I get the coverage that I want.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 11:47 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 12:30 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 03:12 PM
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Needs a couple of more coats. It will come out ok and last.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 03:22 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 04:17 PM
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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.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 04:35 PM
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Oh and I used VHT in a rattle can from AutoZone.
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Old Jan 12, 2014 | 09:22 PM
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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.
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