Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 12:23 am, by: Adam Underwood(Adam_underwood)
I will be spraying my calipers this week and just wanted to know if there is some things I should know first? I remember seeing a tutorial a while ago but couldn't find it any where. How should I go about doing this. (they havnt been installed yet)
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 08:52 am, by: Mike Mortimer(Mikemort)
Well, you could do what the previous owner did before I bought the car - Paint them through the wheels..!!! He got paint all over the rims and did an absolutely awful job on the calipers. All I have to say is, if you are going to do something do it properly.
When I paint mine, I usually do 2 things: - Take the wheels off! - Use masking tape to cover areas you don't want to spray.
I normally actually hand paint my calipers using heat-resistant high quality paint, with at least 3 coats.
However, if you are using spray, take off the calipers I reckon, mask anything you dont want to get and then make sure you keep the coating consistent and even.
Most importantly - have fun! I love working on and playing with my car and if I am not having fun doing it, nothing ever goes right.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 09:09 am, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
If you use the correct type of paint and it is matt black and thinly applied the thermal dissipation will be improved. "Nuts" to Vic stupid laws. I'd be prepared to argue that one in court with them. 200+ years of scientific research versus some dickhead bureaucrat. 2nd thoughts, .... they'd probably win on that basis
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 06:02 pm, by: James Harris(Haro)
Mike basically summed it up.
Its a pretty basic job, just use some petrol on a rag to wipe down the calipers 1st to get all the junk off.
Some people use primer.. BAh to that, i never have when doin my brakes and never had a problem. Just make sure you get the right caliper paint.
I use spray paint and just stuff newspaper over the places i dont wanna paint.
It doesnt really have to be a top notch job either (IMO) so dont stress if your paint doesnt apply evenly, just sand that part and respray. Also dont worry if you get a lil bit on disc.. it'll come right off once you get goin.
Have fun - post some pics of your finished effort.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 09:41 pm, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
If you are worried about heat then all the original paint should be cleaned off first and a THIN coat of suitable paint (e.g. VHT caliper paint) applied. These types of paint are not intended to be used with a primer. Matt black will always be the best colour paint for getting rid of heat.
Ben Socratous DieHard SA Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 09:50 pm, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
I've got gold paint that is rated to a constant 580 degrees C and a paint that looks like brushed aluminum that handles 760 degrees C, and actually lasts!!! Should work on the brakes quite nicely eh? And the rocker cover, turbos, exhaust, ic piping, inlet manifold, etc, etc.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 10:42 pm, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
Theoretically matt black will dissipate heat better but practically there is little difference as long as it isn't too thick. I did my old calipers with VHT black about 4 years ago with very little preparation, just a wipe with turps, and they are still like the day I did 'em. Mind you they haven't been on the car all that time, they've been sitting in a corner for a year or so since the big ones went on waiting for me to chuck 'em out!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 10:02 am, by: Benny Gammelmark(Oldfield)
I actually painted mine through the wheels. It came up all good. You just have to use a very little brush and be patient as the caliper paint is quite thin (and runny). 3 coats should do it.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 04:52 pm, by: Adam Underwood(Adam_underwood)
I already have the calipers off the car. It is a TT brake upgrade. So i figured what could be a better time to spray them.
I looked around and found a very basic tutorial on the supra form It didnt offer much more than I already knew, However they used paint, I will be spraying.
I will chuck a few pictures up once it is done, and some in the next few weeks when they are installed with some new rims. I have very ugly stock rims on at the moment, just while I am selling the simmons, I hate it.
In regards to the Caliper Stickers there are quite a few options on ebay
Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 05:02 pm, by: Phil Gibson(Sciflyer)
I painted my TT calipers matt black when i got them but imo unless you are doing track days or whatever where the brakes will get *really* hot, there is no need to fork out for hi-temp paint.
I just used standard paint brushed on and i've had no problems at all and they look as good as the day i did em
I'd like to see the research this Victorian law was based on, i mean clearly the rest of Aus has it's head in the sand when it comes to brake paint related accidents
Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 11:53 pm, by: Carl Leeworthy(Xman)
Giday guys...my name is Carl (X-MAN).Ive just registered recently .I painted my calipers and rusty looking rotors a while ago.I had success.It helps being a spray painter,but dealing with high temperature parts was an uncommon problem.The basic steps are...1.jack up car ,pull all wheels off,make car safe with stands etc.2.take off top bolt on caliper,loosen bottom one,leanback caliper.3.sand cal.and rotrs with 120 dry then 240or320 and scotchbright.4.blowoff and wash with prepsol or thinners.5.roughly mask disk face,drape plastic over car.6.I used high temp.pressure pak silver for rotors .3coats.7.calipers- I put one coat of single pak etch primer (black).A few minutes later I put several coats of crimson pearl base coat.A few minutes later I put a coat of 2 pak clear on calipers only.The calipers dont get as hot as the rotors so the 2pak has lasted and looks sweet azzzzzzz..cheers from the X-FILES...
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have LESS Soarers than Hayden :-(
Tuesday, July 04, 2006 - 12:28 am, by: Daniel Ribarovski(Danielribo)
I did it a few weekends ago on my new car. Easy job (hardest part was jacking every corner up). I bought calliper paint from Supercheap (in a spray can). I gave the callipers a scrub with steel wool first. I didn't want to take the callipers off so I just sprayed the paint into the cap from its can and brushed it on. Did about 4 coats and let it dry for 5-10mins between each. The next day, whacked on some Brembo stickers from eBay (big $6 investment!) and all done!
Ken Cornell TryHard Western Australia 4.0GT V8 Soarer
Thanks for the compliments Aaron. It's actually the first time I've made one of those grypons for a caliper, so it's great to see that they worked out so well (apart from the missing leg!).
Sunday, August 06, 2006 - 09:48 pm, by: Ross Spataro(Thfc)
after i painted mine red, i stuck the caliper decals on them, and hit them with 3 coats of clear, just so the decals didnt peel up....thats the theory, anyway.....