Painted My Calipers
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: California
Painted My Calipers
had some free time on my day off, so i painted my rusty @$$ calipers. didnt see much selection on the paint at kragen so i just picked up some engine parts enamel supposed to be good up to 500 degrees hope it holds up.
B4
after
B4
after
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,967
Likes: 17
From: Orange County, California
As I said in: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4527
Sorry to hear it melted, but don't give up. I used a $5 can of engine paint (Plasti-Kote's "Hot Paint") that I bought at Pep Boys. The instructions say to "cure" the paint by placing the painted part in an oven for an hour, otherwise, the paint won't fully cure and might rub off. I left the calipers on my car and used it anyway. The paint dried, but it did not fully cure.
And they're right- the paint does rub off if I mash my finger in it, but here's the rub (sorry): how often do you touch the calipers?
The paint only comes off if you rub it hard- otherwise, it does not come off in regular use. Washing it, hosing it off, etc. does not seem to harm it. Even brake dust does not cling to it- it remains shiny (I used 3 thin coats of silver- same color that 97SC300 chose). Whenever my wheels are off, I give it a touch-up coat. I don't even bother masking much anymore- any paint that gets on the rotor, pads or calipers gets shaved off the first time you apply the brakes.
Not bad for $5!
And they're right- the paint does rub off if I mash my finger in it, but here's the rub (sorry): how often do you touch the calipers?
The paint only comes off if you rub it hard- otherwise, it does not come off in regular use. Washing it, hosing it off, etc. does not seem to harm it. Even brake dust does not cling to it- it remains shiny (I used 3 thin coats of silver- same color that 97SC300 chose). Whenever my wheels are off, I give it a touch-up coat. I don't even bother masking much anymore- any paint that gets on the rotor, pads or calipers gets shaved off the first time you apply the brakes.
Not bad for $5!
I got that same can of paint from pep boys and once I was done painting mine I just drove around and ran a few errands with it, by the time I had gotten back it was cured. The calipers themselves are heated up as you apply the brakes so that heat cooks the paint well enough, or at least it did it well enough for me. I had about 5 or 6 coats on it and it fully cured with no problems what so ever, but I also cleaned my calipers thoroughly before painting them.
Tommy
Tommy
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 0
From: New York
I don't remember what paint i bought. I just remember it was a 500 degree paint. I bought some g2 paint and i'm going to put that on. Hopefully that won't melt off. The only thing that i don't like about it is the price... It's a one time use type of thing.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 0
From: New York
the reason why mine melted off was cause i didn't let it cure.. i went driving 30 min after i painted it lol. either way, calipers get way hotter than 500 degrees when u brake hard. the paint will just get faded quickly if it doesn't melt off. my friend's calipers look pink now... they were originally red lol.
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Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: California
Originally posted by nextlevelcoupe
just did mine...... what do you think??
i went for the BIG sticker look!
just did mine...... what do you think??
i went for the BIG sticker look!