Painting the brake calipers on your car is a great way to give it a customized look and improve its overall appearance. In addition to adding a sporty appearance to your car, it also helps shield the calipers from wear and corrosion. Painting your brake callipers can be a fun project, regardless of whether you’re an auto enthusiast or just want to make a modest but noticeable change.
It’s crucial to gather all required materials before you begin. A wire brush, masking tape, a jack, high-temperature caliper paint, and some cleaning supplies are required. It’s imperative to take the time to prepare properly if you want a polished and long-lasting finish.
In order to prevent unwanted paint from getting on other parts of the calipers, the process entails first giving the instruments a thorough cleaning to get rid of any dirt and grease. A smooth and long-lasting finish is ensured by applying the paint in thin, even coats. It’s also crucial to give each coat enough time to dry in between to prevent smudges and guarantee a glossy finish.
Painting your brake calipers can be an enjoyable and fulfilling way to personalize your car, given a little perseverance and attention to detail. By following these instructions, you can add style and protection to your brakes while also changing the way they look. Let’s get started with the detailed instructions for painting your calipers.
Step | Description |
1 | Remove the wheel to access the caliper. |
2 | Clean the caliper thoroughly with a wire brush and brake cleaner. |
3 | Mask off areas around the caliper to avoid getting paint on unwanted parts. |
4 | Apply a coat of primer to the caliper and let it dry completely. |
5 | Spray the caliper with high-temperature paint, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. |
6 | Remove the masking tape once the paint is fully dry. |
7 | Reinstall the wheel and ensure all bolts are securely tightened. |
- The need to color the details
- Materials and tools
- Color selection
- What paint to use
- Whether it is necessary to remove the details before staining
- Preparation for coloring
- Video on the topic
- Do -it -yourself painting brake discs and calipers
- Do -it -yourself. BMW G20
- Independent painting of the caliper
- Do -it -yourself painting with Geely Coolray calipers
- Auton caliper enamel | Do -it -yourself painting with your own hands | Heat -resistant auton paint
The need to color the details
Owners of sports cars are particularly fond of painting their brake calipers. These cars have alloy wheels that allow you to see every detail of the braking system. They will give the machine more style, improve the feeling of luxury, and resemble racing cars more closely if you paint them the same color as the body or in another vibrant hue.
There is a practical use for painting calipers as well. These details are in contact with the outside world, have a porous structure, and are not covered in a casing. Consequently, dust continually gathers on the calipers, melts, and mixes with road surface reagents and technical liquids.
The following outcomes result from the challenges in cleaning and washing caused by uncomfortable access:
- the cooal time of the parts increases;
- heat transfer in the brake system worsens;
- The metal surface suffers from corrosion.
When brake discs and calipers are painted, a thick layer is formed on their surface that physically repels dirt and prevents it from penetrating the pores. In this instance, the system’s heat transfer is maximized and it is simple to keep the calipers clean. Products are shielded by the coating from rust and mechanical harm from tiny pebbles. The standard caliper crackers and shakes after a few months when heated by the caliper, so only a specific type of heat-resistant paint is appropriate for work.
Materials and tools
Three tools are needed to disassemble the knot and remove the details: a cylinder key, a screwdriver, and a jack. Additionally, you must get ready for work:
- paint in sufficient quantities;
- Maslar adhesive tape;
- film, newspapers;
- White-spiteen or other degreaser;
- sandpaper with fine grain;
- metal brush;
- rags;
- brush or sprayer;
- gloves;
- respirator;
- Rust converter.
Color selection
The owner of the vehicle is the only one who decides what color to paint the brake drums and calipers. There is an enormous selection of paint and varnish shades available, ranging from traditional to highly unconventional paintwork colors. Some drivers would rather see products painted in neutral, useful hues like dark blue, gray, brown, or black. Others go for vivid hues like orange, yellow, green, red, and light green.
It’s important to take the car’s primary color, canopies, and disks into account when choosing paint for your calipers. It will appear ostentatious and complex if you make the details green and the body red. It is preferable to think about a monochromatic gamut or identify an effective contrast combination:
- Black body – white or red calipers;
- Dark blue body-terracotta, light blue;
- Green body – yellow and t. D.
These days, fluorescent pigments are added to juicy, acidic hues like fuchsia, lime, ultramarine, and others. They have to be used cautiously, only considering the car’s overall concept.
What paint to use
It is also important to carefully consider the features of the caliper’s operation when selecting the product’s composition and type. They cannot be painted with regular paint because it is not resistant to temperature changes and the harsh effects of outside influences. Using powder will also be a mistake because it only exhibits strength under normal operating conditions and has no effect at high temperatures. The only way to get a more durable coating on calipers is to apply three to four layers of this paint, which is both costly and impractical.
