Just picked up 2019 CX-5 Signature a month ago from CarMax. My 30 day/1,500 mile return period is over and I'm stuck.
On both front wheels, the calipers have some light RUST on them. The car had spent 2 1/2 years in So Cal desert area, Riverside, CA, have no idea how the rust happened.
Anyway, need to remove the rust and going to paint either the whole rusted caliper or just the rusted area if I can match the color. Can anyone help me to a matching color or good high temp paint suggestion, please!
This first:
then this:
You can choose gray or several different colors(black is nice. low key)
Try to get some of the rust off, you can scrub with wire brush. Absolutely do not use any commercial rust removers at all, ever as may damage/eat the brake boots and line. Sand with 220 grit... clean with brake cleaner, wipe, then use 400/600 grit. brake cleaner, wipe, alcohol , let dry. primer, dry, paint 2 or 3 color finish coats(appropriate dry time between coats). Clear-coats optional. Tape your pin boots and any rubber, lines, etc. from over-spray. Drive car to bake the paint.
If you're painting the caliper, might as well do the rotor hat while your at it.
Did the rust removal once in past, but have usually run out the rusted ones til needed new, then either purchased painted calipers or painted new ones before installed them. Way easier that way.
you can remove them or leave them installed to paint... but be careful to not get any overspray on your car, I've always painted new ones while off before install. paint travels and too close to the body for me. The one time did rust removal and paint, removed the caliper from the vehicle first.
Also if I did this now, I might try a spray rust converter like Rust-Oleum Rusty metal primer but now sure how it would hold up to the heat.
There are plenty of videos now to watch and see the process, Just google and you-tube. Again, for anyone reading this... do your own research and use the proper PPE/respirator.
*** I don't recommend this but in the past, when I needed to remove the rust from caliper, I removed the caliper from vehicle and used vinegar gel (heated vinegar and corn starch) very SPARINGLY on the deep rust areas...scrubbing it with wire brush and AVOIDING the pin boots, piston rubber seal, etc. Wiped off gel with cloth then sprayed with brake cleaner.
Again I can't recommend this as vinegar can damage the rubber just like commercial rust removers. ***