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I'm thinking about painting my calipers Red using G2 paint.
I'm looking for some opinions here.... as I'm stuck on the fence...
What are is everyone's thoughts about painting the "Mercedes-Benz" plates on the front set of calipers red to match the rest of the caliper and then applying black text high heat MB decals.
I've seen pictures of the caliper painted but the decals left stock (black) but none that have been painted to match the rest of the caliper.
Also, since the rear calipers don't have the MB plate at all and are slightly different in appearance, you know where you can see the backside of the brake pad do you think I should paint these calipers aswell? or should I only do the front?
Any input welcome!
Edit 1:
I was also thinking about black G2 instead of red - thoughts?
The car is black.
Edit 2:
If I go with painting over the MB plates and apply the decals myself do you think they would handle harsh winters with salts on the road etc?
Don't waste your money on G2. Go to your local Advanced Auto/Autozone/etc and buy the Duplicolor brush on kit in red. They run about $20. Also buy the ceramic high heat clear by Duplicolor in a spray can which runs about $7 for a can. You may want to pick up some paint brushes from Home Depot or an arrt store too as the paint brush in the Duplicolor kit sheds and sucks. Mine have lasted just shy of a year without issue so far.
As far as the Mercedes black plates...I left mine black and it leaves a nice contrast.
I am actually doing this right now. I have always used the VHT caliper paint. Spray is much easier than brush. If you remove the pads and calipers and mask everything off, then use Brake clean and a wire brush to clean them up. I start with high heat primer and do one or two light coats, then do 4 coats of paint and 3-4 coats of clear. It will last years. I've been on the fence with the black covers, partially because I'm having a hard time finding the lettering in black. I'll post some pics once it's done.
I painted these with their base coat of silver/grey VHT caliper paint recently. They are rebuilt w220 front calipers, and when they were rebuilt I also had them sand blasted to remove any traces of corrosion and grease; perfect for painting. I applied approx. 10 thin layers of paint, spaced about 5 minutes apart and let them dry completely for about a 12 hours before baking them in the oven at 220F for 1 hour for the paint to cure.
It's been about a week now so I'll be doing the same for the gloss clear coat, so they'll be ready to fit once I get my brake pads and the required spacers for the caliper mounting. I also plan on going a bit overboard and wet sanding + polishing + applying paint sealant the calipers before installation for some extra resistance to dirt buildup (plus they'll look really good)
I painted my current calipers in the same way, except without the sand blasting prior to painting. They've held up well, except some edges have chipped due to dirt/grease contamination below the paint. So do make sure they're very clean if you can't blast them. Lots of brake cleaner and lots of wire brushing
You can use some heat resistant vinyl sticker letting for the mercedes logo, I've had absolutely zero issues with mine.
I painted these with their base coat of silver/grey VHT caliper paint recently. They are rebuilt w220 front calipers, and when they were rebuilt I also had them sand blasted to remove any traces of corrosion and grease; perfect for painting. I applied approx. 10 thin layers of paint, spaced about 5 minutes apart and let them dry completely for about a 12 hours before baking them in the oven at 220F for 1 hour for the paint to cure.
It's been about a week now so I'll be doing the same for the gloss clear coat, so they'll be ready to fit once I get my brake pads and the required spacers for the caliper mounting. I also plan on going a bit overboard and wet sanding + polishing + applying paint sealant the calipers before installation for some extra resistance to dirt buildup (plus they'll look really good)
I painted my current calipers in the same way, except without the sand blasting prior to painting. They've held up well, except some edges have chipped due to dirt/grease contamination below the paint. So do make sure they're very clean if you can't blast them. Lots of brake cleaner and lots of wire brushing
You can use some heat resistant vinyl sticker letting for the mercedes logo, I've had absolutely zero issues with mine.
Impressive, but if I already had the calipers off of the car I would 100% get them powdercoated.
Edit 2:
If I go with painting over the MB plates and apply the decals myself do you think they would handle harsh winters with salts on the road etc?
The plates on my calipers had the lettering fading so I repainted them black. Afterwards I applied white vinyl lettering, not even high temperature, and then clear coat over everything. They have held up very well without any signs of peeling or flaking.
I used VHT engine enamel since I wanted a metallic copper color which is not available as caliper paint.
i read bad things about VHT and good things about G2, hence why I chose G2... I also don't want to remove the caliper to bake it to set the VHT. needless to say I bought the red g2.... cost $80 CAD includig taxes
ive decided I am going to leave the MB plate black to give it the contrast that a user mentioned above.
Im not sure if I should paint the rear calipers... has anyone done this? Or have any pics?
Rear caliper is sort of ugly I'm not sure if I want it to stand out more? And you can see the back of the brake pad - what do you guys think?
Does anyone have a good source for the "Mercedes-Benz" sticker. I can only find either the "AMG" or stickers that are too long for the plate on the C350.
Does anyone have a good source for the "Mercedes-Benz" sticker. I can only find either the "AMG" or stickers that are too long for the plate on the C350.
