Painting Your Own Brake Calipers
 

Has anybody done it? Can it be done without removing/bleeding them??? I've seen it done on YouTube, but....

Essentially masking everything from over spray... cleaning with brake cleaner/acetone.... high temp primer, paint, clear.... Sounds easy, but i don't want to start something I cannot finish.

I've done it with a caliper brush kit in red. It wasn't too hard at all. Buy lots of brake cleaner and use liberally. Mask off brake rotor, line and bleeder etc. brush on a coat, let sit and add a second after an hour or so.

My method was to lift one side of the car and do both wheels on that side. I did it with my car just outside of my garage. I let it dry as long as I could (hours) and then put the wheels back on and push the car into the garage. Did the other side a few days later.

I did not add clear and the calipers have held up quite nicely...been about 8 years and I'm just now thinking about doing it again.

+1 with the brush on method. I did mine about 6 years ago, still look good.

5 years ago, I used rattle cans...VHT High Temp green (5 coats) and same brand clear coat (2 coats). My masking job wasn't pretty, but thorough and effective. Still looks great ;)

Thanks for the responses guys!!! I'm going to give it a shot. I was going to use red, but Particlewave is inspiring me with that day-glo green!!! My car is black... I bet a yellow would look cool with that??? If I can find. So far I've only seen the standard black, sliver, red, orange....

Where Upstate NY are you? I've lived all over "upstate". Hudson Valley, SaratogaSprings, Binghamton, Buffalo....

I personally would stay away from Red or green unless they came that way. I think a color change is a great idea though. Good luck, taping is the way to go for sure. I would clean and clean again, hit with 600 -800 sandpaper and clean again. Make sure humidity is low and shoot for a temperature over 70 degrees if possible. Good luck, easy. Oh, did I say clean. 😄

Syracuse area....I should probably change it to CNY.

Well... Just got back from Auto Zone and things got more complicated. They have enamel labelled specifically for "calipers" available in 3 colors. They also have "engine" enamel available in 6 or 7 colors. The "caliper" paint is rated at 900*F where the "engine" paint is rated to 500*F. Is the 900* necessary, or is that just a marketing thing???

DWBOX... do you recommend cleaning first???

Oh.... how long should I let cure/dry before driving???

I used engine enamel rated at 500 and it's been fine. You should really let it cure as long as possible before driving...I'd say 48 hours minimum.

And don't mind detractors that say you can only paint them original color, or to "stay away" from certain colors: it's your car and only uptight a-holes are going to care if they aren't the "correct color". ;)

Have any of you applied decals "Porsche" over your paint?

When I did this, I put the decals on after the paint but before the clear coat. The clear helps protect the vinyl. Calipers still look good 10 years later.

I did the decals with no clear and decals have held up well. Clear certainly is a good idea. I guess I got impatient!

By the way, where in the heck do you get those Porsche logo decals? I’ve looked on eBay without success, came away thinking they must be protecting their trademark or something... plenty of Brembo and other marques. Overseas?

Thanks!

How many cans were needed to get a few coats on all four calipers?

hard to find these days for sure!

Hard to find now, but any vinyl shop should be able to print them for you. Standard size is 3", but I think you can go a bit bigger.

Probably a dickhead move for me to recommend colors. Your car, do what you like. I was just trying to protect you from the ridicule I get from different things I do. My intentions were good. Anyhow, make sure to clean. 😄

Easy to do, check this thread:
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/41668-painted-calipers.html

I didn't take it as such at all and I appreciate the feedback. In fact I was thinking the same. I do want something different, but at the same time I don't want it looking like a 14 year old girl's car!!!!

BruceH thanks... good info!!!

Painting Calipers
 

I did this two years ago. I think one important technique is to lightly wet sand the calipers, after they’ve dried thoroughly. Then clean them and then apply decals and clear coat. Mine came out very nice. The tough part of the project is that it takes so long, because it’s crtical to let the paint really dry before you apply clear coat and then then let that really dry too. So, that takes many days to achieve properly. After all is done, I did a nice polish. Good luck.

I bought a recommended brush on red around 5 yrs ago and it still looks good. But paint will not stand up to brake cleaner so I must be careful if servicing. I took the calipers off to paint them. I don't think you'll ever do a really good job with them on the car.

