OK... I know this is juvenile, but I really like the look of the red brake calipers that are visible through the spokes of the rim. Rather than spending a couple of thousand dollars on Brembo brakes, I was thinking about simply removing my calipers and painting them red. Has anyone ever done this? I was just going to take them off, power wash them on the driveway to remove every last speck of crud, let them dry, primer them, and then paint them with some high temp spray paint. It seems simple enough, and I think it will look pretty cool when it's all done. I'll probably replace the discs with some vented discs at the same time.

Any thoughts?

 

Sam, many have done that very thing, not many went the 'RED' route though. Silver and black are the most popular. BTW, don't use the spray-type high-heat paint, its too thin, easily comes off. There's a kit, little more expensive, can be had at any auto parts store, but the paint is really thick and kit comes with brake cleaner, and a brush.

 

I've thought about doing this in the past too, but now I'm thinking I will just send them out to get chromed or powdercoated instead.

 

I have done some powder coating. You will have to take the calipers apart and protect any threaded area and remove the piston. Powder coating requires 400 degrees to cure for about 30 minutes and will melt your seals if you don't remove them. Powder coating can be done with a $75 unit from Harbor Freight and your kitchen oven.

 

WRONG!

It's only sixty dollars! Even better! Here's the harbor freight link.

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-30-p...tem-94244.html

 

OK $60....you might need to get it shipped and maybe get a bottle of that red powder.

 

Dammit! With shipping and no paint it's $74.63! You got me!

 

I'm painting my brake calipers today. I started this morning. I currently have the two left side calipers off. They've both been cleaned and the rear one has been primed and painted. I'm about to go prime the front one and reinstall the rear one while waiting for the primer to dry. I thought about doing the powder-coat thing, and I even went to the local Harbor Freight to buy the machine, but then I started thinking that I'll probably never ever use it again so I changed my mind. Instead I bought the 900 degree paint caliper paint at Autozone. It looks good so far. I'll post some pics when I'm done. I was going to do a detailed step-by-step like I did with the wheel speed sensors, but basically this is nothing but a brake job.

 

Rev Sam - did you buy the "G2" brake paint kit?

 

I didn't buy a kit. I just bought some primer and some red paint that the can says is specifically designed for brakes. I probably should have let it dry longer before trying to reinstall the calipers. When I was trying to get those little springs in their holes I scratched the paint. Oh well. I'll just spray some paint into a cup and touch it up with a brush. It's not even noticeable, but I'll know it's there.

All in all it took me about 4 hours to do the left side. That includes a 45 minute trip to the auto parts store to buy the little torx bits for the caliper bolts. I thought I had them already, but I couldn't find them anywhere. Also there was a lot of time sitting around waiting for paint to dry. I'll do the right side next weekend.

 

We demand pictures when you are done

 

Sam, you didn't use the aerosol can did ya? please tell me you didn't....

 

Yeah, I did. Is that bad? Here's a pic. It's not too dramatic, but I like the look.

 

And if the red paint starts to come off I'll just buy the powder-coating machine at Harbor Freight and redo it.

 

Well Sam, I was trying to steer you away from the aerosol can because it just really goes on thin, and I did try that myself before using the brush-on kind, which is very thick and is entirely different in composition. Keep an eye on it, the very slightest pressure, and chemical cleaner, took off the paint...at least in my circumstance.

Did you say your car is my evil twin? Apollo's an all?!?

 

I said it in his intro post.

 

you did K! I apologize, I never read or replied to his intro thread.

It is totally opposite, down to the villainous 'dark' interior versus my 'light'.

Post a pic of the entire car with the red calipers Sam?

 

I painted the calipers (red) on my previous XK8. FYI, I just used hi-temp engine spray paint and it worked great. No signs of blistering or wearing thin...I gave it 3 pretty heavy coats. I drive pretty hard so I know I got the brakes pretty hot a bunch of times. BTW, the car was BRG and I thought the red calipers looked great.

 

I took a couple of pics of the whole car. The red calipers were clearly visible to my nekked eye, but on the pics they were barely visible. I'll try to get some better pics in the next day or two in the sun.

 

Hi sam, first I would like to say you are one the top 5 posters over the last month. Your average post count is currently at 8.17 per day, which is relatively high. Glad you are enjoying the forums.So, I hear the paint may be having trouble. I'm waiting to hear those three little words we men hate to admit (no, not those three, the other ones). I'll help you out with the the frst two... 'You were ---'