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Lexus: How to Paint Your Brake Calipers

Painted brake calipers could compliment the rims on your Lexus. Here's how to paint them any color yourself.

By Cynthia Griffith - January 5, 2015
Contributors: MrCodyBlair

This article applies to the Lexus IS, ES, GS, and RX (2005-2013).

Most luxury car enthusiasts understand the importance of maintaining a showroom-ready exterior from the ceiling to the wheels of a vehicle, so when that sparkle begins to fade, an emphasis rests on the details. Let's say, for example, that the wheels on your Lexus are already complete with the bells and whistles, all the way down to custom lug nuts, but your car still looks a bit weathered. Painting those pesky brake calipers could do the trick. This is a pretty basic task that could easily be performed at home. The burning question in the minds of many DIY-ers who take on this project is simple: to spray paint or brush paint? While a novice could find benefit in the application and the price of spray painting the calipers, we highly suggest brush-on paint if you're looking for a luster that lasts longer than six months. Here's what you need to know to get started.

Materials Needed

  • Two car jacks
  • Wheel blocks
  • Bucket of soapy water
  • Soft drying towel
  • Caliper painting kit

Step 1 - Elevate the car

Loosen the lug nuts on your wheels just slightly. In order to ensure your own safety during this DIY, it is important that your engine is off, your emergency brake is on, and your back wheels are blocked by a large piece of lumber. To elevate your Lexus, you should prop it up on not one, but two jacks, with one jack positioned directly behind the wheel you will be working on and the other jack slightly off to the center of the vehicle's body.

Figure 1. This is how your elevated Lexus should look if you position the jacks correctly.

Step 2 - Remove the tire

Loosen and remove the lug nuts all the way, then remove the wheels.

If you've never changed a tire before, then this helpful, related article is something you might want to refer to during and after this DIY. You can refer to it for tire removal and later when you need to put your tire back on.

(Related Article: How to Change a Tire - ClubLexus.com)

Figure 2. Remove the lug nuts first.

Step 3 - Wash the brake caliper

Next, take your soapy bucket and wipe down the brake caliper, drying with a soft towel upon completion.

Figure 3. Washing the brake caliper.

Step 4 - Apply caliper cleaner to the brake caliper

Spray brake cleaner on your brake calipers. Be careful not to spray it on the car paint as it could take it off. After you let it sit for a few seconds, scrub it with a towel until it's completely dry.

Figure 4. Cleansing the brake caliper.

Step 5 - Tape the sections you do not wish to paint

Use masking tape to protect the parts of the caliper you don't wish to paint from being accidentally brushed or sprayed.

Figure 5. Tape any area that won't be painted.

Step 6 - Mix the paint

Your caliper painting kit should include a mixing brush for this exercise. If you didn't get one, a simple popsicle stick will suffice.

Figure 6. A rubber band wrapped lengthwise around the paint can is useful for wiping off excess paint.

Step 7 - Apply three thin coats of paint

Over the course of three days, apply three thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry over night. Once you have dedicated your time to the brake calipers, your attention to detail will be immediately rewarded each time you take your Lexus for a spin. A steady, patient hand is the only requirement for a task such as this.

If you are using a spray can, you can wait only a few minutes before each coat. Keep the spray can moving fluently and don't stop on one spot, or you can end up with uneven paint.

Figure 7. Painting a caliper.

Featured Video: How to Paint Brake Calipers

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