Engine and Brake caliper Paint

esta · Post by **esta** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:07 pm

Hey there

Looking to paint my brake calipers (red) but i do not know much about which brands are good and which ones aren't. So please does anyone know what make they would recommend, how much it is and how far that goes (eg can for Ã‚Â£10 does 2 calipers) and also where its from.

Thanks in advance

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:17 pm

Remember to grit blast them 1st. I used halfords which seems fine but not sure how much.

mine are black

esta · Post by **esta** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:22 pm

I read somewhere that Hammerite does the trick? Is this really suitable for the job? Also thanks for the sandblasting advice, but will a wire brush do the job? And how long before i can use the brakes again...? Although i may just go for the Halfords Own Brand like you said you used...so no probs then? Dry quick?

Sorry for all the inquest lol

t_w · Post by **t_w** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:26 pm

I used a heat resistant paint from Motip, worked ok for me...
(and the paint is still on

)

Just cleaned the calipers with a steel brush, degreased them (with a fluid called: 'thinner' in Dutch, don't know an English word for it

) and then sprayed it right on...

esta · Post by **esta** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:21 pm

I am imaging that the thinners in Dutch is the same for English because all of the cans say use thinners...but your calipers do look good so i will be using thinners too

Also in Halfords they had one can for calipers and one for engines...since both get red hot, i am presuming that either can be used for both? (I am planning to buy some engine paint in a can to do both tomorrow unless someone informs me otherwise...)

Thanks all for saving me from my usual rushing in and messing up big stylee!

Roo · Post by **Roo** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:57 pm

I've always painted my calipers with smoothrite. Never had any heat issues either.

Richmann1 · Post by **Richmann1** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:22 pm

Same here just used hammerite wire brush and thinners still on 2 years later.

Rich

Dan the 480 Man · Post by **Dan the 480 Man** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:39 pm

Hammerite here too...

esta · Post by **esta** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:40 pm

Well they have been done with the Halfords own HI Temp paint...only time will tell i guess...and thanks for all the advice

SMOOTH 480 · Post by **SMOOTH 480** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:40 pm

i work in a marine engineering company we use suncorite black paint this is good for a primer as it bonds with the metal and stops rust i painted my calipers with 2 coats and then detailed the volvo emblem in a nice marine spec yellow paint they've survived for four months now with jet washing
if this option cant be achieved then hammerites smoothrite is the only other paint i would use on calipers and intake manifolds

eEm · Post by **eEm** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:33 pm

Sand/grit blasting and electroplating shouldn't cost more than Ã‚Â£10 for both calipers if you take them to a classic car restorer. I've had the subframe, wishbones, trailing arms, stub axle carriers, calipers and induction done for about Ã‚Â£50. With a free coat of zinc-oxide primer or electroplate for free on all of it.

Wire brush will take you ages and won't give you a uniform finish for painting like sandblasting will. Shop around, I was quoted Ã‚Â£250-400 just for the subframe till I called a classics restorer and he did it for Ã‚Â£25 with zinc oxide primer!

Definately worth it.

SMOOTH 480 · Post by **SMOOTH 480** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:10 pm

if you do go the route of sand blasting make sure they have sufficient masking around the pistons to stop the grit/sand

any unwanted sand in the brakes and your in trouble

eEm · Post by **eEm** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:22 pm

Thats why its worth using a classics restorer.

I'll post some pics if anyones interested, I should have the calipers back this week.

LauBen · Post by **LauBen** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:35 pm

Smooth Eme have you guys got any pic's??

dyne · Post by **dyne** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:59 pm

Hammerite and baked 2 hours at 60 Celsius. No dust or brakepad-dust bites on it

SMOOTH 480 · Post by **SMOOTH 480** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:22 pm

certainly m8

here you go black calipers with yellow detailing

esta · Post by **esta** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:39 pm

Ooo good job, very sophisticated! Forgot to look when we were at that meet-duh!

SMOOTH 480 · Post by **SMOOTH 480** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:47 pm

not that you can see it when the rims are on but i know its there

eEm · Post by **eEm** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:39 am

I can't find the piccies of the electroplating but here's the final product, finished in 'wish I could afford Brembo customs-red'! I exchanged the old brackets for re-furbs from Volvo.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:39 pm

finished in 'wish I could afford Brembo customs-red'!

ROFL, I did mine in red just so it would not look like Im too cheap for brembo calipers.

MatBat's 944S2 calipers are 6 pot's and massive!

I always laugh at pictures of Vader with her 17's a shitty little calipers but really the front calipers on the 480turbo do a super job with good pads and disks. I had looked many times and even had details of fitting brembos but it's a load of cash and I'm happy now to say you don't need them but having SS lines does make it feel better.