painting the caliper brakes

Subscribe
Mar 19, 2009 | 08:21 AM
  #16  
Wow, Good info. I am thinking of painting mine. So the best route to go is Duplicolor High heat?
Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 08:50 AM
  #17  
Well, the best would probably be to powdercoat, the finish just looks so much better done that way. But you'll have to take off the caliper and send it to the shop. In most instances the shop will disassemble it, so you'll need to get a caliper rebuild kit to replace the seals, etc.

Here are steps to how i did mine:

- Clean the calipers, i spray it with this. Then dry it with a shop towel after a couple of minutes.
- Shake the paint can for a couple of minutes.
- Spray onto an empty container until you have a pool of paint on it
- Use a paintbrush (i use something similar to this)
- Dab the paint onto the caliper until you've covered everything.

Then just wait for it to dry. I let it sit for a couple of hours then drive out and apply the brakes a few times (again, the heat helps cure the paint).

Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 09:56 AM
  #18  
I always paint mine black....
I hate the look of the calipers when they're a couple of years old & start to rust.
Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 10:23 AM
  #19  
Here are a couple quick pics I snapped this morning
painting the caliper brakes-img_0272sm.jpg

painting the caliper brakes-img_0274sm.jpg

I used G2 caliper paint...It is rated to 900 degrees

The difference between the G2 and Duplicolor is that G2 is actually a 2 part epoxy instead of a paint....

Here is a review from another forum that I found comparing the 2 products which are both very good

http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?p=13428445


Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 10:45 AM
  #20  
^ nice link
Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 12:57 PM
  #21  
Thanks for the interesting input/pics soundmike and caltender...when you guys painted ur calipers, did you have warrenty from the dealership at the time?

This is probably a stupid question but would it be an idiotic move to call the dealership and question them about this if it'll void anything w/ the braking system?

At first I was planning to use the duplicolor high performance caliper paint kit w/ ceremic kit I got at autozone. But now that I read the thread from the link above, I just might consider using g2 kit instead...and recommendation where I should buy the g2 from? saw it on ebay selling for $39 and other websites btwn $37-50...
Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 01:02 PM
  #22  
Welcome.

I wouldn't say it's idiotic, but perhaps useless unless you get something in writing.

I painted the calipers on my old ride while it was under warranty, and have gone through several dealership required services, TSB's and warranty work without issue.

I also have the caliper painted on the G, which is well within the warranty period. It, too, has been through a couple of TSB's and warranty work at the dealership.

p.s. The G2 is certainly a great kit, can't beat epoxy, i use it on my garage floor! -- epoxy, that is, not the G2
Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 01:52 PM
  #23  
Aah interesting...epoxy FTW lol..Thanks again!

When you painted the calipers, did you leave them on the car or did you take them off? I haven't gotten the chance to take a good look at the calipers yet if they're easy to take off or not..I will Probably observe and plan my attack when the weather gets warmer
Reply 0
Mar 19, 2009 | 01:58 PM
  #24  
Quote: When you painted the calipers, did you leave them on the car or did you take them off? I haven't gotten the chance to take a good look at the calipers yet if they're easy to take off or not..I will Probably observe and plan my attack when the weather gets warmer
I left them on, with the wheels, on the ground. I just reached in through the spokes. Of course that will only work if you use a paintbrush and have open spokes.
Reply 0
Mar 20, 2009 | 04:21 AM
  #25  
caltender, did you end up painting the calipers for the rears as well? I was planning on doing something similar sometime back, but realized that the rears were too small and it looked bad...maybe yours turned out well though.
Reply 0
Mar 20, 2009 | 07:23 AM
  #26  
Quote: Aah interesting...epoxy FTW lol..Thanks again!

When you painted the calipers, did you leave them on the car or did you take them off? I haven't gotten the chance to take a good look at the calipers yet if they're easy to take off or not..I will Probably observe and plan my attack when the weather gets warmer
With a brush it's easy to do on the car.
I found it worked best with the car on stands & all the wheels off.
It's really important to do a thorough cleaning & prep.
& then just tape off some of the areas you don't want paint on.
Reply 0
Mar 20, 2009 | 11:00 AM
  #27  
Quote: caltender, did you end up painting the calipers for the rears as well? I was planning on doing something similar sometime back, but realized that the rears were too small and it looked bad...maybe yours turned out well though.

Yes I painted the back as well. They are small but being black doesnt make them stand out at all...really I just didnt want any of that ugly *** rust showing...I also painted the inner part of the rotors silver....
painting the caliper brakes-sm.jpg

painting the caliper brakes-img_0121rotors.jpg

I took them off to paint, as I was installing new brake lines and pads so I just did it all at the same time...As far as warranty, my car is still under warranty. I have taken it to the dealer twice for warranty work and they have never said anything to me about any of my mods affecting the warranty...You just need to find the right dealer sometimes


Reply 0
Mar 20, 2009 | 08:11 PM
  #28  
Quote: With a brush it's easy to do on the car.
I found it worked best with the car on stands & all the wheels off.
It's really important to do a thorough cleaning & prep.
& then just tape off some of the areas you don't want paint on.
Yea that was my plan of attack..did that method when i painted my stock rims black w/ duplicolor spray cans last summer..came out great by the way, but gonna re-do it again w/ a spray gun since i now have a air compressor

How long you think the whole process is going to take? 3-5 hrs?
Reply 0
Mar 20, 2009 | 11:16 PM
  #29  
Quote: Yea that was my plan of attack..did that method when i painted my stock rims black w/ duplicolor spray cans last summer..came out great by the way, but gonna re-do it again w/ a spray gun since i now have a air compressor

How long you think the whole process is going to take? 3-5 hrs?
IIRC that's about right
Reply 0
Mar 20, 2009 | 11:27 PM
  #30  
https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sed...opinion-4.html
Here is my post, painted on the car. Top of page 4.
Reply 0