I've had to get them custom made by friends who are able to make custom vinyl stickers, never found anywhere that just had them available.
Originally Posted by Shimee
VHT paint cures nearly completely without baking but it just takes longer. Afterwards any driving you do completes the curing process.
This is true, the oven baking method isn't necessary but in my case the brakes still aren't on the car and won't be for about another week
Does anyone have a good source for the "Mercedes-Benz" sticker. I can only find either the "AMG" or stickers that are too long for the plate on the C350.
Any seller on eBay that sells "Mercedes-Benz" stickers can cut a custom size for you if you ask. That's what I did when I initially bought ones too long.
Any seller on eBay that sells "Mercedes-Benz" stickers can cut a custom size for you if you ask. That's what I did when I initially bought ones too long.
I painted these with their base coat of silver/grey VHT caliper paint recently. They are rebuilt w220 front calipers, and when they were rebuilt I also had them sand blasted to remove any traces of corrosion and grease; perfect for painting. I applied approx. 10 thin layers of paint, spaced about 5 minutes apart and let them dry completely for about a 12 hours before baking them in the oven at 220F for 1 hour for the paint to cure.
It's been about a week now so I'll be doing the same for the gloss clear coat, so they'll be ready to fit once I get my brake pads and the required spacers for the caliper mounting. I also plan on going a bit overboard and wet sanding + polishing + applying paint sealant the calipers before installation for some extra resistance to dirt buildup (plus they'll look really good)
I painted my current calipers in the same way, except without the sand blasting prior to painting. They've held up well, except some edges have chipped due to dirt/grease contamination below the paint. So do make sure they're very clean if you can't blast them. Lots of brake cleaner and lots of wire brushing
You can use some heat resistant vinyl sticker letting for the mercedes logo, I've had absolutely zero issues with mine.
Is your car 4Matic? From the looks of it you're about to do a brake upgrade and I'm curious !
Is your car 4Matic? From the looks of it you're about to do a brake upgrade and I'm curious !
It is I'll be posting a thread about the mod once they're on. I've had a couple of setbacks but I'm hoping to have them on either this upcoming weekend or the next. Stupid life getting in the way of car things
I've had a couple of setbacks but I'm hoping to have them on either this upcoming weekend or the next. Stupid life getting in the way of car things
Isn't it always that way though lol .... Are you doing front and rear? Highly recommend that to try and keep proper braking bias. I have a thread I'll be starting for an automatic(ish?) brake bleeder, life made the previous attempt/post die. you might want to build one to bleed the calipers . Are you going to do SS lines while your at it?
Isn't it always that way though lol .... Are you doing front and rear? Highly recommend that to try and keep proper braking bias. I have a thread I'll be starting for an automatic(ish?) brake bleeder, life made the previous attempt/post die. you might want to build one to bleed the calipers . Are you going to do SS lines while your at it?
I will be doing front and rear, but front first. Brake bias should actually remain fairly unchanged - The rotors at the front will stay the same size and the rear are being changed to the rear brake setup of a W212, which is similar in size but has vented rotors rather than the thin ones that come on regular W204s (and also tend to get a bit hot in certain situations)
I have a pressure bleeder for brakes luckily, I've already changed out my stock front calipers once to the upgraded code 952 brakes, which are 322mm rotors with larger single piston floating caliper. The stock size on my car was 295. The same 322mm rotors will be used for these new 4 piston fixed calipers
th1ef, I did both my Sl500 3 years ago and the C300 I just got recently. Did the front and rears on the SL500 3 years ago and it has held up very well, but I am **** about cleaning and care. I did the C300 recently. Silver in the front with black plate and white stencils. Clearcoated over the stencils. If you clean the rears up well they still look way better painted. The SL500 still looks like new but it is only driven in good weather.
The benefit is the calipers Mercedes-Benz makes are aluminum which doesn't flake off when the outer layer oxidizes. That's why painted Mercedes-Benz calipers look so good even years later. Whereas iron calipers need to be freshly media blasted and chemically neutralized before painting. That's why no driveway paint job on calipers will ever last since you can't get into all the nooks to seal the iron from rusting.
Painted the calipers silver, the backing plate black and then new stickers in white. Then clearcoated them. The rears are just silver. Big improvement in looks
I got mine on ebay. Did the silver calipers with the black lettering on my SL500 3 years ago. Still look like the day I painted them but I'm kind of **** with maintenance and cleaning and pretty low miles. Just did the calipers on my C300, silver with the stock white stickers.
07-31-2017, 07:28 PM
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I'll be posting a thread about the mod once they're on. I've had a couple of setbacks but I'm hoping to have them on either this upcoming weekend or the next. Stupid life getting in the way of car things
.... Are you doing front and rear? Highly recommend that to try and keep proper braking bias. I have a thread I'll be starting for an automatic(ish?) brake bleeder, life made the previous attempt/post die. you might want to build one to bleed the calipers 
