Kenny Pollock

Does anyone have a proper guide for painting the calipers yourself??

juicee63

There is a guy in Brooklyn with black ones maybe trade him?
I would only trust a high quality paint shop with my calipers

Klinh

I guess those $35 kit from Mercedes online store catalog ain't good, huh?

m_berman

The repainting process requires the disassembly of the caliper from the rotor. While everything is a part, its a good time to replace with new pads and rotors even if they are not worn out. Don't forget to purge all the old brake fluid for new fluid.

This is all labor. Think of this as a complete brake job and while doing the brakes repaint the calipers

suicidal4life

My experience....

When I purchased the Brembo BBK for my W210 I bought them from two different sources. The fronts were new and silver and the rears were used and red. Obviously this wasn't going to fly.

I purchased the G2 caliper paint system.

First thing I did was thoroughly clean the calipers with brake clean. I then wet sanded them with 600 grit to give the paint a good tooth to stick to. I did this until the original paint was all dull with no shiny spots. I broke thru the original paint in some places but thats no big deal. Next I cleaned them really well again. I then taped off all the parts that shouldn't be painted. Since I used to work in a body shop I have my own painting equipment but I think you could probably get good results by using a preval sprayer and some people have even reported good results using the brush that comes in the G2 kit. I think the paint is designed to auto level. Once you mix the paint you only have a set amount of time to get it sprayed before it hardens so be ready. I also had a decal shop cut me out some vinyl stencils for the logos which I then sprayed with white G2. I've had them on my car about a year and a half and it is holding up quite well.

Unfortunately the pics are pretty crappy and don't do it much justice. The logos are crisp and clear in real life. Nothing like the photos. Also the color in the second pic looks way off.

Front


Rear


Recent pic

rick2964

Wouldn't powder coating be the best option? Seems like the best way to me. I have powder coated several muscle car frames and suspension pieces but never calipers. Seems like a no brainer.

Klinh

Yes, but let just say if one want to paint their own caliber. That would cost alot of money around $400 and at least a week of down times of not be able to use their car.

suicidal4life

Yes powder coating is probably the best option but it sounded like the OP was looking for a DIY (which would probably exclude powder coating) and as another posted mentioned powder coating would lead to increased downtime, cost and also having to fully disassemble and rebuild the calipers.

Kenny Pollock

I'd actually love to have it done professionally... but they're making it seem like it's gonna cost $$$$$$$$$$$$ because they have to be completely removed

PeteyV

I painted mine myself. I even kept the calipers on the car and just taped off all parts that I didnt want painted, e.i. the rotors and...the car. Covered the car with garbage bags up to a part where I thought overspray might happen. Did the same thing with the rotors and because the garbage bag is thin enough I just tucked it behind the caliper and used painters tape to tape off metal brakets and such. I first cleaned the calipers with break cleaner and used a steel braded brush and sandpaper. Then I applied 5 coats of caliper paint from a spray can(left about 10 minutes inbetween coats). Added the decal back on. And then applied 2 coats of clear coat from a spray can. Its been on there for a year now and is perfect, looks real clean and like a stock caliper. Only thing is you need to clean them every once in a while because dirt and dust sticks.

ohlord

above you can tape them oof and clean them well with non residue cleaner like crc mass air sensor cleaner(no residue at all and cuts carbon and grease like butter) then pick your VHT engine paint color and light coats till happy.Lasts for years and cheaper than caliper paint.
Powder coat,you would need to take the caliper apart before cooking in the oven.And you(if you take your time can do just as good a job as the pros)
get er done

rick2964

Seems like a good idea. Im assuming most are painting red? Are you guys replacing with AMG stickers or Brembo?

PeteyV

Id put the AMG sticker if I was you. It would flow better with your car since you do have a 55.

Autoscope

Personally, I would let a local paint shop do it! You need to strip the existing paint and then go through the normal painting process. Scuff, sand, prime, sand, paint, clear, wet sand.....so many steps to do it RIGHT!

evilb

I used the G2 kit on my 600HP Saleen Cobra... didn't sand, just used brake cleaner on the calipers. Taped off the pieces I didn't want in bright blue, and painted away. I did it with the car on jackstands, and didn't disassemble a thing.

It's a quick process. "Doing it right" means a lot of extra labor, and painting parts of the caliper that will never be seen unless the caliper is off of the car.

For a ~$40 kit, you can't beat it. I had my car almost 3 years after I painted the calipers, and they still looked brand new.

B

Kenny Pollock

Why, 55s dont have Brembos?