ZeroChalks - My DIY painted calipers (56k Warning)

[ZeroChalk]

Decided to paint my calipers using a flat black high enamel paint. The selling points were that it was flat (touch decision), heat resistant, and more importantly fast drying.

http://img49.echo.cx/img49/7982/brake12se.jpg
Stock

http://img204.echo.cx/img204/6051/brake26is.jpg
Looking at other M3\'s and how the calipers rusted... I decide to take some preventative treatment.

http://img204.echo.cx/img204/4508/brake31es.jpg
Off comes the tire.

[ZeroChalk]

http://img25.echo.cx/img25/54/brake41bw.jpg
Prepping and painting into the night - man, I don\'t want to this ever again!

http://img25.echo.cx/img25/8058/brake59sm.jpg
Fast forward.... too much time.

http://img25.echo.cx/img25/8282/brake65uy.jpg
Rear caliper.

[ZeroChalk]

http://img204.echo.cx/img204/5679/brake74ur.jpg
Tire is back on

http://img204.echo.cx/img204/4188/brake83js.jpg
Another shot

http://img204.echo.cx/img204/3695/brake97nz.jpg
Wondering how long it\'ll last??

Anyways, that\'s it for the project. I\'ve ordered some stickers from RedRaptor.. still undecided if I\'ll add them on.

[SourcE]

looking good:)

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

i juz painted my calipers too (red)....oh man ur right im not gonna do this again....i was sweating lyk crazy and taking so much tym....but i was happy with the results afterwards...put the mazda decals on it too and it looks sweet~! my significant other lyk them too....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/m_a_t_r_i_x/IMG_0667.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/m_a_t_r_i_x/IMG_0660.jpg

[Optimzer]

hahaha - masking one wheel really looks like it sucks. I\'m not looking forward to it. Esp doing four wheel?? :sarc

maybe I\'ll find another use for those brake caliper decals...

[majic]

looking nice, but call me a painting n00b.. did you just use masking tape and newspaper - looks like masking it takes up 90% of the entire process

[ZeroChalk]

Nice calipers m_a_t_r_i_x! You put the decals on the front two right?

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Optimizer, yah it really sucks when you have one jack. It\'s so time consuming and tiring (did the left side after work) and the other side Saturday morning. You gotta becareful putting back the rim so you don\'t scrape the caliper and wreck the paint job. Also, I was kinda light headed from the fumes (used a spray on enamel) that I would hold my breath (had a crummy 3M mask), spray, then run out of the garage (from doors open).

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Matt, I used a combination of garbage bags and newspapers to make sure not a single drop of spray would midst over my car. I mean, call this overkill but when I did the front part of the car, the areas up to my passenger door were covered, my mirror (shopping bag), quarter of my hood, and all the way around the car to the front headlight.

It was also plain old annoying - there must have been like five - six coats... and I marred it once and had to respray the caliper. Don\'t forget the sanding, alcohol, but the brake dust wasn\'t too bad since it is so new.

I may swtich to silver decals to make it less prominent.

I thought you painted your calipers?

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

yup the mazda decals both in the front calipers, i didnt put any decals at the rear....

well i juz brush it on,i dnt have the patience to cover those areas, 3 hour job, using car\'s jack...

[DeLaY_NoMoRe]

I also painted my calipers last week, and I tried to choose whether I should use the brushing or spray method, but I thought I would be too lazy to wrap up my car w/newspapers so that the spray paints won\'t spill around, so I chose the dulpi-color kit from Wal-Mart and I brushed it. I am lucky that I can have access to my dad\'s hose so that the entire car can be lifted up and 4 wheels are removed, then I can brush it while I am standing still :D , but it really got to be a big pain when u have to brush little by little for at lease 3 layers on each caliper, and also have to watch out any spills or drops to other parts (coz I did not do any masking on anything!) It took me almost 5 hrs to complete the whole painting.

[cyber]

I was thinking about doing this too, but why wouldn\'t you take the calliper off the disc before painting? Why would you go through all the taping and covering up process?

I think when I do it I will take all the callipers off and paint them all at once. It will take less time and since the weather is so nice now it won\'t take long to dry.:)

[ZeroChalk]

DeLaY_NoMoRe, lucky.. my upper back is kinda acting up...??

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Cyber, I\'m not mechanically inclined. Knowing me, I wasn\'t too sure if I would have brakes after I put them back on.

[chinsterr]

Looks good zero !

Now .. how about doing mine!! :p :) j/k

[Newlook]

Originally posted by m_a_t_r_i_x


i juz painted my calipers too (red)....oh man ur right im not gonna do this again....i was sweating lyk crazy and taking so much tym....but i was happy with the results afterwards...put the mazda decals on it too and it looks sweet~! my significant other lyk them too....



I need to repaint one of mine cuz I got a new caliper... and also touch up the rest after the winter and brake job.

Quick question for all: you know those greasy orange/brown anti-seize they put on after brake inspection? Is it ok to wash off? Because if I need to paint my calipers I need to clean them first with brake cleaner.

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

newlook, can u post some pics of ur silver door trims? how much u got them? tnx

[Newlook]

Originally posted by m_a_t_r_i_x


newlook, can u post some pics of ur silver door trims? how much u got them? tnx

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gtabus/IMG_6099.jpg

A can of silver spray paint from Walmart is all I\'ve paid for.

[m_a_t_r_i_x]

are u serious? daymn dats a nice job.....what paint was it? how many coats? are u coming this coming MEET? i wanna c those man!



Originally posted by Newlook



Originally posted by m_a_t_r_i_x


newlook, can u post some pics of ur silver door trims? how much u got them? tnx

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gtabus/IMG_6099.jpg

A can of silver spray paint from Walmart is all I\'ve paid for.

[Newlook]

Originally posted by m_a_t_r_i_x


are u serious? daymn dats a nice job.....what paint was it? how many coats? are u coming this coming MEET? i wanna c those man!


Just the regular one you get from the shelf... I think it\'s $5 a can? I did 2-3 coats I think, plus a clear coat (leftover from the engine cover). It\'s very easy to do.

I dunno if I\'ll go to this coming meet... I might drop by, no guarantee.

[ken]

Originally posted by Newlook



Originally posted by m_a_t_r_i_x


newlook, can u post some pics of ur silver door trims? how much u got them? tnx

http://www3.sympatico.ca/gtabus/IMG_6099.jpg

A can of silver spray paint from Walmart is all I\'ve paid for.

Looks nice!

[david3]

Originally posted by Newlook
Quick question for all: you know those greasy orange/brown anti-seize they put on after brake inspection? Is it ok to wash off? Because if I need to paint my calipers I need to clean them first with brake cleaner.

On the actual caliper? Where abouts? If it\'s on the silver bolt between the two caliper parts, don\'t wash it off. :)