DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Items needed:

-Folia Tec Caliper Paint System
-Includes: Caliper paint, hardener, brake cleaner
-Steel headed brush
-Masking Tape
-Two Paint brushes for each caliper
-Use smaller heads for better detail
-Bowl to mix paint and hardener in (make sure they can withstand lacquer, as the lacquer can dissolve through some bowls)
-Jack and Jack stands
-Lug Wrench
-Torque Wrench

Time: Approximately 3 to 3.5 hours per caliper (needs 2 hours to cure before putting wheel on.

Note: Do not drive car for 24 hours as the caliper paint needs to cure. The longer you wait the better!!!!!


http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/1.jpg

Folia Tec Caliper Paint System

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/2.jpg

Brake Caliper Cleaner and steel headed brush


http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/3.jpg


Set your car on level ground. Put the e-brake on and leave the car in gear (on manual cars). Read all warnings and instructions for using jack and jack stands. Loosen the lug nuts on the brake you are working on (just loosen them, don't remove them). Jack the car up using the appropriate jacking point as stated in your owners manual. Proceed to remove the lug nuts in the appropriate order. Take wheel of hub and put aside (*Now is a good time to clean the inside of your wheel since it is off the car, you will have 2 hours to do so while the paint is curing)

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/4.jpg

Put wheel blocks on the opposite side to make sure car doesn't roll back in case of an emergency

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/5.jpg

Tape off any area of the caliper that you do not want paint to get on (brake pad, lines, pins, etc...)

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/6.jpg

Using the supplied brake cleaner, spray the caliper and use the steel brush to scrub off as much dirt, brake dust, rust, etc... that you can...(The cleaner the surface, the better the results)

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/7.jpg

According to the directions: After cleaning the caliper, spray the cleaner on the caliper and let it sit for 5 minutes before applying the paint

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/8.jpg

Mix approximately 1/4 of the paint with 1/4 of the hardener in a bowl that will withstand the lacquer. Mix together. Let sit for 5 minutes to activate

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...Calipers/9.jpg

Apply the first coat. It does not have to be perfect, just make sure you cover all the areas you want to paint. After the coat you must wait 15 minutes before applying the next coat, and so on. As you will see, each proceeding coat will get brighter and thicker. Don't worry about the first coat not looking so good (as pictured). You should be able to do 3 coats per caliper with one box of the folia tec caliper paint system

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...alipers/10.jpg

Take your time with coat 2 and 3. (note: you only need 2 coats, I prefer 3). These are your important coats so do them properly and with full detail

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...alipers/11.jpg

Here is the caliper after 3 coats. I added an ///M to the caliper for appearance (and since its an ///M3). Now you must let the caliper sit for 2 hours before re-installing your wheel.....Your almost there!!!!!

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...alipers/12.jpg

When re-installing your wheel, you may want a second pair of hands to hold the wheel on the hub. Put the lugs back on in the appropriate order, and tighten them by hand. Gently lower the car off of the jack, and tighten the lugs again by hand. Then it is recommended to torque the lugs to the appropriate factory specs.

Here is the caliper after the wheel has been installed. Finished product!!!!! The car sat in the garage for 24 hours before being driven. Look at how much of a difference that simple mod made. The car looks even more bad-ass now!!!! Good Job.. Follow the same steps for each remaining caliper, and then let sit for 24 hours (preferably in a garage)

http://www.gtcars.ca/images/suprarz/...alipers/13.jpg

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Wouldn't you want to take the caliper off?

Paint on the rodder (not good)

I painted the cover for drum brakes before , i forget what paint i used , but after i put a coat on i put them on the barbecue to let them cook.

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Totally remove the caliper first. Also the OP didnt remove the anti-rattle clip which he could have removed with finger strength, instead of having to mask it off etc. I used Caliper spray paint on my old BMW M Coupe (same brakes as shown), I would think its a little less fussy than brushing it on as long as you have some newspaper to mask it all off.

OP's end result looks great!

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

nice job

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

https://www.audiforum.ca/attachments...s-img00062.jpg

Another example of self painted calipers

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

I agree with the others: probably best to remove the caliper first.

Nice beamer!

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Nice job! I think even a cave man can do that thing! But thumbs up for the guide you provided! I'll just buy paint sprays on the nearest autoparts store near Maryland and i'll post here my work too.

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Looks great.
Always mechanically block the vehicle frame so that it cannot drop. Never work on a vehicle that is supported by a hydraulic jack as shown in the photo.
I removed the calipers and spray painted them with a Canadian Tire product on my daughter's Tib, it turned out great.

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Looks great. I like that you painted the caliper bracket too. FYI for the group Tremclad Has a Rust Paint called Gloss Fire Red that looks great too. I just did mine last night but am taking a 1 axle per evening approach.

FYI also they definitely need time to dry so don't rush: I may have to re-do my driver's side caliper because I touched it while it was still a bit wet.

Re: DIY: Painting Brake Calipers
 

Also if you take off the caliper clip you risk scratching the new paint coat when putting it back on so FYI. Either paint the whole caliper + the clip or just be super careful or you'll have to do a touch up.