How To: Painted Calipers

[majic]

It was time for an oil change and since the car would be hoisted up anyway, i might as well paint the calipers.. so i did

i could NOT decide on the type or colour of the paint. high heat? quick dry? rust paint? flat black? glossy red? ugh

i ended up buying 4 cans of paint: VHT @ CT and this Enamel Fast Dry paint (glossy red and glossy black) and tremclad flat black @ walmart

I decided to use the one in the picture (blue can) but in red. why? well it was $3.50, corosion resistant, fast drying, and it didn\'t say it was NOT for warm/hot applications :). If you recal the caliper decals are rated at 82C so VHT @ ~600-900C would be way overkill.

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1633.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1634.jpg

First I washed the calipers down with wheel cleaner - that\'s all i had and it worked :) Then i took a wire brush and tried to remove as much rust and other debris that i didn\'t get while cleaning. After that came the masking. I mainly masked off the pads/rotors and the shocks/springs. I didn\'t care much about the wheel well and my buddy had a large piece of paper moving where the spray can was. I put on 3 coats plus a touch up one. I messed up the first caliper b/c i oversprayed the first coat and it was dripping. i just took a rag and removed the paint, removed the clumped up/dried up paint and redid it. I waited about 10-15min between coats (as per the instructions) Make sure to use LONG strokes that start past the caliper and finish past it on the other side. thinner coats are better b/c you avoid the dripping. just don\'t put too many - 3 were plenty. total time spent: 2.5hrs (that included an oil change)

here are the results :)

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1635.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1637.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1641.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1643.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1644.jpg

Then today in the morning I met up with Rob (RedRaptor) and bought black decals from him. And this is what they look like :)

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1654.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1657.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1658.jpg

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1662.jpg

Unfortunately 1 decal was defective :( I wonder if Rob can talk to the seller and get a replacement. The lower part of the \"z\" just fell right off, not enough adhesive i guess?

http://xs37.xs.to/pics/05286/IMG_1665.jpg

comments? suggestions? let me know what you think.. this is just the beginning of the \'red/black\' theme ;) more coming soon..

[RedRaptor]

Majic,

I had the same problem with the lower part of the \"Z\" when I put my silver decals on and so did Chinsterr. Of note, this is a very fragile part and all the stickers need to suffer from this. I will make a note of it on my thread, but thanks for bringing that up. You have to use a exacto knife to carefully take that lower part of the \"Z\" off properly.

Your calipers look good man.

Red.

[Optimzer]

looks good maj! now you really have to keep them clean

[nifty6]

Originally posted by Optimzer


looks good maj! now you really have to keep them clean

I assume you did not use a primer before painting, not sure but maybe the paint you used did not require the primer first

[nifty6]

Nice calipers. Just wondering about the paint you used, You mentioned glossy black, where did you use that? and the flat black. Will be doing the same but in a different colour.

[MazdaTree]

red on red good choice:)
looks great!
informative walkthrough:)

[TheProfessor]

Looks good Maciej.

[Zaku_4]

whoa,
the vented parts of your rotor look really rusty =/
but nice work on the calipers. lol i gave up on repainting mine, i\'ve had mine painted for a while now i think, but its just to frustrating with the brake dust and all =/

[majic]

Originally posted by nifty6



Originally posted by Optimzer


looks good maj! now you really have to keep them clean

I assume you did not use a primer before painting, not sure but maybe the paint you used did not require the primer first

thanks.. the paint did NOT require any priming and the can in the first 2 pix was the paint used BUT RED instead of black (i gave the remainder to my buddy who\'ll do his calipers)

[whodilly]

ooohh very nice. Looks nice and neat along the edges, unlike mine (I did a crappy job btw.) The red looks good.

[ZeroChalk]

Look\'s good Majic.. I also added my decals during the weekend.

[Kevin@nextmod]

Ok just found this thread so decided to post here instead of making a new one. Anyways i\'m picking up my car tomorrow (Tuesday September 20th 2005) and i got the pearl white.
I\'m planning to paint my calipers right before the rust builds up or crap builds up. My question is what color should i paint for my calipers?

