Painted Calipers
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Joined: Nov 2013
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CLK 350 2007
Painted Calipers
Would anybody recommend painting brake calipers? I plan on getting 19" rims that will expose my calipers. I think it would look nice if I black them out with caliper paint, but has anybody had results with this?
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
I painted mine this past summer. I painted them on the car and did not disconnect the calipers, so the inside of the calipers are not painted. I was intending to paint the inside as well but the caliper bolts were so darn tight I said the heck with it.
Used a brake cleaner to wash them down several times.
I taped off everything, making sure the pads and clips were sealed. I used pieces of newspaper to cover the back side opening where the clips are and painter's tape to secure it and attached it to the inner edge of the clip/pad opening. I used paper towel pieces in all the other openings. It stuffs in the openings easily and comes out easily.
After everything was taped, I rubbed on the caliper for awhile with steel wool, then washed it with more brake clean and alcohol. Make sure you cover your car. The mist from the spray paint just goes in the air and and settles. I used a couple large and cheap painters plastic drop cloths taped to the car.
It is time consumming. If you can do two wheels at a time it wil definitely help with the "paint and wait" frustration. They came out really well.
In "round 2" I painted my rotor centers using caliper paint. It, of course would have been better to do the whole thing together. But, both came out very well.
I sprayed a light coat of clear coat on mine. I don't think it was needed however.
I painted mine black. The paint is very thick and glossy. It sheds brake dust very well and I have not noticed any caking of dust on them.
Not sure, but I think I used Dupli-color on the calipers. I used rust-0leum on the rotor centers.
Used a brake cleaner to wash them down several times.
I taped off everything, making sure the pads and clips were sealed. I used pieces of newspaper to cover the back side opening where the clips are and painter's tape to secure it and attached it to the inner edge of the clip/pad opening. I used paper towel pieces in all the other openings. It stuffs in the openings easily and comes out easily.
After everything was taped, I rubbed on the caliper for awhile with steel wool, then washed it with more brake clean and alcohol. Make sure you cover your car. The mist from the spray paint just goes in the air and and settles. I used a couple large and cheap painters plastic drop cloths taped to the car.
It is time consumming. If you can do two wheels at a time it wil definitely help with the "paint and wait" frustration. They came out really well.
In "round 2" I painted my rotor centers using caliper paint. It, of course would have been better to do the whole thing together. But, both came out very well.
I sprayed a light coat of clear coat on mine. I don't think it was needed however.
I painted mine black. The paint is very thick and glossy. It sheds brake dust very well and I have not noticed any caking of dust on them.
Not sure, but I think I used Dupli-color on the calipers. I used rust-0leum on the rotor centers.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,136
Likes: 5
Corrolla
I painted mine this past summer. I painted them on the car and did not disconnect the calipers, so the inside of the calipers are not painted. I was intending to paint the inside as well but the caliper bolts were so darn tight I said the heck with it.
Used a brake cleaner to wash them down several times.
I taped off everything, making sure the pads and clips were sealed. I used pieces of newspaper to cover the back side opening where the clips are and painter's tape to secure it and attached it to the inner edge of the clip/pad opening. I used paper towel pieces in all the other openings. It stuffs in the openings easily and comes out easily.
After everything was taped, I rubbed on the caliper for awhile with steel wool, then washed it with more brake clean and alcohol. Make sure you cover your car. The mist from the spray paint just goes in the air and and settles. I used a couple large and cheap painters plastic drop cloths taped to the car.
It is time consumming. If you can do two wheels at a time it wil definitely help with the "paint and wait" frustration. They came out really well.
In "round 2" I painted my rotor centers using caliper paint. It, of course would have been better to do the whole thing together. But, both came out very well.
I sprayed a light coat of clear coat on mine. I don't think it was needed however.
I painted mine black. The paint is very thick and glossy. It sheds brake dust very well and I have not noticed any caking of dust on them.
Not sure, but I think I used Dupli-color on the calipers. I used rust-0leum on the rotor centers.
Used a brake cleaner to wash them down several times.
I taped off everything, making sure the pads and clips were sealed. I used pieces of newspaper to cover the back side opening where the clips are and painter's tape to secure it and attached it to the inner edge of the clip/pad opening. I used paper towel pieces in all the other openings. It stuffs in the openings easily and comes out easily.
After everything was taped, I rubbed on the caliper for awhile with steel wool, then washed it with more brake clean and alcohol. Make sure you cover your car. The mist from the spray paint just goes in the air and and settles. I used a couple large and cheap painters plastic drop cloths taped to the car.
It is time consumming. If you can do two wheels at a time it wil definitely help with the "paint and wait" frustration. They came out really well.
In "round 2" I painted my rotor centers using caliper paint. It, of course would have been better to do the whole thing together. But, both came out very well.
I sprayed a light coat of clear coat on mine. I don't think it was needed however.
I painted mine black. The paint is very thick and glossy. It sheds brake dust very well and I have not noticed any caking of dust on them.
Not sure, but I think I used Dupli-color on the calipers. I used rust-0leum on the rotor centers.
