Brush Or Spray Calipers
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
Brush Or Spray Calipers
Waiting For My White/red 08. Plan On Painting The Calipers Red. What Gives You The Best Job, Using A Brush Or Spraying. I Would Guess That Using A Brush Is Easier, Just Take Out The Top Caliper Bolt And Rotate Away From The Rotor. Does Spraying Give A More Pro Look? Can Someone Tell Me If Any Vendors Sell A Kit With All The Stuff You Need, Seems I Saw One On The Forum. Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
I used the brush on kit from Tire Rack. High temp paint with hardener. Didn't want to worry about over spray. Buy a set of small artist paint brushes because the brush that comes with the kit is a joke.
Last edited by Walt White Coupe; Jul 29, 2007 at 05:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: San Clemente CA
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 580
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From: New Jersey
brushed on mine as well. just scape the letters, after the last coat with a razor blade. Other say use vasaline or chap stick, I didnt, was not problem getting the paint off anayway.
look the same as the pics above, turned out great, and i still have more than half the paint left for later touch ups. not bad for $16.
look the same as the pics above, turned out great, and i still have more than half the paint left for later touch ups. not bad for $16.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
Thanks. The Tire Rack kit paint with hardener doesn't leave any paint for touch ups because what's left is hard after a day. As far as the letters, just paint between them and as you do it wipe off the wet paint on the letters with a paper towel as you go along and when the paint firms up go over the letters with some fine emery paper. The red looks so much better than stock!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 853
Likes: 29
From: NJ
brush on...
OK,
On my C5 - i used spray paint. Was a pain taping everything off, had a couple drips, but all in all, the paint job was fairly smooth.
On my c5 - i used duplicolor brush kit and it was awesome not having to tape everything off. I will say, you need several coats, and at least for me, i didn't wait 20-30 minutes between coats so the paint job itself is not as smooth as the spray BUT this can only be noticed if your eyes are a foot from the wheels.
Letters - just take a razor blade to them (even after the paint dries), its not a problem worth worrying about. I ended up painting mine white thereafter.
Good luck.
Aceman
On my C5 - i used spray paint. Was a pain taping everything off, had a couple drips, but all in all, the paint job was fairly smooth.
On my c5 - i used duplicolor brush kit and it was awesome not having to tape everything off. I will say, you need several coats, and at least for me, i didn't wait 20-30 minutes between coats so the paint job itself is not as smooth as the spray BUT this can only be noticed if your eyes are a foot from the wheels.
Letters - just take a razor blade to them (even after the paint dries), its not a problem worth worrying about. I ended up painting mine white thereafter.
Good luck.
Aceman
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,191
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From: San Jose CA
Duplicolor....brush on...It was really easy,took four coats,but came out looking real good...even if lasts one year,I'll still be happy...all it cost me $14.99 from Kragens and a 12 pak of Corona and a bulsh*tting friend....
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Race Director
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don't waste your money and don't fall for the "high temp caliper paint" hype. plain old rustoleum - "sunrise red" works just fine. brake calipers don't get that hot. think about it - if the calipers get hot enough to blister plain old enamel, your brake fluid would boil away, and the paint would be the least of your worries...
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,660
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From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL
don't waste your money and don't fall for the "high temp caliper paint" hype. plain old rustoleum - "sunrise red" works just fine. brake calipers don't get that hot. think about it - if the calipers get hot enough to blister plain old enamel, your brake fluid would boil away, and the paint would be the least of your worries...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 288
From: San Bruno CA
Caliper painting
I just painted my calipers this weekend. I used the Duplicolor kit from Kragens and it only cost about $17. The kit contains enough material to do two cars. I painted on about four coats per caliper and it came out looking great. Don't bother using the "brush" that came with the kit however. I used a cheap 1" brush which covered better. I also went through the trouble of unbolting the calipers off the car so that I could do a better paint job. I also added braided steel brake lines upon reinstallation.
Pro
Joined: May 2007
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From: Ocean County NJ
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Loganville GA
If doing it yourself, spray paint looks much better., but for the original poster, I would only go with monterey red or black. you can get factory matched spray paint from www.levineauto.com or www.paintscratch.com and a high quality clearcoat to go along with it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,157
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From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
This is two coats over a year ago. If you do, pick up a goood 1" brush and a small pointed brush used to paint ceramic statues. They only cost a few extra bucks, but make the application easier than the included brush. If you coat the letters with Chapstick first, any paint you get on them wipes right off.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: St. Augustine FL
Spray worked best for me
I tried the brush on method and thought it looked terrible. It looked lumpy and bumpy and I was using a quality brush.
So I bought the caliper spray paint, carefully taped what was needed, and lightly sprayed 3 coats with a final heavier coat. The surface is perfect and, for my money, looks like how it would (should) have come from the factory. I don't have pictures but would be happy to post some.
To me, the extra time spent taping off was worth it to get the finish that only careful spraying can give you. After all, car manufacturers don't brush on the body paint.
Just my opinion.
So I bought the caliper spray paint, carefully taped what was needed, and lightly sprayed 3 coats with a final heavier coat. The surface is perfect and, for my money, looks like how it would (should) have come from the factory. I don't have pictures but would be happy to post some.
To me, the extra time spent taping off was worth it to get the finish that only careful spraying can give you. After all, car manufacturers don't brush on the body paint.
Just my opinion.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
That's one of the advantages of the epoxy paint. It seems to blend imperfections as it cures and there are no brush marks or lumps. At one point I touched the paint to see if it was dry and it wasn't and I saw my fingerprint in the paint. 10 min later the finger print was gone. We spent $50K for these cars and people hesitate to spend $30 for paint. Doesn't make sense to me.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,774
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From: Loganville GA
