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BrakesDiscussions about the brake system in your vehicle and brake products.
This is a discussion thread titled "Caliper paint and tips", within the Brakes forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Any recommendations for painting remanufactured calipers? Spray paint versus paint in a can; preparation and application tips; number of applications. The calipers have not been installed yet, and look pretty clean.
I have a set of remanufactured calipers (semi-loaded) that I am getting ready to install for the TSB upgrade. The paint is the last thing I need before performing the service.
Years ago I tried various spray paint for this and the paint would always fade away over time, even engine enamels.
Now there are "Caliper Paints" available. I have tried them and I have to say they work and hold up very well.
I bought a kit from Advanced Auto. The kit has a can of brake clean a brush and a pint of the caliper paint. The kit is pricey (I think about 30 bucks) but the pint has gone along way. so far I have painted my Tundra calipers, all four caliper and brackets on my Tucson and just paint the calipers and rotor hubs on my '86 El Camino and there is still some left in the can.
Now, Advanced Auto had a very limited color selection so you might try Eastwood (Google it you'll find it) they have a very large selection of colors available.
The kit has instructions on how to prep the caliper, Just be careful to keep the brake cleaner off of the caliper boots, this can swell them. Another tip is not to worry about brush strokes in the paint, I have found that once the caliper heats up the paint flows out some and looks even better.
Now there is a better way to go then this and that is powder coating. This is what you'll find on high dollar sports cars with shinny glossy red calipers. The powder coating holds up for years, is brake fluid proof and brake dust cleans off it easily. The problem is it is labor intensive and expensive. For example in our shop we can do a powder coat color change on the cars we sell. All four, four piston calipers the cost is close to $900,00 or $450 and pair. Now you could do this yourself on your Tundra caliper for much less if you disassemble them and reassemble. Most town now have someone around that will do the powder coating or you can find powder coating equipment on Eastwood's web site. Just keep the powder coating out of the piston bores, out of bolt, bleeder and brake line holes and off of the caliper haft mating surfaces.
For the money the caliper paint is great. My Tundra caliper have been silver for over a year and still look like new. Maybe in a few years I'll need to touch them up, we'll see. I even have a Eastwood powder coating kit myself and choose to paint for the time savings.
Mike
__________________
“The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them” (Albert Einstein) Moderator Brake Forum
You can buy Powder Coating kits from Sears for less than $100. That, and a half-decent convection oven from your local appliance store (It needs to make about 400 degrees) and you can do it in your garage.
Warning: Don't use your kitchen oven or any other oven that you will use to prepare food.
All a man really needs for happiness in this world is a good woman, a faithful dog, and a big-a$$ed set of tires on his truck.
__________________________________________________
Ride: 2001 Tundra SR5, 4WD, The Lean Mean Green Machine, Lift, Front: Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Shocks w/ Total Chaos Diff Drop, Lift, Rear: 1" Wheeler's Blocks, Wheels: Chromed Factory 4Runner Rims, 17", Tires: Bridgestone Revos, 285/70R-17, Performance: Unichip, Borla Exhaust, Optima Yellow-top Battery, Flux Capacitor, Interior: Dog Hair on Back Seat, Coffee Stains on Console, Bling: TRD Grille, Westin Nerf Bars, Clear Corners & Eurotails, Debadged, Audio: Scion T1808 Head Unit, Audiovox XM Express, Shark Fin Antenna, Other: Viair 450C compressor, 2.5 Gallon air tank, Kleinn Pro Series 4-Trumpet air horns, Eye Candy: Hottie Wife in Passenger Seat, Security System: Two Very Large Dogs
I was at the new Meijer store that open in my area and was surprised to find caliper paint kit and a good variety of colors. The price was also very good about $16.
Mike
__________________
“The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them” (Albert Einstein) Moderator Brake Forum
Any recommendations for painting remanufactured calipers? Spray paint versus paint in a can; preparation and application tips; number of applications. The calipers have not been installed yet, and look pretty clean.
I have a set of remanufactured calipers (semi-loaded) that I am getting ready to install for the TSB upgrade. The paint is the last thing I need before performing the service.
I saw caliper paint in several colors at wallymart automotive section, but I don't like the ricer look of the bright colors.
I cleaned mine with brake cleaner, masked off the moving parts/wear surfaces & sprayed them with Krylon satin black bbq grill paint. I also did the drums in the back when I rotated the tires. Still looks good after a year.
Any over spray on wear surfaces was cleaned off with mineral spirits followed up with denatured alcohol.
