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Mine are painted. I'm assuming by previous owner. I really like the look. I'll get a picture or two up soon for you. It will give me a good excuse to clean the car up nice and take a photo. I don't do anything except wipe them with a damp cloth to clean.
Even more important than painting the calipers -- painting the wheel hubs. Wire brush off the rust, use a rust inhibitor, primer and then silver caliper paint. Use a thin coat of anti-freeze before mounting the wheel. Otherwise they will gradually rust and look terrible.
Has anyone painted their calipers? Interested in how you feel they look and how you clean them.
I have not on the Sl, but plan to do it next spring. I painted the ones on my clk back in the day and it wasn't too bad to do, but it took a little while because I only had a jack and no lift. I loved the look and always felt like it was a bonding moment with my car. Yeah I know....; Anyway, I/you could buy colored ones I know, but sometimes I think the cost just for color is a bit steep.....
I'd sure have jack stands under that -- just in case.
In case of what? An eathquake? LOL!
Ever use those? They lift from the factory lift pads. You lower them into the mechanical locking mechanism. There’s no weight on the hydraulics. Once locked in, they won’t go anywhere. Those are rated at 7000 lbs
It’s by far the one of THE safest methods to work on/lift these cars, especially over floor jack and jack stands!
If you don’t have the space for a full size lift or need flexibility in your garage space I highly recommend these…
Last edited by crconsulting; Nov 3, 2021 at 04:45 PM.
In case of what? An eathquake? LOL!
Ever use those? They lift from the factory lift pads. You lower them into the mechanical locking mechanism. There’s no weight on the hydraulics. Once locked in, they won’t go anywhere. Those are rated at 7000 lbs
It’s by far the one of THE safest methods to work on/lift these cars, especially over floor jack and jack stands!
If you don’t have the space for a full size lift or need flexibility in your garage space I highly recommend these…
Hmm. An earthquake. Yeah, maybe. I see you live in northern California.
I'd at least want to see the frame vertical. Whatever. I am familiar with this product and had a four-post lift in my previous garage, allowing me to park a vehicle under the raised vehicle and also service the raised vehicle while standing. That would be my preference for a lift.
Hmm. An earthquake. Yeah, maybe. I see you live in northern California.
I'd at least want to see the frame vertical. Whatever. I am familiar with this product and had a four-post lift in my previous garage, allowing me to park a vehicle under the raised vehicle and also service the raised vehicle while standing. That would be my preference for a lift.
I like those portable lifts. Perfect for work on wheels and brakes. That type of work is more difficult on a 4 post lift. Here is ours...
I like those portable lifts. Perfect for work on wheels and brakes. That type of work is more difficult on a 4 post lift. Here is ours...
I appreciate the issue of working on brakes and the benefit of the other type lift. Nice! I like the floor too. Are those the factory upgraded rotors and calipers? Did you apply the graphics at the bottom of the doors yourself or were they factory? I've have a similar set for a GLE53 on order.
I consulted with my local Department of Redundancy Department and they said, "No harm in having jack stands as a backup." I am particularly sensitive to this 'cause I have a friend in St. George Utah that had a successful auto repair business. Unfortunately, a vehicle he was under fell on him and paralyzed him from the waist down. Fortunately, he was able to start a very-successful new business creating metal sculputures mostly from auto parts. We have one of his sculptures and I've given him several sets of my brake rotors which he uses as a base for his creations. Here's his website and a photo of him working from his wheelchair:
I consulted with my local Department of Redundancy Department
In the 50 years or so I’ve worked in automotive and machine shops, and the hundreds of lifts I’ve been under, I have seen people drop cars off, 4 post lifts, 2 post lifts, jack stands and a whole myriad of other disasters.
A LIFT is like any other tool. It has an intended design purpose, it has strengths and weaknesses. Nor should you be intimidated by it. It’s also critical to choose the right tool for the right purpose. Like any other piece of heavy equipment, it’s the operator that determines it’s success or failure. Anytime you lift a car, It’s not FOOLPROOF. If you look at the internet it is littered with such stories. Yes, I have worked with people that have lost fingers on machine tools. But that has no bearing on the fact that properly used, (and respected) the tool will function as designed. Accidents happen because mistakes are made.
anyway, how about those painted calipers😀
Last edited by crconsulting; Nov 3, 2021 at 08:39 PM.
