Brubeck

Before you all get all antsy and rude, I did use the search function, and I did find a lot of useful info there.

From what I gather from reading the search results, you really don't need high temperature paint. I'm kind of picky about the asthetics of my car, and I'd like to do a nice classy paint, but I don't want it to shout "rice" or "Give me a Ticket, Officer", so I'm thinking about buying a couple cans of Midnight Blue Mica touch-up paint to match the car and do the calipers with that.

Does anyone know what the touch-up paint is like (quality, consistency, useability, etc), and do you think it'll work? Or should I just try to find a good blue enamel that's pretty close?

Of course, if I'd just gone and bought a red P5, this'd be a lot easier

Mxyzptlk

I think that the touch up paint would be bad. If I were you I would just try and match the color. On calipers your going to see wear and tear over time. And later down the road when you are needing to repaint them then maybe.

Identity_X

I am not sure if touch-up paint would work......
why don't you just get a can of PlastiKote blue caliper paint for like 4 or 5 bucks......enough for 4 calipers...........
or do you really want the calipers to match the car ???

Brubeck

Nah... I'll just try to match the color with some caliper paint... I was just sort of wondering, "What is caliper paint made of that makes it so different from the exterior paint?"

I mean, are they both enamels, etc. I mean, if the chemical make-up of the paint is very similar, then it shouldn't be a problem. I just don't know what either of the paints are made up of.

Identity_X

so you are going for blue paint ??
don't you think that red would look better as it will stand out ?

mnkyboy

What is the best/easiest way to paint calipers? Is it better to get them done by a pro or body shop? If so, how much is a resonable amount for them to charge?

I want to paint mine orange or red

Identity_X

just do it yourself man..........it's simple ****, but it takes time for them to dry between coats so it will take at least a day or two for you to finish all 4 corners.............

mnkyboy

How do I do it? Is there a website that shows in detail the steps?

Eric F

The best caliper paints use a hardener to seal the paint and make it more durable. If you do any of you own work on your brakes, you're probably familar with the solvent cleaners you can buy to clean the brakes. That stuff will damage unprotected paint. Also, the caliper will get dirty with brake dust, etc. If you every need to clean them with a brush, regular paint won't hold up to that very well either.

azrakain

Mitch has a good "how-to" on painting brake calipers. I am considering doing this on my Protege5. I will either do red or blue....what do you think for a red protege5?

Mitch's how-to: http://protege5online.com/Tech_Help/.../calipers.html

Brubeck

Man, if you'd go back and read my original post, you'd see that's exactly what I don't want.

Smoothy

What do you guys think of painting them Silver on a Silver Pro? I don't want them to draw attention, just highlight a little. But I've never seen any other than red on Silver Pros.

Bruce95fmla

ok being as I have done this before, I will try and explain this ,, please take into consideration that I don't feal well and my punctuation may suck ok ,,......

1. get some high temp paint ,cause the brakes do get very hot .
2. touch up paint won't work as it is just a small brush and a small bottle..
3. tape of the rotors. and the shocks and also the body panels near by if you are doing it under windy conditions , i.e. outside ,.
4. If you can , do this in a garage
5. spray a light coat on first and let it dry , so the paint won't run ,
6. then spray a few more light coats , while inbetween coats , letting the paint settle..
7. when u are done , just take of the masking stuff, and don't put the wheal on as yet . cause you will need to make sure the paint is fully dry when u put the wheal on. or else you will have painton your rims..

that is pretty much it
Bruce

RiceWagon

Bruce95fmla... in my experience calipers generally DO NOT get hot enough to affect a regular spray or brushed on enamel paint. Myself and others that I know have been using just regular paint on brakes for a few years at least. The only part of the brake assemblies that gets hot enough for a high heat paint are the rotor and the pad and they should not be painted. I have had my calipers painted red and silver for almost 6 months now and they still look great. And since it is rust paint I don't get any corosion on the calipers either, even with the amount of salt we (Canadians) get on the roads in the winter. Check out my picture of my brakes in the link in my sig. An easier way to mask is with a bunch of old t-shirt rags, just drape them over your suspension parts, your rotor and tuck the edges under the caliper, and use a few small rags to stuff in the cooling holes on the caliper to make sure you don't paint on the edge of the rotor. I also used plasti-cote metal primer first to keep my paint job more durable to cleaning and such.

Good-Luck.

Mark

Identity_X

do you mean this?
"but I don't want it to shout "rice" or "Give me a Ticket, Officer"

WTF? ..........yeah.....red calipers make you look "rice"........what's wrong with you man.....
and I have never heard of someone getting a ticket for that either..........so what if a cop notices your calipers.....as long as everything else on your car is legal you have no problems.....
so next time don't give me the "I am with stupid" ****, but think a little........and the other thing........I was trying to help........I could care less if you paint them red, blue, or ******* pink..........