[majic]

Originally posted by Pearl_Hatch


Ok just found this thread so decided to post here instead of making a new one. Anyways i\'m picking up my car tomorrow (Tuesday September 20th 2005) and i got the pearl white.
I\'m planning to paint my calipers right before the rust builds up or crap builds up. My question is what color should i paint for my calipers?

ok at least we\'ve got some progress here.. u looked for a thread ;) anyway.. i think i heard 4x already that you\'re getting your car on the 20th.. someone\'s a little excited :D

best would be to find someone\'s thread who\'s asking for colour help/options or check out ppl with white cars and what they did.. seems like black or red would be the best choices.. but blue (the darker - navy - might look tight)

if you need the caliper stickers in white i have a set for ya (it includes \"mazda\" \"3\" and the flying m logo - 4 of each).. if you need different colours talk to RedRaptor - search for a thread where he sells them..

[mazda3boss]

nicely done majic, looks good, just fix that \"Z\"

[mazda3boss]

Originally posted by majic



if you need the caliper stickers in white i have a set for ya (it includes \"mazda\" \"3\" and the flying m logo - 4 of each).. if you need different colours talk to RedRaptor - search for a thread where he sells them..

u dont have the \"3\" seperate do u? I could use that \"3\" in white, i only have the white mazda letters, i was suppose to paint my calipers but i been busy and havent got to them

[majic]

Originally posted by mazda3boss
nicely done majic, looks good, just fix that \"Z\"


thx.. fix is on the way :)


Originally posted by mazda3boss

u dont have the \"3\" seperate do u? I could use that \"3\" in white, i only have the white mazda letters, i was suppose to paint my calipers but i been busy and havent got to them

i do.. i just need to find it.. PM me with your info (just in case i lost it :p and maybe i can meet up with you today after work..

[Hanif]

nice job majic...i\'m jealous..lol

since i have a winning blue sedan...i was also thinking of painting mine red....i dunno....haven\'t really put too much thought into it yet....will probably think about it more come spring..

[ds2chan]

Originally posted by Hanif


nice job majic...i\'m jealous..lol

since i have a winning blue sedan...i was also thinking of painting mine red....i dunno....haven\'t really put too much thought into it yet....will probably think about it more come spring..

I have winning blue also.. I painted mine red.. check out my signature for the pictures.. u can see how purty they look..

[Hanif]

Originally posted by ds2chan

I have winning blue also.. I painted mine red.. check out my signature for the pictures.. u can see how purty they look..

signature??

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Originally posted by Hanif



Originally posted by ds2chan

I have winning blue also.. I painted mine red.. check out my signature for the pictures.. u can see how purty they look..

signature??

He is referring to the link at the very bottom of his post..


Dave
\"If the ride\'s more fly then you must buy.\"

Winning Blue 2005 Mazda 3 GT Sport / AT / AC / trunk / box in trunk / engine / I think I got brakes
ETB Grounding (Removed) / TM3 & Zoom-Zoom Stickers / Stubby Antenna / Tapered Side Markers / Two-Toned Door Sills / Blue Engine Cover / Axela Badge / Red Calipers With White Mazda Stickers

WANTED: Lots & Lots of Cash

Photos Last Edited: Oct 30, 2005 - winter tire photos
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2119433060

[Cardinal Fang]

Posting 101:

The signature is text that follows every post you make on the board. In ds2chan\'s case his \"signature\" is all the text below the dotted line. It lists the mods he\'s done to the car and a link to a photo album that shows these modifications.

OH FARK!

TheBiz posted just before my post.

*Shakes fist at TheBiz*

Would one of the mods please delete this post and one of majic\'s just for the hell of it..

[majic]

Originally posted by Cardinal Fang

Would one of the mods please delete this post and one of majic\'s just for the hell of it..

AHAHAHAH :D

some people have signatures disabled.. so just click here (http://torontomazda3.com/forum/myhome.php?action=settings) and pick \"YES\" in the option: \'Do you wish to view members signatures when reading threads?\'

also.. not everyone has a sig that will have pix or mods.. so YMMV :)

[Hanif]

Originally posted by TheBiz

He is referring to the link at the very bottom of his post..

I don\'t see any link at the bottom of his post...

???

[edit] SORRY, didn\'t see there was a page 2 before making this post....lol

[TheLouch]

Figured I bring this thread back to life and post a few comments from my caliper painting session this weekend.

Picked up two spray cans from Canadian Tire – one of VHT Blue Caliper paint ($12 – for the actual calipers) and another of Dupli-Color Aluminum Engine Enamel ($8 – for the brake disk hub):

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/4678/vhtpaintb0sa.jpghttp://img195.imageshack.us/img195/7343/rodi1892551470055th.jpg

Also got a can of Brake Cleaner, a roll of masking tape, and a BBQ wire brush.

