I Painted My Brake Calipers - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

12-21-2006, 02:44 PM

I used the G2 kit from ebay ($34.99) and painted them this afternoon. I spent about half an hour to clean the brakes extra good (thanks for the advice Randall) I used the entire can of brake cleaner. I then mixed the stuff and waited 5 minutes. I painted the heaviest on top (where people would see it) and only did about 2 thin coats on the underside. The paint was great, Ive used that duplicolor stuff, but this was 10 times better. The paint flattened into a sheet of color instead of showing brushmarks. The total project was about an hour and a half and one of the best upgrades ive done. Not a speck of brake dust dirtied my brush. I will put my wheels back on this weekend (its on 4 jack stands) and will take pics after I put on my Porsche logos from xenonmods.com. Oh ya, I took my bumperettes to get painted today with my diffusers. They were painted today and I will pic them up tomorrow. So I will start a show and tell thread with my brakes, bumperettes, and diffusers when I put them on this weekend.
Here are some pics (they are done, but still wet)

http://aycu05.webshots.com/image/8964/2004236404194648855_rs.jpg
http://aycu32.webshots.com/image/6071/2004251453553028337_rs.jpg
http://aycu04.webshots.com/image/6723/2004286591049610048_rs.jpg
http://aycu07.webshots.com/image/8006/2004222833399789700_rs.jpg

blinkwatt · 12-21-2006, 02:56 PM

Since you painted the entire brake calipers isn't the paint around the brake bleeder nipple cap going to crack when you bleed the brakes?

12-21-2006, 03:00 PM

Yup, but I dont care untill that day comes. And if it does crack, it will only crack where I shouldnt have painted anyway. So untill then I dont have a black eye sore on my pretty red caliper.

djomlas · 12-21-2006, 03:05 PM

you should get some white brembo decals for those bad boys

12-21-2006, 03:12 PM

I would, if I hadnt already bought the Porsche ones. Unless someone wants to buy my decals for 8 bucks.

Travis · 12-21-2006, 03:20 PM

So what do you think you gained with that mod, 2-3 hp?

Looks good, don't forget the clear coat . . . .

12-21-2006, 03:34 PM

No clear coat for me. With my luck itd just make it look hazy or peel off or something.

Travis · 12-21-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boggtown

No clear coat for me. With my luck itd just make it look hazy or peel off or something.

Apply it after you put on the decals to keep the decals looking nice.

djomlas · 12-21-2006, 03:46 PM

decals will last almost forever, dont worry about that

Bob O · 12-21-2006, 03:50 PM

I agree with Travis. If you don't clear coat the decals they'll tend to curl up at the edges over time, or worse!, and look pretty shi**y. Shouldn't be a big job since you've already got it up on jack stands. A coat or two should do the trick. You'll not regret it. OH.. and you did the right thing with getting the Porsche stickers instead of Brembo... IMNSHO!!!

BTW.. They look great. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Bob

12-21-2006, 03:59 PM

So high temp clear? Ive only seen it in can form, so I will go buy some tomorrow. Thanks for making me feel bad, lol.

jeffsquire · 12-21-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis

Apply it after you put on the decals to keep the decals looking nice.

_________________________
Do any of you have a problem using the duplicolor clearcoat even though a different paint was used?

Travis · 12-21-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boggtown

So high temp clear? Ive only seen it in can form, so I will go buy some tomorrow. Thanks for making me feel bad, lol.

Don't wait till tomorrow . . Go now and hurry, and while you are there pick me up a six pack.

ddb · 12-21-2006, 04:39 PM

I painted my calipers over a year ago using the Duplicolor Caliper Kit. It consists of a can of spray on cleaner, a can of paint, mixing stick, and a brush. I removed my calipers because I didn't want to mask off the rotors, etc., and I needed to bleed the brakes anyway.

I planned on applying clear coat after applying the decals and bought a can of clear (I don't remember which brand). I applied a couple of coats of clear with no problems, and then applied one coat too many which caused a cracking look to the paint. I didn't apply the clear to the other 3 calipers. The 3 calipers without the clear still look great. The one with clear still looks acceptable, but not nearly as good as the other 3. Just don't apply to much clear too quickly and you should be fine.

ddb

Bob O · 12-21-2006, 05:25 PM

Several LIGHT coats of clear is what it takes. If you think its too thin when you put it on, its just right!!!!!!! If you put it on too thick you end up with cracks and runs at best. And be SURE to let it dry between coats (Can't stress this enough). I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine that Duplicolor has high temp, clear, brush on. As I said above, I used the spray and it came out great. Different technique, same theory.. thin coats, let them dry and do it again.

Bob