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[Lizzie Zoom]

My brake callipers have the usual layer of light rust on them.

Thinking of not only wire brushing them but painting them with a suitable heat resistant red paint.

What would you recommend I use in terms of brand and type of paint please?

 

[Doctor Gollum]

High temp caliper paint in black or silver

Any other colour will look crap with the Ruebens Red...

[Broomies Mate]

Any high temp paint will be fine, just don't do them red! 

[Andy B]

I used caliper paint from Halfords  I admit they;re not the cheapest of places. The finish was pretty good & lasted well. 

If you were closer you could've had the half tin I have left. 

[Andy B]

Any high temp paint will be fine, just don't do them red! 

I disagree! 

[Doctor Gollum]

Any high temp paint will be fine, just don't do them red! 

I disagree! 

Dog knob red and metallic burgundy... Classy

[Andy B]

Any high temp paint will be fine, just don't do them red! 

I disagree! 

Dog knob red and metallic burgundy... Classy

 

[Andy B]

Mine looked a bit like a drug dealer's car .... black with red calipers front & back.

[Doctor Gollum]

Mine looked a bit like a drug dealer's car .... black with red calipers front & back.

Like theses...  

[Tick Tock]

High temp caliper paint in black or silver

Any other colour will look crap with the Ruebens Red...

I agree with that.   

I've got red painted calipers on a silver estate, which I think looks tasteful and cared for, but would look p155 poor with Reubens red. 

[Webby the Bear]

I used this...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILVER-BRAKE-CALIPER-PAINT-METAL-STEEL-ENGINE-High-Temperature-125ml/162123114796

I did them few weeks back and still looking good. Tiny pot of paint but it lasts. I used heat gun between coats as I did fronts then rears.

[Andy B]

Mine looked a bit like a drug dealer's car .... black with red calipers front & back.

Like theses...  

A bit!  But I had the later 17" facelift Elite alloys on my car which are less open 

[Andy B]

I used this...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SILVER-BRAKE-CALIPER-PAINT-METAL-STEEL-ENGINE-High-Temperature-125ml/162123114796

I did them few weeks back and still looking good. Tiny pot of paint but it lasts. I used heat gun between coats as I did fronts then rears.

how did you find the paint? 

[dave the builder]

how did you find the paint? 

He clicked Ebay buttons and the postman brought it to his house 

[Andy B]

how did you find the paint? 

He clicked Ebay buttons and the postman brought it to his house 

 

[Nick W]

High temp caliper paint in black or silver

Any other colour will look crap with the Ruebens Red...

exactly right about the colour, although you could also match them to the wheel colour.


High temp paint is unnecessary. Any metal paint will be perfectly satisfactory IF, and only if, you prepare the surface properly. That's also required for high temp paint, so it's no extra work.


Like this:


Remove the caliper complete with its carrier.
Scrape off any grime and loose rust.
Split the caliper from the carrier, and loosen but don't remove the bleed nipple.
Push the piston into the caliper.
Thoroughly clean both parts with solvent cleaner and a stiff brush in a small bowl - cheap nail brush and/or toothbrush.
Sand the entire surface with 240grit paper
Remove the piston dust seal, and mask the piston, bleed nipple and hose spot faces, and any machined mounting faces. Press the tape down firmly, and finish the edges with a fine file, filing away from the masked surface.
Hang both parts with stiff wire so that you can reach all round them.
Apply a light coat of primer; aerosol is easiest.
When that's gone off(give it a couple of hours), apply enough light coats of colour to give an even finish without runs. Do the same with the clear coat if necessary - silver will need it, black won't. Satin finish clear or colour will avoid an ugly 'cheap christmass decoration' effect.
Leave overnight before unmasking and reassembling.


Of course, such a small amount of the caliper is visible through the wheel that you could just remove the wheel, wipe the visible parts with acetone/thinners/brake cleaner and spray them with whatever colour you've decided on. A lot less work, but it won't look much different

[Lizzie Zoom]

Thanks guys for all your feedback

Take your point DG about red;  I will go for silver or black, as you suggest, probably the one from ebay suggested by Andy B

Also understand what you mean Andy W about doing a thorough job.  I have the time to do it, so will!

Thanks all again!

[Andy B]

Thanks guys for all your feedback

Take your point DG about red;  I will go for silver or black, as you suggest, probably the one from ebay suggested by Andy B

Also understand what you mean Andy W about doing a thorough job.  I have the time to do it, so will!

Thanks all again!

