What is the procedure for painting calipers? Do they need to be removed?
How do you clean them prior to painting (do you even need to)?
What type of paint do you use?
thanks!

T

 

I bought a can of high temp engine enamel and a can of "brake cleaner" at Pep Boys. Jack up the car, remove the wheel, thoroughly spray brake cleaner over everything to be painted. After it dries, mask everything off, then spray the paint onto the caliper. Wait for it to dry, then put the wheel back on. Repeat for other three wheels.

At least that's what I did.

 

put at least 3 coats on.. so paint them, dry, paint them, dry, paint them, dry over night or something if you start driving with them semi-wet (sticky) it will have dust and crap all over them and it will stay there.. so just make sure they dry completly before driving
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FORD MONDEO HISTORY

 

Now that the site search is working, try searching for "paint caliper" in the "Exterior/Interior forum - and you will find lots of threads dealing with the topic.

 

I saw your reply a while back and thought you might be able to answer my question... I bought "Brakeleen" with Low VOC from the company CRC from Pep Boys. The instructions says "... protect all painted surfaces... DO NOT spray directly on painted surfaces..." I'm a bit concerned because I'm not sure, but doesn't the factory calipers come with "painted black-greyish paint on them"? Will spraying this brake cleaner damage the factory paint (if it is paint that is on there)? or cause it to peel or something? I bought this a few weeks ago, but was afraid to start this project. Your thoughts on this? Your expertise is appreciated, thanks!!

 

There is no paint on our P5 calipers. I think it is some sort of anodized finish although I don't think you can anodize steel castings. Anyway, I used a brake caliper cleaner on my calipers before I sprayed mine and it was not problem at all. The calipers were nice and clean for the paint.

 

yeah make sure you don't get the cleaner on the rubber boot, it will eat away at the rubber and they will leak......

 

Is it crutial to spray the brake cleaner? It sounds like this brake cleaner spray is pretty "acidic"or will eat away rubber and paint stuff. The spray is pretty powerful, I mean it's kind of hard to control the spray. Should I just clean the calipers with a wire brush or something "non-eating"? Thanks

 

just get a can of engine degreaser put some on a rag or brush and do it that way, that spray can get everywear because brakleen is usually pretty highly pressurized.. my 2 cents

 

I just used a brush on mine....it will tell you on the back of the label of the cleaner if you can use it on the rubber parts or not. Usually the answer is no....when it comes to brake cleaner the answer is definitley NO....just look on the back and read the warning labels and what the product is good for.

Other than that just use a brush and descretion and make sure not the hit the rubber....colored calipers is not worth faulty brakes, but it can be done right..........

 

Ya, I tried the Brakekleen on my grass and it blew away all the ants!! So you recommend using engine degreaser on a rag or brush, but it needs to be rinsed off afterwards, right? Then I gotta wait for it to dry... I feel so... well, can you give me a little more detail to little o'me? Thanks

 

degreaser usually evaporates pretty quickly after youve scrubbed it , but i still wipe it all off after i scrub it because it gets all the stuff you scrubbed off, off. and if you leave any residue on there the paint might not adhere the same on that spot as well. just wipe it all down after you scrubbed all the grease off , and it should look pretty clean .. easy

 

Thanks a lot I'm going to try it sometime this week. A short run down: spray degreaser, scrub with hard brush(not metal brush, right?), spray degreaser again and scrub again with same brush, then wipe off residue with wet towel a few times, done! Right? Thanks blackp5sdp!!

 

protege 5 online this is a how to on painting your brakes.

 

thats pretty much the idea , but ive never used a spray degreaser
the stuff i used is in a metal bottle i just pour some on a rag or brush and scub it , then wipe it off with a clean towel.

good luck.