Caliper Painting
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
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...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
From: Mesquite Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Lexington KY
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.
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.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
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! 
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!
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by AndrewNguyen
Do you all prefer getting to kit that you paint by hand or a can of caliper spray paint?
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.
Last edited by MyVetteDream; Dec 29, 2004 at 01:09 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ nj
Stock Man???
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?
Originally Posted by Stock Man
I used Rustoleum red paint and they turned out great. Also I didn't take them off.
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?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by MyVetteDream
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.
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.
Last edited by blacksedan87; Dec 29, 2004 at 01:52 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
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.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
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. 
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.
Last edited by MyVetteDream; Dec 29, 2004 at 02:34 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
Likes: 5
From: Roxbury NJ
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.
Last edited by Flareside; Dec 29, 2004 at 03:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Hayward WI
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.
We had -25 below last week but the shop is heated. Thanks again.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,073
Likes: 1
From: Sarver Pennsylvania
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
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