The best paint to use is true caliper paint. Some people swear by engine paint because it is suppose to resist heat and high temperatures but does not fare very well down in the braking area. From my personal experience and research, the best paint to use hands down for something like this is true ceramic based caliper paint. Painting calipers and brackets is a very easy task, and the only thing that you need to remember is to take time to prep and CLEAN any surface from any existing dirt or grease before applying the paint.
Here is a link to what I and many others have used. I think I got my kits off ebay for about $25/ea IIRC.
I used the spray caliper paint. It comes off when brake fluid hits it. The can says it is resistant to brake fluid, NOT! Other than that it has held up for the past 4 months.
I used the Duplicolor kit from autozone, comes with everything you need, including brake cleaner. The more coats you brush on, the smoother and glossier it gets. I would do the tundra too, but the rear has drums, and it would look funny either way; painting just the front calipers or painting the drums too.
__________________ 2003 Tundra SR5 V8 3" Strut Spacer Lift
Helo Skid Chrome 20's 275-45-r20 Cooper Zeon LTZ's Flowmaster 40 Dual Exit Q-Logic with RF P1's (unhooked for now)
Custom Dual 12" Sub Box With 1000W Xplods
Memphis Audio M-Class Components 18% Tint all around http://www.youtube.com/tundrazach
I used the Duplicolor kit from autozone, comes with everything you need, including brake cleaner. The more coats you brush on, the smoother and glossier it gets. I would do the tundra too, but the rear has drums, and it would look funny either way; painting just the front calipers or painting the drums too.
I painted my drums to match my calipers, and have gotten nice compliments on it.
All a man really needs for happiness in this world is a good woman, a faithful dog, and a big-a$$ed set of tires on his truck.
__________________________________________________
Ride: 2001 Tundra SR5, 4WD, The Lean Mean Green Machine, Lift, Front: Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Shocks w/ Total Chaos Diff Drop, Lift, Rear: 1" Wheeler's Blocks, Wheels: Chromed Factory 4Runner Rims, 17", Tires: Bridgestone Revos, 285/70R-17, Performance: Unichip, Borla Exhaust, Optima Yellow-top Battery, Flux Capacitor, Interior: Dog Hair on Back Seat, Coffee Stains on Console, Bling: TRD Grille, Westin Nerf Bars, Clear Corners & Eurotails, Debadged, Audio: Scion T1808 Head Unit, Audiovox XM Express, Shark Fin Antenna, Other: Viair 450C compressor, 2.5 Gallon air tank, Kleinn Pro Series 4-Trumpet air horns, Eye Candy: Hottie Wife in Passenger Seat, Security System: Two Very Large Dogs
All a man really needs for happiness in this world is a good woman, a faithful dog, and a big-a$$ed set of tires on his truck.
__________________________________________________
Ride: 2001 Tundra SR5, 4WD, The Lean Mean Green Machine, Lift, Front: Bilstein 5100 Adjustable Shocks w/ Total Chaos Diff Drop, Lift, Rear: 1" Wheeler's Blocks, Wheels: Chromed Factory 4Runner Rims, 17", Tires: Bridgestone Revos, 285/70R-17, Performance: Unichip, Borla Exhaust, Optima Yellow-top Battery, Flux Capacitor, Interior: Dog Hair on Back Seat, Coffee Stains on Console, Bling: TRD Grille, Westin Nerf Bars, Clear Corners & Eurotails, Debadged, Audio: Scion T1808 Head Unit, Audiovox XM Express, Shark Fin Antenna, Other: Viair 450C compressor, 2.5 Gallon air tank, Kleinn Pro Series 4-Trumpet air horns, Eye Candy: Hottie Wife in Passenger Seat, Security System: Two Very Large Dogs
I have a Mica Jade (green) truck. The calipers and drums are bright yellow.
Hmm, interesting. I have a silver truck and red paint. It looked good on the silver mustang i had, but im still unsure about the drums. Ive seen it where it looks like crap, and some where it looks good.
__________________ 2003 Tundra SR5 V8 3" Strut Spacer Lift
Helo Skid Chrome 20's 275-45-r20 Cooper Zeon LTZ's Flowmaster 40 Dual Exit Q-Logic with RF P1's (unhooked for now)
Custom Dual 12" Sub Box With 1000W Xplods
Memphis Audio M-Class Components 18% Tint all around http://www.youtube.com/tundrazach
My calipers are silver and I painted the drums black. Looks like it came that way.
Mike
__________________
“The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them” (Albert Einstein) Moderator Brake Forum
Caliper paint and tips
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