I’m not going to do into great details of the process, as I think that has already been covered in one-too-many How-To’s. Just a few notes:
** Ended up taking the brake pads off – makes for a very easy time masking off the disk and the inside of the caliper.
** The brake cleaner was more than sufficient to clean off the calipers – the wire brush was an over-kill.
** Made of point of masking everything off before applying the brake cleaner, that stuff is really not good for rubber seals and caps.
** Don’t be afraid of using too much masking tape – I ended up using half a roll per caliper.
** Took special care with the rubber housing of the brake cylinder – certainly don’t want that to start corroding.

Wasn’t every impressed with Dupli-Color enamel – the paint was very thin and ran off even from the horizontal surfaces with the smallest amount of over spray. Didn’t fill in the imperfections in metal that well either.

The VHT paint on the other hand was excellent – went on nice and even and stayed on the metal very well, barely any running at all. Felt dry to touch in just a few minutes and was ready for the next coat in just 10 min. Took me only 3 coats to completely cover the caliper, with another 2 light touch-up coats. The one can was more than enough for the 8~10 coats between the 2 calipers – still had a bit left over.

Despite how much I liked VHT’s spray paint, I’m going to give Dupli-Color another chance when I paint the rear calipers and pickup their brush-on paint. It just took way too long to properly mask everything off for spray painting – something that is not at all a concern with brush-on paint.

Pics to follow...

[SABIO]

The duplicolour kit has enough paint in the can to do 20 calipers lol...
Should have used that first...way better than spray

[TheLouch]

Originally posted by SABIO
The duplicolour kit has enough paint in the can to do 20 calipers lol...
Should have used that first...way better than spray

Yes, indeed... but who knew. I just figured the spray is quicker to apply and is less messy - which is true, until you factor in the time it takes to mask everything off.

Pics:
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2716/s30000085dk.th.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s30000085dk.jpg)

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2194/s30000110tj.th.jpg (http://img195.imageshack.us/my.php?image=s30000110tj.jpg)

[SourcE]

Anyone use the Dupli-Color Caliper Paint Kit (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444328 2201&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517494&FOLDE R%3C%3EbrowsePath=2534374303517520&FOLDER%3C%3Ebro wsePath=1408474396669501&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=140 8474396669501&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474396670 271&bmUID=1146496692342) to do their calipers? Seems to have everthing I need in one box, right?

Another w/e project I\'m planning but will probably never get round to. :sarc

[bluntman]

A couple of people at the recent meet mentioned using it...quite a bit easier than the othr methods out there.

Prep work is still a PITA although that is what makes the difference between a great job and a crappy job.

[same0l679]

I did my calipers this weekend using the Dupli-Color kit..it was really easy to do! except i can\'t say much for my brush technique and painting skills i think i could have done a better job...the first caliper i did looks really UGLY when you go close to it...then it gets better and better as i progressed to the other calipers...but over all I am happy with the way it turned out...the enamel dries fairly quickly and starts to become really sticky so if ur not careful the brush hairs start coming off and sticking to the caliper. Applying 2-3 thin coats is the key i think...just don\'t rush and take your time and it should come out fine...i\'ll post pictures later on when i get home...I have alot of paint left over...and that includes me spilling some as i accidentally knocked over the can...

[SABIO]

Originally posted by same0l679
........the enamel dries fairly quickly and starts to become really sticky so if ur not careful the brush hairs start coming off and sticking to the caliper.............. Applying 2-3 thin coats is the key i think..............just don\'t rush and take your time and it should come out fine..

It dries Qik....Start at the back and get all the nooks and crannys. Then the sides. Leave the front for last, that way you can do a smooth coat on the biggest surface. Make sure you don\'t over paint...and don\'t go over spots you have already painted, it would get all gooey and rough.
I did have any brush problems. I only did one nice medium even coat.

[FLIPDADY]

Still have to touch up my calipers as seen in Sabio\'s pics from Saturdays meet.:(

I used the Duplicolor paint kit. I guess all those brake services did a number on the caliper paint.:D

[SourcE]

Further investigations led me to this Dupli-Color Engine Enamel Colour Chart (http://www.duplicolor.com/products/colors/highheat.html).

I am very interested in the Universal Gold, would look very Brembo with red lettering....:D

[bluntman]

Originally posted by SourcE


Further investigations led me to this Dupli-Color Engine Enamel Colour Chart (http://www.duplicolor.com/products/colors/highheat.html).

