JUSAKD

I would like to paint my calipers. Do they have to be removed to be painted.

Thunder7

Nope. Just remove the tire to do it. It is a painted on via a brush in most of the kits. Just clean them up really well before painting.

JOHN MOORE

i had great results with a kit from midamerica...i was fortunate to have a friend with a lift...took off all 4 wheels...made the job a lot easier (although its not a hard job w/o a lift)...the trick to the job is getting the calipers clean before painting...kit comes with a spray cleaner...i used a wire brush, also...takes two coats-don't let the first coat freak you out-looks like you've ruined your car!...let the first coat dry good before applying the second...

SlideRulz

Here's a link that might help.

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=15

bozo4onion

Ihave talked to many who say they must be removed for a truly perfect professional looking job. I agree. Perks are
1. You get to buy a torque wrench.
2. More quality time w/car.
3. Scares your wife when your cars in pieces.
4. Makes you feel better than those that didn't.
5. Brake bleeding bonanza!
Seriously, you know removal is the way to go (unless you have an F body like in that link) so just do it. Flame suit engaged.
Good luck.

blacksedan87

I took mine off, and it was a huge waste of time and knuckle skin.

I wound up putting them back on to paint them - it was the only way I could think of securing the caliper to paint it without getting finger prints in the fresh paint.

Like Thunder7 said - clean them up real good with a wire brush first, and a good spray down with brake cleaner (don't get it on your paint!!! ), blow dry with compressed air, and you're ready to paint Van Gogh!

rudolph schenker

Left mine on to paint them, and used the kit from Mid-America. I was very pleased with the result. Be sure to apply two coats.

AndrewNguyen

Do you all prefer getting to kit that you paint by hand or a can of caliper spray paint?

MyVetteDream

In another thread somone said they spray painted them and a year later it didn't look so good. Others say they did their's several years ago and they look fine. I went on G2's website, and they suggest 5-6 medium coats ... each with a 20 minute interval. But that's a brush on. I went hunting yesterday for a kit, recently put out by Duplicolor. It has everything, and I think it's the expoxy paint (brush on). BTW, they recommend doing it in 70-90 degree weather ... if you can simulate that in your garage.

While I'm here .. does anyone know how hot the cals get under normal driving anyway? Is 900+ degree paint overkill ... or am I safe with 500 degree paint? TIA.

Glennm27

...No

Stock Man

I used Rustoleum red paint and they turned out great. Also I didn't take them off.

vettenovice

ttt ttt
How did you get the white letters? I can't figureout how you could spray the letters unless you spent a lot of time masking off the calipers around each letter?

blacksedan87

To tell you the truth, Dave, I'm not sure how hot the caliper get, but I doubt if they get as hot as 900 degrees. The rotor on the other hand can get real hot - but the biggest point is unless you're doing roadracing, I can't imagine generating that kind of heat during the course of normal driving.

VetteNovice - The letters (on mine anyway) aren't white. After the paint gets dry - I took a brand new blade from a utility knife and basically cut the paint off the letters - leaving a shiny brushed metallic finish.

vettenovice

BS87,

Thanks!

Stock Man

I painted the calipers and the letters with a brush. The letters took a little while but was quite easy being on a raised surface.

MyVetteDream

Thanks Randy. As soon as the rain slows, I'm off to get the kit. May not do it today (too humid), but getting it is half the work.

EDIT*** I'm not going anywhere for a while ... I think God is dropping buckets on my area ... literally. The drops are huge! My car's sure to melt if I go out right now.

Hvymtlc5

Spray or paint over the raised Corvette logo (much easier anyway), Once dry, take a metal file and lightly file the paint off off the Corvette letters. Come out perfect every time.

Flareside

I painted one of mine with the G2 kit, but you could tell that it was hand painted, and the pin holes, line fittings, etc., were in the way, so I stripped it off with carb cleaner. I pulled all the calipers and installed the powercoated Z06 ones instead. Much neater, glass smooth finish. A good artist could probably do a quality job with the paint, but I couldn't. I sold the stock calipers on Ebay, so the end cost was only around $140.

JUSAKD

Thanks for all the info. I have a Mag Red Coupe. Seen a thread here a few days ok about caliper colors on Mag Red. Will jack up the car pull the wheels and get started.

We had -25 below last week but the shop is heated. Thanks again.

MyOwn69

Quick, cheap review:

Raise car and take off wheels
Clean, clean, clean!
Rustoleum (small can will do - Sunrise Red)
brush it on (bristles or foam brush)
do a couple of coats
Utility blade (single edged razor) to take paint off of lettering
file over letters to brighten them up
Put wheels back on
Put car back down (very important! )
Grin & ride