Specialized heat-resistant paint should be applied to the details to give them a beautiful appearance and shield them from the damaging effects of temperature changes. It offers the following benefits:
- ease of application, high quality and evenness of the layer without divorces;
- a wide palette of matte and glossy shades;
- excellent protective properties against corrosion, mechanical damage, the effect of reagents and other chemistry;
- reduction in thermal conductivity;
- Raising the service life of the calipers.
Acrylic resins, organic solvents, plasticizers, and other specific additives are included in the color formulation. Silicas and silicon components are also among the most resilient varnishes to high temperatures. Paints are made in aerosols, bottles, and banks. The latter are the most practical option, enabling even novices to stain the car’s components.
Aerosols have a few drawbacks, such as high material consumption and cost, which means you have to purchase them with a margin. Additionally, you must more completely close the surrounding areas when covering the calipers from the spray can to prevent spray from landing on them.
Sets for staining calipers, complete with paint and all the tools needed for the job, are still available for purchase. The surface of the brake system components can be protected with heat-resistant acrylic LKM for up to five years before restaining is necessary.
The following are the top brands of colors that work well with calipers:
- FoliaTec. Premium heat-resistant paint, presented in different shades-glossy, matte, with a metallic effect. The material is very durable, chemically stable, wear -resistant, allows you to get a durable coating. Produced in aerosols and banks.
- Motip. A more budget option for paintwork for calipers. Produced only in spray cans. It withstands coating to +650 degrees, has good hiding, high quality adhesion to the surface, has powerful dirt -repellent properties.
Whether it is necessary to remove the details before staining
Painting calipers can be done in two different ways: with and without disassembly. Experts only use the first method because of its many undeniable benefits. The benefits of the calipers are as follows:
- more convenient work;
- uniform painting of parts from the outer and inside;
- Lack of risk to spray paint on discs, wings.
If the calipers are left on, the layer that is applied will not be even, and the part will continue to be unlucky from the sides, below, and back. Products cannot receive the appropriate level of protection from low-quality coating.
The use of calipers has drawbacks as well: the task will become more difficult and intricate, requiring additional tools, and you will need to pump the system once the parts have been put back in their original locations.
Preparation for coloring
You should examine the calipers’ technical state before staining them; you might need to replace or repair some parts first. Use the jack to remove the machine and replace it to secure it in the raised position. Take off the wheels, check every node thoroughly, and then take out the components.
Every caliper has two bolts holding it on; if these are loosely unscrewed, you will need to fill the WD-40 liquid junction or give it a good knead. Wheel discs are the only parts that can be removed if painting calipers exclusively from the outside.
Parts are ready for staining in the following ways:
- Remove all traces of corrosion, using a metal brush, sandpaper, rust converter;
- If metal rust has reached a high degree, it is cleaned with sandblasting or a drill with a special nozzle;
- Rubber parts are cleaned from dirt, dust;
- The pistons are cleaned with sandpaper with the smallest grain, acting extremely neatly and without taking them completely (otherwise the brake fluid may flow out);
- wipe the calipers with a degreaser;
- isolated with painting tape, film, newspapers all moving elements that are not subject to staining (otherwise the paint after heating will work as a lubricant and will interfere with the braking);
- Paste with masking tape conductive hoses, other non -painted details.
Painting a caliper keeps it safe from rust and other damage while also improving the appearance of your car. Although the process may seem difficult, it can be successfully completed at home with the correct equipment and a little perseverance. The secret is to go slowly and make sure every step is completed correctly.
To start, give the caliper a thorough cleaning to get rid of any rust, grease, or dirt. This is an essential step in making sure the paint sticks well and endures a long time. For optimal results, use brake cleaner and a wire brush. To keep the painting process organized and focused, mask off any areas that shouldn’t be painted.
Apply a primer made for high-heat surfaces after that. This will give an even base and improve the paint’s stick. Applying paint can begin once the primer has dried. Select a high-temperature paint designed especially for calipers to make sure it can tolerate the heat produced during braking. Instead of applying a single, thick coat, apply several thin coats to prevent drips and runs.
Give every paint coat enough time to dry. Apply a clear coat to add shine and extra protection after the paint has dried completely and you’ve reached the desired coverage. Additionally, future caliper cleaning will be made simpler by this final layer.
Making sure that every component is properly positioned and fastened, carefully reinstall the caliper. To make sure everything is working properly and to test the brakes, take your car for a quick drive. Your car will look great and perform incredibly well with freshly painted calipers.
Your car can look completely different and be shielded from rust and corrosion by painting the caliper. A caliper must be completely cleaned, any existing rust must be removed, and then it must be painted using a high-temperature primer and several coats of heat-resistant paint. This procedure guarantees a resilient, smooth finish that can tolerate the high heat produced during braking. The longevity and appearance of your calipers can be improved with a professional-looking finish that you can achieve with the correct supplies and thoughtful preparation.