MrG4Life

iTrader: (14)

Hey all, my calipers are terrible looking and really need to be cleaned and colored. It's going to be a nice weather weekend and I plan on doing it this Saturday. However I messed up and dragged my feet by not ordering the Lexus caliper stickers yet so I won't be able to apply them the same day I color the calipers. I was wondering if it's okay to apply the stickers afterwards like a week or two from now?


Also, this guy on the job who colored his calipers recommended I use Simple Green to clean the calipers. Will simple brake cleaner do just as well?

Thanks

ZippyGuy

iTrader: (9)

You can put on the caliper stickers anytime, just make sure you clean the spot where you're going to place the stickers before you place them. I would NOT use Simple Green on any surfaces that will have contact with the brake pads, well, for that matter anywhere on the brakes. Simple Green is an excellent cleaner, it's biodegradable and one of the best products on the market. I've found that when I used it to clean my tires (tires, not wheels) it leaves a residue.

MrG4Life

iTrader: (14)

Not having the decals didn't stop me today as I jacked up the GS to treat those discolored calipers. It took me several hours from start to finish only because I did some other things and was inspecting my ball joints and rest of the underbody. I went to Walmart, then Advance Auto and finally AutoZone where I was able to pick up the last box of Duplicolor caliper coloring kit. I also grabbed a can of the clearcoat enamel too and brake parts cleaner. The job was simple and didn't run into any issues along the way. I'm waiting for my decals to come in and then wait for another day to apply them on the calipers. I got some before and after pics that I'll keep to a minimum since there's plenty of other threads with this covered already:

Front caliper cleaned and brushed: (looked worse than this)



Front caliper afterwards:




Rear caliper cleaned and brushed (looked worse than this)



Rear caliper afterwards:

1moGS4

iTrader: (4)

Looks great, I painted mine black also.

MrG4Life

iTrader: (14)

So today I completed the project by adding the decals. Calipers were not that dirty so cleaning was a snap. Seriously the difference is night and day on how my calipers once looked like before this.

MrG4Life

iTrader: (14)

One more thing, while researching this I came across several pics in CL and other forums of calipers that were freshly painted but the decals were placed wrong on the caliper like the one below.

GS FONZy

iTrader: (6)

nice

You used the brush stuff right? That's some crazy masking you had going there but looks good.

jriggs

looks real nice
can you post a pic of the decal on the front of ours the "right" way?

ZippyGuy

iTrader: (9)

The caliper look GREAT with the stickers!!!

djspawn00

You put a coat of clearcoat over the decals right?

tommyjaix

I painted my calipers red with lexus decals and didnt put a clear coat on top of the decals and the damn things (decals) still look great after 5 months through rain and mud and parking outdoors

4ntvings

iTrader: (6)

to a nice job done
you're right, day/night

oh and all the newspaper and tape: you can never be too careful; esp when dealing w/paint and the like.

4play4dr

looks like u might need new rotors..u got some hotspots..maybe just a resurface..looks good tho

MrG4Life

iTrader: (14)

That's right. Plenty of paint still left in the can though

I'll try to find the SDcard with front caliper pics and post them

Thank you

That's right. The one in a spray can.

I knew all those newspapers I had laying around was good for something. Just wanted to make sure I had things "covered".

MrG4Life

iTrader: (14)

Probably a resurface; the rotors were replaced with new ones when I got the car in August '07.