I've been kicking this idea around for alittle bit, but not shure how it will look. Do you guys think I should paint the brake calipers redwhen I put rims on the car?

If anyone has pictures of this on their car, please post them up so I can take a look.


BTW: Black X-Type with Black rims.

 

Well, If you like red, then go for it. If you feel that it would look good, who's to say that it isn't! IMO, the silver color gives the calipers a CLEAN look which I think is unbeatable. The red is RICEY, but that's just me! As long as you do it the right way. Clean them, sand them down a bit, paint them with a base, and the finish it with a glossy paint!

 

I'm open for color suggestions. I never even thought of silver. I think your right, it would look good. Do you have pics of silver calipers?

 

Oh and another quick question. Do I have to use Brake Caliper paint, or can I use regular paint?

 

Regular paint will fall off after one day around the city! Do this: After driving home from work, get out of the car and touch the caliper. (JUST KIDDING, DONT DO THIS!!!) You'll notice that the caliper paint is a high heat paint! It wont melt off or run off, atleast if you put it on right!

 

That's what I figured, but was just curious to your thoughts.

 

Hey there xtype, I've painted my other cars calipers with pretty much whatever I could find. I never sanded anything off or anything but I did clean alot and use some brake cleaner on the them. Otherwise all I do is take the rim off clean it up really nice like and than use a plastic bag and pop a hole and stretch the hole to put the caliper through it. This way it covers the rotor all the way around and I've never gotten any paint in the wheel well either. On my jag they've held up pretty good but when I started them it was like 7 o'clock and was starting to get dark by the time I got to all of the others and what not it was dark...make sure you do them so you have plenty of time to dry and put some coats on because I didn't do that great of a job this time around...if I get rims this year I'll do them again.

 

Rims are dirty I washed her yesterday and than it thunderstormed....here's the stuff I use and in the order I apply it. If you look closely they also have the price and where I got them from! If the pics aren't big enough for you I will post them here....I'm going to post them after I post this so they should be there...
http://picasaweb.google.com/aquill1/OurJag

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People can say what they want about my methods but thats what I use and it works....here are some more pics of the car with the calipers painted red. As long as you get rims that you are able to clean the caliper the only color of caliper I'd stay away from is white or yellow...my rims make it hard to clean the caliper without removing the rim....a nice 5-spoke or anything but what I have would make it a breeze...

[IMG]local://upfiles/674/8D19283409DB40FE8AA3A47CE960A726.jpg[/IMG]

 

more pics...to me the red doesn't look ricey at all! They go with the rear red marker light on the rear bumper. You go yellow that would probably look ricey but red doesn't even say anything ricey at all. I've actually got many compliments and questions as to what kinds of brakes I have!

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As I am refurbing my wheels one at a time I am also painting the calipers red.Its a temp resistant matt red with lacquer over the top to gloss it up.Only have a few mins.Put 2 coats of red on then a auick coat of laxquer at the last minute before the weehl is put back on by the Kwik Fit fitter at our bodyshop.Heres a pic of one of my wheels refitted with the calipers.NOt the best pic as it is a bit close and starting to get dark but it looks much better than the stock silver and never had any probs in the 6 months or so since I did the first one:-

 

Looks nice...
let us know how long the paint hold ups to everyday use....
Oh, BTW, how are rotors holding up thus far?

 

Nice post Buck and by the way like the red!

Here are some pics I cropped of somekidz to give you an idea therex type750...

First one is somekidz as they are in his pics
next is grayer gray
and last is red...


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Here are some more...
Yellow and finally the best PINK!


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I did the first one in November last year.The paint I use is a high temp engine manifold paint and hasnt deteriororated any since I put it on and have used the car virtually every day.I now have the o/scalipers done and plan on getting the n/sand spare wheels and n/s calipersfinishedreadyfor Harewood House (Harrogate UK) Jag meet (4500 Jags at the Queens cousins house front garden) in July.
Rotors and ceramic pads kick ***......

 

Thanks for the pictures guys. I like the red. I think I'm going to stick to the initial idea of doing them red. Thanks for the info. and advice guys.

 

Good job

 

Hey X type..........re the calipers
I've painted mine as they were dirty / burnt and generally horrible looking, especially when the car was all valeted, really drew your attention to them, not, in a good way.
I chose silver as I think the red is too boy racerish, for my taste anyways. Although having seen Aquills, he's right, they do go well with the red rear lenses...........( we don't have them over here though)
Silver it was, and proper heat resistant caliper paint is needed if you want it to look great and last. I gave mine 3 coats in the end over about 3 weeks in all, but what a finish...some difference for sure. It gives the car a much better cleaner finish all round when cleaned.
I did toy with applying Jaguar Logo decals that I bought specifically for the job but decided againstit in the end.
I still havent gotten round to taking pics though.........life's sorta got in the way this past 4-6 weeks.......lol

JC

 

Hey xtype just keep in mind the more patient you are and the more consistent coats, not thick coats you put on, will end up looking the best. Don't over spray just go side to side, less is more when it comes to spray paint! Make it look better by putting more thin coats than putting less number of thick coats! Catch my drift?

 

Aquill, you're the master of photochop!
Jimbo, don't let life get in the way, instead roll right along with it.