This is a new DIY by `sl!m2k4T!b - please direct all questions and enquiries to `sl!m2k4T!b

Thanks


Parts: 1 can of paint (you can use $10 VHT caliper paint or you can go to home depot and buy a $2 can of outdoor weather resistant paint, or try the G2 stuff for $50)

1. Jack up the car, take the wheel off. (kinda important)

2. Get a pail with gasoline or some other kind of cleaner (laquer thinner whatever) and wipe down the break calipers - get them really clean. I used gasoline and a hard brush and lots of elbow grease. (if you smoke, this might not be a good time to light up)

3. When they shine their original grey/silver color (make sure they are completely clean on where you want to paint, if there is dirt the paint will end up reallly ugly looking) begin to mask everything around the caliper.

I used tape along the metal lining of the rotor and newspaper all throughout the wheel well and on the fenders - anywhere where you think paint might be blown on to (if your doing it outside - or inside - better safe then sorry) should be masked. see pic!


4. After the calipers are clean and everything is masked you are ready for the first coat. Shake the can up and spray on nice and light - DO NOT GO HEAVY OR IN ONE SPOT - keep in mind you will do at least 5 coats, so be sure to go light!!!!!

5. Let dry - I gave it about 15-20 minutes in between coats. Paint as many coats as you want - about 5 or 6 should be good, but use your own discretion. If you want to go more coats you can, if you want to go less you can also (my car used about 6)

6. After the final coat let it sit at least 30 minutes before putting the wheel on.

7. If you choose to put a clear coat on (not necessary but will help in maintance - I only clear coated the rears, never got around to doing the fronts) you must wait until the paint is completely cured (overnight usually) and then remask and apply the clear coat (the clear coat has to stay on overnight as well - do not drive with the clear coat unless its dry)

8. The hard part is just having the patience to do everywheel and waiting - repeat steps 1-7 on the other 3 wheels

9. Congrats your done! Finished Product:

im doing this right now

just chillin between coats haha

Just did mine

What was i waiting for

Looks 100 times better

Thanks sl!m2k4T!b and thanks TuscaniFX for posting it

Nem

im going to do mine tomorrow sometime... whenever i get up lol ... hopefully they will come out just like urs tuscani.. except i have the 16" oem wheels on my tib

Im glad everyones calipers are turning out good!

One thing I did forget to mention is that after about a year you might want to respray your calipers. Just to maintain a nice shine and get rid of minor imperfections and chips. The good news is that it will take about half as long - cleaning them will be much easier this time around.
I just resprayed the calipers on my Porsche since I was entering it in a show - I had painted them in this exact way in September... so thats almost a full year. But it didnt take long at all for me to respray them.

now you said to use gasoline to clean them?!?! ugh! what else is good to use when cleaning them not trusting myself with gasoline!! haha

well laquer thinner will work, but its basically gasoline with chemicals and it costs like 4x as much...

It all depends on how clean your brakes are... if they still are a shiny grey from the factory (unless you have udner 1000 miles I doubt it though) soap and water will work

Gasoline is the cheapest, most generic, and best cleaner to use I found out. You can go to a hardware store and try to find something but I have no idea what else would work.

I would like to do this, should i expect ne hassle from dealership about it for ne reason? please let me know

Brake parts cleaner & steel wool workd fine for me.

i have that brake caliper spray.. i guess its like air in a can type stuff will that work fine.. to clean them.. it says thats the purpose of it... hopefully get around to doing that this weekend.. just been soo busy trying to make money working with my NG unit. and still havent gotten paid yet lol.. but this weekend i see me finally getting around to painting them.. dont have anymore for gas soo i should be home all weekend!!

not getting paid for a weekend drill, been there before

No

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now should i let it sit over night to drive or will it be ok to drive after a few hours.... like 5 hours or soo

when I painted my calipers I used the brush-on G2 paint (both times). That stuff is great. I also removed the brake pads, retaining clips, and rotors so that I could do a thorough job. It was a major pain (since I've done it twice now... had to change to from red to black due to my BBK) but it's worth the trouble IMO.

i just got done with mine!! looks pretty good! came out better than i though once again.. thanks for the DIY... i will be taking some pics with the wheels back on in a lil while i have to wash it first!! its soo dirrty...

Wait at least 24 hrs.36 hrs would be better.

yeah the longer the better - but I wouldn't go out of my way to let the car sit still for like 3 days or anything lol

The regular paint will dry pretty quick and well cure over a few hours - the clear coat however will take longer

If youre just doing touch ups or if your just throwing on one or two coats I would say you could drive it delicately after a few hours no problem - just dont do any crazy braking to heat up the calipers and screw up yer paint!

i did it the other day, it came out real nice

You guys got any ideas on Color for the Calipers for the Carbon Blue tib?? Red looks nice for the black and probably white, but not too sure it'll go with my color.

i let it sit for about 2 or 3 hours afterwards ..plus it was hott as ballz outside when i did mine and they look fine.. ima take pics tomorrow and try and post 'em to show you.. i forgot to do that last weekend.. sorry!

alright guys i didn't see any failure posts so heres one. i tried doing the diy this afternoon but much to my suprise the nuts/bolts on the rims were tight as f**K, I was able to only unscrew 2 and gave up...they're on tight maybe i can get some ideas (stupid question) on lubing them or something?

so you cnt get the wheel off?

Try using an extension on the lug wrench - a big *** piece of pipe should work ok - if they are stripped already then yer just ****ed.

My friend stripped 2 nuts on his audi - cost him $20 to get them off

Try penetrating oil (liquid wrench), let it soak for 20 min or so. If they are stripped, try a large vice grip or maybe a pipe wrench. You should be using a a 6 pt socket to start with-it grips better than 12 pt. If all else fails you will have to drill the bolt & use an EZ out (extractor). Good luck.

no they are not stripped, their just on tight as f**k, i was able to loosen 2, but the rest ain't comin off. i even tried a different socket the ones that lookg like this + , and still nothing.

use an extension

if they are still stuck - get a bigger extension

if after that they are still stuck - maybe you need to go to sears and have them take the wheel off