I am very interested in the Universal Gold, would look very Brembo with red lettering....:D

That\'s the colour I was thinking of to go with orange ever since I saw that BFGoodrich ad with the orange 350z.

I still wouldn\'t do as it\'s too much trouble...call me lazy.

Maybe I\'ll stick with my \"carbon grey\" brake calipers. ;)

[TheLouch]

Originally posted by same0l679
except i can\'t say much for my brush technique and painting skills i think i could have done a better job...the first caliper i did looks really UGLY when you go close to it...then it gets better and better as i progressed to the other calipers...

While it might be true that a spray can does give you nice even coat with out any brush-marks, it is hardly worth the drawbacks of spray-painting.
From what I saw this afternoon, you need to be staring at the caliper from less than a foot away to notice any imperfection in the paint – and that was the “ugly” caliper I was looking at :D
Not to mention the amount of time required to prepare each caliper for spray painting is quite extensive. Maybe I was just a little bit too paranoid of getting ceramic paint on the brake disk or the inside of the break cylinder, but I spent about 30min masking off each caliper... not exactly fun :(

I’m definitely going to give the brush-on paint a try when I paint the rear calipers next weekend.

[same0l679]

Louch you are too kind my friend!!

nice meeting you btw! ur car look sweet...

[invisibleCK]

Thanks for all the info here guys. I got kind a stupid question. How would you hoist up all 4 tires to prep for paint? or even hoisting up 2 tires infront? Do you get 2 jacks to do it or there are other methods?

I am still deciding which colour to use for the calipers on a Arctic White sport GT. Humm...Black or Red?

[majic]

Originally posted by invisibleCK


Thanks for all the info here guys. I got kind a stupid question. How would you hoist up all 4 tires to prep for paint? or even hoisting up 2 tires infront? Do you get 2 jacks to do it or there are other methods?

I am still deciding which colour to use for the calipers on a Arctic White sport GT. Humm...Black or Red?

use either a LIFT or a jack (one of those 2-3 ton ones) and jack stands (you can buy them at CT or parts source or other places)

as for the colours.. black looks sick and so does red so it really depends if you\'re going with a monochromatic look or you like colours..

[invisibleCK]

I was trying to think of a cheaper way to do it, since i won\'t use those jacks too often...thanks again.

[bluntman]

tree stumps?

phone books?

[invisibleCK]

hahah sure i guess that works too....

[SourcE]

**inappropriate joke :(

[Dave_Mazda3]

Does anyone have any silver paint left over that they don\'t need or would be willing to sell
from their Dupli-Color Caliper Paint Kit? :D

[queens49]

Where have people gotten the silver coloured Dupli-Color kit? Every CT and Wal-Mart I\'ve gone to only has the Red, Blue, Yellow, and Black. I have a Copper Red hb and was thinking either black or silver. I don\'t really want it to stand out, I just don\'t like how the front and rear calipers are different colour. The front ones are nice still, but the back ones are starting to stain.

[Dave_Mazda3]

Where abouts do you live queens?
if it\'s not too much a travel the CT in Newmarket has it still

[queens49]

Thanks Dave_Mazda3,

That\'s a little far for me though, I\'m in the Yonge/Finch area. I\'ll just have to keep a lookout for it.

[invisibleCK]

I finally got time and started to paint my caliper today. Got the front 2 calipers done...but for some reason i cannot take off the wheel of the rear driver side tired...like after i unbolt it, I can\'t pull it out. I read the vehicle manual and it doesn\'t help much. Can anyone give me some suggestions?

[b]

I had to smack mine with a 2x4 chunk of wood on the backside of the tire/rim to get it to break loose. Maybe that will help you too.

[invisibleCK]

are you serious? wow....time to find a 2x4....

[b]

Ya I only knew to do that from when I had a flat on the highway... jacked the car... unbolted everything... and couldn\'t get the rim off. I fought with it for like 15 mins. Then I called mazda roadside and a guy from CAA came and smacked it with a 2x4 and it came of with 2 taps. :(

[invisibleCK]

Awesome! thanks for the advise...Now i can finish up the caliper one i get a chance..

[Dave_Mazda3]

Nah you don\'t need the wood, just jack it up take the lug nuts off and give it a good kick!
Always works

[thrasher]

Put a piece of wood flat against the back and tap it with a sledge. It will pop right off. The wood will save you from hitting the side wall of the tire.