I bought two for the base coat and had plenty left over in the second can. One clear.



Decals: https://www.maxspeed-motorsports.com/store/p264/Porsche_Calipers_Vinyl_Stickers_White_%2F_Red_%2F_ Black_.html


Sorry. The "a-hole" comment wasn't aimed at you, but the guys you were referring to. I've never encountered it outside of the internet myself, but I know the type. :)


.

Yeah, I can confirm this behaviour on the Internet. Apparently, according to some S owners, they have monopoly on red calipers. If your base model has red calipers, you are per definition 'a poser'.

PS. I still run red calipers on my base. I like the look.

Not a purist. Not a poser.

Painted mine black. Stock. Base.

98.

I believe that while you can advance a custom look, with a Porsche you should stay better than half-way true to form. It's not a ricer car... so there must be more coloring inside the lines than outside. jmho

Very much appreciate the link! Ordered.
Andrew.

Ricer car? Yikes...
It's your car and your opinion :)

Regardless, it is still just a car...and only about a $5k-$10k car. ;)


.

One done... three to go... I went with an "anodized blue". I'm having a heck of a time uploading photos and wanted to show the progression, but.... it's a translucent blue intended to be painted over a chrome or metal finish for an anodized look. Since my calipers aren't chrome, I put down a gold flake under the blue. In total 3 coats of each primer, gold, blue, clear. It's a little darker blue than I anticipated, but I kinda like it. I was tempted to leave it as the gold flake, but no. I'll add more pictures once I figure this out.

Lessons learned for the next three....
1) Apply thinner coats. A little sloppy and ran a bit.
2) Allow to cure more before reassembling the wheel. I rubbed a little paint off and afraid it will start to peel on me.
3)Borrow my neighbor's lift stands to do two wheels at a time. I do have two jacks, but wasn't comfortable with the safety of having two up on jacks.
4)Those 10 minute intervals between coats is an opportunity to clean your wheels inside and out while waiting!!!

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AtBvftZcv14Y90OiUR4F7cQJMMoO

Looks great! :)

Here you go ;)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526323642.jpg

Particle what am I doing wrong? Is there a way to simply attach a photo? It's prompting me for a URL link and I ain't no good with them computer things.... I have progressive pictures with the wheel off and the gold flake, etc

It looks like you're uploading from your phone. If you tap this link, it will allow you to upload straight from your phone.
With my phone, it will only allow one photo per post, though.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526326358.jpg

Caliper Gold Flake
 

Three coats of primer, then three coats gold flake....

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526496039.jpg

Caliper Anodized Blue
 

Three coats primer... three gold flake... two anodized blue... three clear....

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526496767.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526496785.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526496821.jpg

Front vs. Rear Lesson Learned
 

Can you tell the difference in shades between the two calipers? The "anodized blue" paint is a translucent color intended to be painted over a chrome finish for a metallic effect. Since my calipers aren't chromed, I painted over a gold flake instead. The first picture was my first try with the front caliper. I applied too many coats of blue which didn't produce that anodized effect with gold flake gleaming through. The second picture is the rear caliper where I only applied two coats of blue with better results. I read somewhere that applying these colors and clear is like drinking beer.... you've applied the right amount, but will be tempted for one more coat. Just like beer, that one more will be too many!!!!

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526497217.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526497383.jpg

With no prior painting experience, I did mine with a Porsche decal I found on ebay or amazon. I left the caliper connected and I was replacing my discs at the same time, so I didn't have to mask those off.

I took my time and sanded and cleaned them well. Taped off the lines and such. Several coats of red, then a couple coats of clear coat. (Both VHT bought on one of those websites). I don't remember if I put the decal on before the clear coat. I think I did.

Anyway, from a distance, they look amazing. When you get up close, not terrible, but not perfect either. I'm OK with it being my first time painting anything.

Once I figure out how to make a .png into a .jpg, I can post some pics.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526500006.jpg


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1526500051.jpg

That looks good and I intend to add the decals as well.

How long did you allow yours to cure before driving it???

LOL Ricer car!!! Although I went relatively conservative with the calipers, I've never been accused of being a purist!!! If I had the means, my Boxster would look like Janis Joplin's Porsche 356!!!