It wasn't me .....  it was Webby 

You'd be better buying Hammerite Smooth .... it'll be cheaper (& IMHO the same)

[VXL V6]

I like Black calipers personally, They hide the brake dust better!



On standard calipers and caliper brackets I just use black Hammerite smooth and paint them each time I change the pads, seems to last well. been trying to find a decent photo but struggling...

[Lizzie Zoom]

Thanks guys for all your feedback

Take your point DG about red;  I will go for silver or black, as you suggest, probably the one from ebay suggested by Andy B

Also understand what you mean Andy W about doing a thorough job.  I have the time to do it, so will!

Thanks all again!

It wasn't me .....  it was Webby 

You'd be better buying Hammerite Smooth .... it'll be cheaper (& IMHO the same)

Oh, yes you are right!  Sorry Webby

Thanks Andy, I was thinking about Hammerite, used it many times before, but never on brake components.  It is certainly easier to get hold of at the moment

[Lizzie Zoom]

I like Black calipers personally, They hide the brake dust better!



On standard calipers and caliper brackets I just use black Hammerite smooth and paint them each time I change the pads, seems to last well. been trying to find a decent photo but struggling...

Thanks VXL V6!

Hammerite smooth in black is starting to win my mind over that's for sure

[amba]

Good stuff Hammerite only issue is the cleaning of brushes after as you need thinners not white spirit.

I always buy several cheap brushes when using Hammerite and after painting just throw them away as its cheaper than buying the solvent cleaner

[Lizzie Zoom]

Good stuff Hammerite only issue is the cleaning of brushes after as you need thinners not white spirit.

I always buy several cheap brushes when using Hammerite and after painting just throw them away as its cheaper than buying the solvent cleaner

Snap!!

[Webby the Bear]

Lizzie I promise u won’t regret painting them. I did mine in situ on the car and carefully painted with a small brush. I also did the hats of the discs 

[Lizzie Zoom]

Lizzie I promise u won’t regret painting them. I did mine in situ on the car and carefully painted with a small brush. I also did the hats of the discs 

Thanks Webby

[johnnydog]

I also did the hats of the discs 

I always now fit coated discs. It avoids the unsightly rust that inevitably occurs within a few days on the 'hat' on non coated discs.

[Webby the Bear]

Yeah absolutely it makes sense. My boss did his in dark blue inc. the hats. They looked epic. That blue is available through the seller I linked to earlier  just another option for Lizzie 😃

[New POD]

Just wipe an oily rag over them and make them look period.

Did I say I like patina?

[Lizzie Zoom]

Just wipe an oily rag over them and make them look period.

Did I say I like patina?

     

[iansoutham]

For what it is worth, what I normally do is strip the caliper right back to a shell, put the piston in the wrong way round but with an o ring near the outside of the chamber and then media blast the unit.

Remove piston and make sure all debris is gone, refit piston and then prime, colour and normal lacquer the Caliper.

I always fit new bleed nipples, pistons and seal kits anyway from BiggRed.

Had a set on my Escort Cabriolet since 2006 done like that and still like new, brake dust simply washes off.

On discs, I mask the friction surfaces and then single stage spray with Hammerite Smooth Silver including inside the vanes.

[New POD]

For what it is worth, what I normally do is strip the caliper right back to a shell, put the piston in the wrong way round but with an o ring near the outside of the chamber and then media blast the unit.

Remove piston and make sure all debris is gone, refit piston and then prime, colour and normal lacquer the Caliper.

I always fit new bleed nipples, pistons and seal kits anyway from BiggRed.

Had a set on my Escort Cabriolet since 2006 done like that and still like new, brake dust simply washes off.

On discs, I mask the friction surfaces and then single stage spray with Hammerite Smooth Silver including inside the vanes.

Why.

[iansoutham]

For what it is worth, what I normally do is strip the caliper right back to a shell, put the piston in the wrong way round but with an o ring near the outside of the chamber and then media blast the unit.

Remove piston and make sure all debris is gone, refit piston and then prime, colour and normal lacquer the Caliper.

I always fit new bleed nipples, pistons and seal kits anyway from BiggRed.

Had a set on my Escort Cabriolet since 2006 done like that and still like new, brake dust simply washes off.

On discs, I mask the friction surfaces and then single stage spray with Hammerite Smooth Silver including inside the vanes.

Why.

Because I prefer to do the job properly once, not poorly twice.

Brakes are kind of important and I like them to work, hence the rebuilding and the painting makes them easier to clean