Caliper Painting

**Accumulator** · 02-04-2008, 01:11 PM

Yeah, just don`t use a "look at these!!" color and it oughta look better than it does now.

OTOH, I didn`t paint the calipers on my didn`t-come-painted vehicles, I just keep `em clean and they`re still OK looking after numerous OH winters. But if they *weren`t* looking OK, a nice silver/gray/etc. paint would be nice.

**imported_never gone** · 02-04-2008, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by cajunfirehawk

Uh, its not for performance, its an appearance thing, yeah it does nothing but clean up the car and make the calipers look better which is why so many people are doing it.

AND FWIW, BBK, Brembo and the other high end brakes come prepainted.

I know it`s not for performance, trust me. Neither are the huge wings ricers put on civics or the huge fart cans you see sticking out the back of them. They`re just for looks and they cheapen the way a car looks. I`m not judging, I`m just giving reality. Any real car enthusiast will laugh when they see painted calipers that aren`t actual bbk`s. Does that suck and is it a little elitist? Sure but it`s the truth. I too personally think it looks much nicer seeing calipers that are just very clean over painted ones that aren`t bbk`s.

**Deep Gloss Auto Salon** · 02-04-2008, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by never gone

I know it`s not for performance, trust me. Neither are the huge wings ricers put on civics or the huge fart cans you see sticking out the back of them. They`re just for looks and they cheapen the way a car looks. I`m not judging, I`m just giving reality. Any real car enthusiast will laugh when they see painted calipers that aren`t actual bbk`s. Does that suck and is it a little elitist? Sure but it`s the truth. I too personally think it looks much nicer seeing calipers that are just very clean over painted ones that aren`t bbk`s.

This is subjective in nature...

Your opinion is just that, your opinion which differs from many

Comparing painted calipers to huge ricer wings is laughable at best

**stiffdogg06** · 02-04-2008, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by never gone

sorry but unless you have a big brake kit, painting calipers is like putting those darn fake vents on your car or a huge wing or better yet, racing stickers of things you don`t even have on your car. Not trying to give you a hard time, just informing so don`t everyone get pissy. It`s kinda like if someone new comes on here and says turtle wax is the best wax ever, people will most def give their 2 cents. If you do have a bbk, then by all mean go for it.

My civic calipers started turning rusty and you can very easily see them through my wide open rims. I painted them black to make them look nice and stock again...

So no need to get a big brake kit to get them painted.:woohoo:

**David Fermani** · 02-04-2008, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by cajunfirehawk

AND FWIW, BBK, Brembo and the other high end brakes come prepainted.

Aren`t they powercoated, instead of just painted? If so, why is the manufacturer choosing to use more expensive methods like powercoating if they could just get by with regular painting?

**BigJimZ28** · 02-04-2008, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by never gone

sorry but unless you have a big brake kit, painting calipers is like putting those darn fake vents on your car or a huge wing or better yet, racing stickers of things you don`t even have on your car. Not trying to give you a hard time, just informing so don`t everyone get pissy. It`s kinda like if someone new comes on here and says turtle wax is the best wax ever, people will most def give their 2 cents. If you do have a bbk, then by all mean go for it.

so you think they look better rusty then painted a nice black or silver?

**imported_never gone** · 02-05-2008, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

so you think they look better rusty then painted a nice black or silver?

If you know how to maintain them they won`t get rusty looking. All I`m saying is this, for people that don`t know, most (not all) enthusiasts find the painting of calipers to be pretty dumb. If someone doesn`t know any better they would see no issue with it. The same way if someone came on here and was like oh I love going to car washes, that`s the best way to get a car clean. Most people on here would beg to differ. test out what I`m saying. Go to any auto enthusiast board and bring up wanting to paint calipers and see what people say. I personally don`t give a crap, I`m just giving a heads up. Also, if you let your brakes get to the point where they look really bad, chances are if you didn`t take the time to care for them initially, you probably still won`t if they`re painted. I would say if one HAD to do it, black does seem like a safer color because it might not be as associated with the people that are trying to make their brakes look like bbks.

