Halfwits do a gold caliper lacquer which is probably the wrong shade but is anyone going to notice when it's that far away from the bodywork??

 

tberg,
The temperature the day I painted the calipers was between 49 and 69 degrees throughout the day. Maybe that's why I had the running paint issue. I was using Dupli-Color Engine Enamel with Ceramic 500 degree-rated sprayon clear coat on top of the Dupli-Color Red caliper paint.

I probably should have sprayed on the clear coat while the red paint was still tacky and not yet fully dried AND probably waited for optimum painting temperatures above 70 degrees.

 

dirtyodwyer,
The caliper paint should be completely dry before the clear coat goes on. If it's tacky it will interact with the clear enamel. When using clear lacquer as a top coat it will typically "help" dry the undercoat, but the lacquers that are now sold in Southern California because of AQMD regulations, do not perform very well and will not last very long when exposed to the elements. That is why I chose clear enamel.

 

Hi tberg.
I am just curious whether you took the calipers off for painting or painted them in place? Thanks in advance

 

Hi Dannys,
Since I had the car in the shop and was having new rotors and brake pads done, it was easy access to the calipers. However, you can get about the same result with just the wheel off and some careful masking. Honestly, I don't think anyone is going to be able to get close enough with the wheels on to see any difference.