Painting Your Own Brake Calipers - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

samg1965 · 05-12-2018, 06:14 PM

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.

dghii · 05-12-2018, 07:10 PM

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.

tommy583 · 05-12-2018, 07:25 PM

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

particlewave · 05-12-2018, 09:05 PM

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

samg1965 · 05-13-2018, 01:55 AM

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....

samg1965 · 05-13-2018, 02:20 AM

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

DWBOX2000 · 05-13-2018, 06:23 AM

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. 😄

tommy583 · 05-13-2018, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samg1965

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

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

samg1965 · 05-13-2018, 07:07 AM

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???

particlewave · 05-13-2018, 07:29 AM

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".

samg1965 · 05-13-2018, 08:49 AM

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

rick3000 · 05-13-2018, 08:56 AM

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.

dghii · 05-13-2018, 09:14 AM

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

Boxtar · 05-13-2018, 10:49 AM

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!

samg1965 · 05-13-2018, 11:07 AM

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

dghii · 05-13-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtar

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!

hard to find these days for sure!

rick3000 · 05-13-2018, 12:03 PM

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.

DWBOX2000 · 05-13-2018, 12:10 PM

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. 😄

BruceH · 05-13-2018, 01:29 PM

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

samg1965 · 05-13-2018, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBOX2000

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. 😄

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!!!!