**BigJimZ28** · 02-05-2008, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by never gone

If you know how to maintain them they won`t get rusty looking.

ok so how do I keep my 27 year old steel calipers & drum rust free with out paint?

Originally Posted by never gone

All I`m saying is this, for people that don`t know, most (not all) enthusiasts find the painting of calipers to be pretty dumb.

you are the ONLY person I have ever found to dislike painted calipers

Originally Posted by never gone

Go to any auto enthusiast board and bring up wanting to paint calipers and see what people say.

this is an auto enthusiast board and again you are the ONLY one who dislikes it

F.Y.I. I think the brakes on the g35 (your car) come painted dark gray don`t they?

I would love to see a pick of your brakes

**imported_dazzerjp** · 02-05-2008, 10:42 AM

do it and do it well and it will look very nice. chose good quality caliper or heat paint and prep like crazy. sand down those calipers. gold is a nice colour. red can look cheap, as can blue unless its dark.

ignore @never gone@ who appears to have misunderstood this topic.

**imported_Yal** · 02-05-2008, 10:45 AM

BigJimZ28 sometimes its just not worth it to argue with someone who make such broad statements and presents them as facts

**BigJimZ28** · 02-05-2008, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Yal

BigJimZ28 sometimes its just not worth it to argue with someone who make such broad statements and presents them as facts

I did not even start to argue yet

I just what to know:

1.) his process to maintain them

2.) if his car came with painted calipers

(if no a picture would be real nice)

**alkemyst** · 02-11-2008, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by never gone

sorry but unless you have a big brake kit, painting calipers is like putting those darn fake vents on your car or a huge wing or better yet, racing stickers of things you don`t even have on your car. Not trying to give you a hard time, just informing so don\t everyone get pissy. It`s kinda like if someone new comes on here and says turtle wax is the best wax ever, people will most def give their 2 cents. If you do have a bbk, then by all mean go for it.

Like others have said painted calipers have nothing to do with performance.

If you have open wheels it can make the brakes look nicer.

I opted for powder coat. I was rebuilding the calipers anyway.

Compared to the caliper kits it wasn`t much more expensive. I have used high temp paint in the past in it doesn`t last as long as powdercoating for a car that heats up the brakes and gets driven alot. Plus almost all chemicals will etch remove standard paints.

**Monte78Carlo2k1** · 02-21-2008, 12:40 AM

Nissan and Cobra...interesting combonation!

**cajunfirehawk** · 02-21-2008, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Monte78Carlo2k1

Nissan and Cobra...interesting combonation!

I saw that too, whats up with that dawg? :werd:

And what does \r\n\r\n mean, I see that a lot around here? :secret

**imported_never gone** · 02-21-2008, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

I did not even start to argue yet

I just what to know:

1.) his process to maintain them

2.) if his car came with painted calipers

(if no a picture would be real nice)

Uggg, I didn`t see these questions before. Here`s your answers. No my calipers did not come painted. To maintain them I use Eagle One All Tire &Wheel cleaner. I spray them down and give a few swipes with a toothbrush if needed. Takes all of a minute per wheels and they stay clean. Look I`m really not trying to be a jerk, I was just giving my 2 cents. It`s funny how people can give opinions until it`s not agreed with. There are 2 different type of enthusiasts. Those that love maintaining their cars and those that are into the modifying side of things. I guess I should have clarified. People who just like maintaining their cars I guess like or don`t mind having their calipers painted. Those on the modifying/enthusiast side of things see it as cheap and ricey to paint calipers IF they didn`t come from the factory painted. I can direct you to numerous sites where you can pose the question and you will quickly see exactly what I`m talking about. Again, I was just throwing in my 2 cents like everyone else was, it just to happens my OPINION wasn`t agreed with so I`m the "bad guy.". Here`s a couple pics you can kind of see the calipers since you requested to see them.