Brake Calipers

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
Well i would not use Hammerite. Id use propper caliper paint.

I wouldn't, I'd use Hammerite. It lasts longer, it's easy to apply, it can go directly onto rusty surfaces, it's cheaper and it's easy to keep looking good. One small pot of it is more than enough to do all 4 callipers.
 

Bogwoppit

Full Member
Aug 30, 2005
1,085
0
Lincs
Photos of a Platinum grey Leon Fr+ with gold calipers. It is an overcast day here so the photos aren't the best:
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RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
That looks smart. I have to admit when I first read 'Gold callipers' I thought it would look horrendous, but it looks quite subtle really :)
 

Arnolfini

Muppet
Nov 23, 2006
179
0
The Gates of Hell (Croydon)
When painting the calipers don't underestimate the length of time it takes for each coat to dry. The Hammerite tin says about 2 hours per coat, but it takes longer if it's cold and wet.

I tried painting mine at the weekend, and didn't have axle stands so could only do one wheel at a time. It took about 4 hours to do just 2 coats on ONE caliper - and to be honest it could still do with a third coat to get rid of the last bits of metal that are still showing through!

So the end result of a Sunday afternoon's work? One red brake caliper.

Think I'm going to have a go at finishing them off next weekend, but need to start early, and hope it's a bit warmer!
 

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
Looks well. Did you take your calipers off to paint them or is it possible to do it with just the wheels off?

You can do it with the wheels on if you're careful not to paint your discs or seal in any bolts / fixings that may need to be removed :)
 

Bogwoppit

Full Member
Aug 30, 2005
1,085
0
Lincs
The car isn' t mine is is a friends I work with. He just took the wheels off to paint the calipers and he used proper caliper paint and the lacquer.
 
Jan 1, 2007
726
0
Retford, Notts
When painting the calipers don't underestimate the length of time it takes for each coat to dry. The Hammerite tin says about 2 hours per coat, but it takes longer if it's cold and wet.

I tried painting mine at the weekend, and didn't have axle stands so could only do one wheel at a time. It took about 4 hours to do just 2 coats on ONE caliper - and to be honest it could still do with a third coat to get rid of the last bits of metal that are still showing through!

So the end result of a Sunday afternoon's work? One red brake caliper.

Think I'm going to have a go at finishing them off next weekend, but need to start early, and hope it's a bit warmer!

Am I being silly? Why cant you take wheel off, paint the caliper, put the wheel back on, move on to next wheel?

The caliper does not touch the wheel, so dont understand, plus if it did, a bit of turps would sort it out!!
 

MMCrewcupra

Active Member
Oct 28, 2006
94
0
im doing mine this week, with yellow, got the paint, brushes, just need the time, and this weekend looks best, gonna start on thu i tink
 

Arnolfini

Muppet
Nov 23, 2006
179
0
The Gates of Hell (Croydon)
Am I being silly? Why cant you take wheel off, paint the caliper, put the wheel back on, move on to next wheel?

The caliper does not touch the wheel, so dont understand, plus if it did, a bit of turps would sort it out!!

I suppose you've got a point - unfortunately it was hacking it down with rain all day, and space in my garage is very limited. As such the car would have to be moved for each wheel to be painted, and it would involve moving it outside in the pouring rain with wet paint on the calipers.

So in my case the process would go as follows:

1 - jack the car up
2 - take off the wheel
3 - paint caliper
4 - put wheel back on
5 - move car out into the rain, then back into the garage to get access to the next wheel
6 - back to step one...

Then for 3 coats on all 4 calipers the process would need to be repeated 12 times... which was far too much like hard work!

Hopefully it'll be warm and sunny next weekend, which will make it far easier to go round the car putting a coat on each caliper in turn... i was just having a real mission yesterday!
 
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