I appreciate the issue of working on brakes and the benefit of the other type lift. Nice! I like the floor too. Are those the factory upgraded rotors and calipers? Did you apply the graphics at the bottom of the doors yourself or were they factory? I've have a similar set for a GLE53 on order.
Thanks! The E63s was an Edition 1 model that came with the graphic from the factory. I wanted to remove it at first but then realized that it didn't bother me IRL and actually liked it. Those rotors are factory CCB's. Mercedes uses that gold/bronze caliper color for all their Carbon Ceramics apart from the AMG GT Pro/Black Series where they are black.
Yes. I wonder if the decals on the calipers are "permanent." I can imagine that they easily are blown off by high pressure car wash wands. I did order a set of AMG decals, not for on calipers, but for other places like my toolbox, computer monitor frame and maybe even my forehead.
I did have red calipers on my GTS and they were OK but I have no intention of painting my silver calipers with the AMG logo. As someone suggested, the brightly painted calipers can detract from the wheel appearance and, IMHO can be garish. Perhaps this trend for highly visible calipers is a passing fad which will be best left to boy racers in their Hondas and Subarus with annoying exhaust sounds.
Yes. I wonder if the decals on the calipers are "permanent." I can imagine that they easily are blown off by high pressure car wash wands. I did order a set of AMG decals, not for on calipers, but for other places like my toolbox, computer monitor frame and maybe even my forehead.
The best option is to clear coat them in if you're going to power wash your wheels. I've used VHT caliper paint & clear coat in the past for customer cars and it worked well. Doesn't matter what type of paint though, if you're going to track them and use them hard, even the factory paint can discolor, fade or peel the clear coat.
Originally Posted by slk55er
I did have red calipers on my GTS and they were OK but I have no intention of painting my silver calipers with the AMG logo. As someone suggested, the brightly painted calipers can detract from the wheel appearance and, IMHO can be garish. Perhaps this trend for highly visible calipers is a passing fad which will be best left to boy racers in their Hondas and Subarus with annoying exhaust sounds.
I think thats why we both drive SL's
Yeah I agree, there are some pretty gaudy cars out there. Haha, don't get me going on exhaust
I personally was looking for the Imola Grey Mercedes Benz marked 6 piston calipers myself. I have to admit though, The kid in me does like the "boy racer" look on some cars. For my SL, it wasn't quite the look I'm seeking. I was originally looking for the Maybach/S class calipers, since these are starting to show up at the wreckers/used parts markets.
But when the AMG calipers came up for $800 for the whole set F&R, I had to jump on them, AMG or not.
I plan to add to D49's post on r231 caliper/brake upgrade at some point. I have had to sort through the Brembo part numbers for the F-390/R-360mm brake upgrade for the SL550/450/400 R231's. & compatibility between other chassis. I see a lot of these caliper sets come up cheap, either mis-listed, or missing cross compatibility fitment in their listings....
It's an alternative to painting. It's completely "bolt on". And these 4000lb, 450HP cars need as much stopping power as possible...
Last edited by crconsulting; Nov 4, 2021 at 10:55 AM.
The best option is to clear coat them in if you're going to power wash your wheels. I've used VHT caliper paint & clear coat in the past for customer cars and it worked well. Doesn't matter what type of paint though, if you're going to track them and use them hard, even the factory paint can discolor, fade or peel the clear coat.
Is the caliper in the photo one that you have painted? If so, beautifully done! Or perhaps it is one that you've found as an upgrade?
Is the caliper in the photo one that you have painted? If so, beautifully done! Or perhaps it is one that you've found as an upgrade?
That is the factory W222 brake caliper comes on Maybach and S class cars. They are not marked AMG but rather Mercedes-Benz. (Brembo will paint them however you want if you order a million of them 😀 )
They are the same as the SL63 base 390mm brake, but not marked AMG. They’re a nice fit/look for a regular SL.
Key thing to look for, is caliper bracket 20.97A7.72 (supposed to be an “A” but people sometimes list that bracket as 20.9747.72) That bracket is shared across several chassis variants using the 390mm rotor.
Brembo part number:
These are the ones I ended up with.
SL63 AMG marked calipers.
Last edited by crconsulting; Nov 4, 2021 at 11:35 AM.
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