Painting Calipers

[MattM]

Want to clean my calipers and paint them a nice fresh silver. Haven't got a clue what the best way to clean/paint. Anyone done this on their S60 that could give me some pointers?

[Cubes]

The most important thing is to make sure they are clean as can be before painting. The best caliper paint in the world will bubble and peel if it hasn't got a good surface to bond to.
* Give them a good brush down with a wire brush to get all the loose stuff off.
* Use a dry 1" paint brush to dust off the loose debris.
* Take some sand paper to them and give them a good rub.
* 1" brush dust off again!
* Apply some degreasing fluid (brush on or spray) and give it a good firm rub with a cloth/paper towel.
* I would then give it a good rub down with some emery paper to get the surface as smooth as poss.
* Get the paint on! Heat resistant Hammerite will do, but I'd personally use proper caliper paint. Give it a nice even coat, but not too thick because you'll be putting at least 3 coats on. Don't worry about small air bubbles too much with the first coat or 2 either. Leave a good half hour or so between coats.
* If poss, leave it 24 hours or so in dry conditions for the paint to cure/bond before driving.
I assume it's your grey S60 you will be doing? What colour have you gone for?
That should just about do it!

[Nealevo]

All of the above, but I also put on clear laquer for a top coat!

[Cubes]

Good thinking!

[MattM]

Will be going for silver, just want it to look clean.
Should I just take the wheel off and paint the caliper in-situ?

[Kingsford G]

All of the above, but I also put on clear laquer for a top coat!

What laquer is it?Gotta be heat resistant so where to get one from.I`m thinking of doing mine aswell.

[MattM]

Kingsford, how you planning to do yours? Just pop the wheel off and paint them where they are?

[Cubes]

You can paint them in situ, which is a doddle. Just be careful not to get any paint in places it shouldn't be. Taking them off means bleeding the brakes and so on. I helped a mate of mine do his that way and we hung the calipers on metal clothes hangers to avoid putting any strain on the brake lines.

[Kingsford G]

Kingsford, how you planning to do yours? Just pop the wheel off and paint them where they are?

Yep,thats the plan mate.I`ve got a workshop and she is not my daily drive so can leave overnight.But after the job done and paint is settled I suggest u take the callipers off and dervice yr brakes(good clean and a copper grease where needed) `cos all that dust not going to do any good.Iwouldn`t use a spray paint though with the callipers on just a brush paint that is if u wanna do the whole thing rather than just the visible bart of it.

[MattM]

Found this kit, looks like it has everything.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110618165736&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

I haven't taken the caliper off before, but does it just slide off and hang there on the brake hose?

[Kingsford G]

Found this kit, looks like it has everything.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110618165736&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

I haven't taken the caliper off before, but does it just slide off and hang there on the brake hose?

Should be 2 bolts to undo and come off but don`t ever let it hang on a brake hose.U r safer to do it all using brush paint while the calliper is on and when the paint sets take it off and clean.

[MattM]

What do you mean once it's painted take it off and clean?

[Kingsford G]

What do you mean once it's painted take it off and clean?

Yr prep work is going send some dust here and there so when the paint is dry I`d take the calliper and pads off clean them put some copper grease and back on again.Have u never serviced yr brakes?

[Cubes]

Should be 2 bolts to undo and come off but don`t ever let it hang on a brake hose...


As I've said - coathangers. They're the future!

[Kingsford G]

As I've said - coathangers. They're the future!

Agree if u know what u doing.

[Cubes]

Agree if u know what u doing.


Huh?

[Cubes]

Post some pics when they're done matey. Good luck :o)

[graemewelch]

2k gives the best finish. done loads like this but need to remove calipers and possibly get them blasted

[Kingsford G]

2k gives the best finish. done loads like this but need to remove calipers and possibly get them blasted

That`s the ideal way of doing it.