As I was cleaning the car a little today I noticed the Red brake calipers were rather smooth in finish. This was an option with this car but I don't know what the finish is. Do I assume it is power coated?

 

Most likely since you have a more modern Jag. Many auto owners that want to have the colored brake calipers are "powder coating". The coloring of the brake calipers is growing in popularity.

I am looking at a Maserati Gran Turismo MC Sport and they offer numerous colors for the potential owner to choose from.

Then around, many have choosen to simply remove them and paint the calipers.

Perhaps someone else will verify the powder coating.

I have the red Alcon brake calipers on my Jag 2009. They are also smooth but appear to be painted.

 

I have the standard black or grey calipers on my XKR. I would like to red calipers on mines also. Do I have to install new brakes or can my existing calipers be painted? Approximately how much would a brake job cost and would there be any benefit to doing one? My stock brakes seem to work just fine, but I'm always open to upgrading..

 

Rich I guess my concern was if they were painted would using "brake clean" while cleaning or changing the pads cause the red to run . Same with brake fluid will it take off the finish. I believe with powder coat it is impervious to these chemicals. I know paint is not as I have had experience with red painted calipers that bubbled and ran with brake fluid spilled on them.

 

I've got the grey painted calipers, but they look to be covers to me rather than painted calipers. Calipers normally have a rough finish, this looks like aluminium. I was thinking to ask jag if I can buy the red covers

 

If the calipers are red or yellow they are powder coated. The factory doesnt paint calipers and no one else should either

any caliper that has been painted will stand out like a sore thumb next to a powder coated caliper. THe only thing that will remove powder coating is a stripping tank or a bead blaster

 

SoCalBabe:

Thanks for your insight and professional information and post. Now I know my calipers were originally powder coated.

And YES, you can buy colored caliper covers.....here's just one link. There are many others....

MGP® 15201SCUSDF - Audi Q5 2009 Custom Caliper Covers

 

I mentioned above that I have the grey painted calipers. I checked with my dealer and they say that it is the caliper that is painted but there is a plate that is attached (with the "R" on it) which is what I am thinking is the cover. They will let me know if I can get different coloured plates so as to redo the whole set (red, of course). If you hose the calipers, you will hear a tinny sound when you hit the plate.

 

How much is to powder coat all four calipers?

 

over here it would probably be well over $1500, then add to that the cost of the plate. And that your car is off the road while the powder coating is being done for maybe a couple of days.


Painting is a lot cheaper, maybe $300 or so. I did it to my second XF, and it looked pretty good but not as classy as powder coating.