Needing Opinions on Painting Brake Calibers

[NTIMD8R]

Needing Opinions on Painting Brake Calipers

Got a kit to paint the stock calipers red on my black 04 Mazda 3 hatchback. My question is...Should I just paint JUST the caliper (5) red or BOTH the caliper (5) and the mounting support (9) on the front brakes?

The mounting support isn't as prominent on the back brakes as it is on the front so there's no question there on what to paint. Just wanted some opinions...

Also plan on spraying on, in white, the MAZDA "logo" using a template. Should look pretty cool...I hope!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

i would always do both the caliper and mounting support. i have seen one where 5 is red metallic and 9 is black metallic, very nice.

 

[BlackJack]

Can you paint the whole caliper including number 7 as shown as the SST?

 

[mazdadude]

Can you paint the whole caliper including number 7 as shown as the SST?

I am not sure if you would want to paint the back of the brake pad.

I personally wouldn't bother for two reasons, 1) Very high temps at this location, and most paint won't last long here. 2) I think it would look a little too ricey.

 

[NTIMD8R]

i would always do both the caliper and mounting support. i have seen one where 5 is red metallic and 9 is black metallic, very nice.

Sounds good! I like your idea! The paint in my kit is just ordinary gloss red. I think I'll stick with that on the caliper (5) and paint the mounting bracket (9) a gloss black. The back of the brake pads is already black so that should look pretty cool on my black 3. My drilled rotors (F&R) showed up today, so I'm pretty pumped to get this done! Will post before and after pics when I'm finished.

Does anyone have any pics of their painted stock calipers? Please share...(2thumbs)

 

[pmeilakjr]

Don't use regular paint for your calipers

If you are going to take the time to paint your calipers please don't use regular spray paint - after a month it will look very dull and blackish. The only product to use is a special hi temp epoxy paint that is specifically made for brake calipers. I just got my MS3 this week and plan to paint them soon. Prior to this car I had a 92 miata that I painted the brake calipers - after four years they still looked glossy. (I can't seem to figure out how to attach pictures to show you). Any how send me your email address and I will send the pictures to you or explain how to attach images. The paint is made by: http://g2usa.com/brake_caliper_paint.shtml

Thanks

Peter

Sounds good! I like your idea! The paint in my kit is just ordinary gloss red. I think I'll stick with that on the caliber (5) and paint the mounting bracket (9) a gloss black. The back of the brake pads is already black so that should look pretty cool on my black 3. My drilled rotors (F&R) showed up today, so I'm pretty pumped to get this done! Will post before and after pics when I'm finished.

Does anyone have any pics of their painted stock calibers? Please share...(2thumbs)

 

[NTIMD8R]

If you are going to take the time to paint your calipers please don't use regular spray paint - after a month it will look very dull and blackish. The only product to use is a special hi temp epoxy paint that is specifically made for brake calipers. I just got my MS3 this week and plan to paint them soon. Prior to this car I had a 92 miata that I painted the brake calipers - after four years they still looked glossy. (I can't seem to figure out how to attach pictures to show you). Any how send me your email address and I will send the pictures to you or explain how to attach images. The paint is made by: http://g2usa.com/brake_caliper_paint.shtml

Thanks

Peter

Thanks, Peter, for your reply. I bought two kits made by Duplicolor especially for brake calipers--one for the red calipers and one for the black mounting brackets. The kits are available for purchase at almost any auto parts store. I bought mine at O'Reilly Auto Parts for around $17.00 each. The kit includes a can of caliper cleaner, a 1/2 pint can of high-temperature caliper paint (with ceramic), an application brush, stir stick, masking tape, and instruction sheet. Says it's enough to clean and paint 4 calipers.

As I said, I plan to paint the calipers red and the mounting brackets black. I also am adding the "MAZDA" text logo (1.25 inches long) in white engine enamel paint onto the red caliper via a custom made rubber stamp. Hope it turns out. Looks good in my mind, we'll see when it's done.

Would like to see your pics!

Thanks,

Steve

 

[NTIMD8R]

Brake calipers are DONE minus the "Mazda" logo for now.

Finished the calipers last weekend. Turned out great! Had to add 3 coats of red to make the calipers look "just right." Goes on a little thin. Once the first coat sets up the second shows a big improvement. The black, on the other hand, only took one good coat.

As I said before, I painted the calipers red and the mounting brackets black (thanks Captain KRM P5!). I also painted parking brake assembly black as well as the caliper steadying "springs" that are on the outside of each caliper.

While I had the calipers and mounting brackets off, I swapped the stock rotors for some cross-drilled ones and installed new ceramic pads. Overall I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out! (drinks)

Still waiting on the rubber stamp for the white "Mazda" text logo...

 

[ichiromariko]

How are those new rotors treat'N yah?

 

[NTIMD8R]

How are those new rotors treat'N yah?

Workin' good! I haven't done any consectutively (sp?) hard braking to really test them for fading but I did have to jam on the brakes the other night and man did they grab! That just might be the ceramic brake pads or a combination of them both. Gets a lot of looks though! (wow)

 

[NTIMD8R]

Got the Mazda text logo stamp and did some practice prints in white. The prints, on paper, looked like crap. Couldn't get a good, clean, solid print. Seemed like a good idea. Not willing to chance it on the calipers. Will just end up leaving them red. Anybody got any other ideas?

 

[OKCMS3]

When I paint the calipers on mine, I also plan to put the Mazda logo on there... but I think there's an easier way than trying to use a stamp.

I've never used these, but there are lots of places that sell caliper decals. The link below is just the first place I found that sells them, and they're cheap ($10/pair) so even if they needed to be replaced on a yearly basis it wouldn't be a big deal.



Be sure to post pics after you've gotten a logo on those calipers.

 

[Foolish]

I would say go Black for the Mazda logo, once you figure out how to do it. White would stand out too much and matches nothing on your car.

Go subtle.

Oh, BTW, the brakes look great!

 

[blackMS34me]

anyone have pics of their calipers painted totally black? I do like the red... good lookin

 

[pmeilakjr]

Looks great!

Thanks, Peter, for your reply. I bought two kits made by Duplicolor especially for brake calipers--one for the red calipers and one for the black mounting brackets. The kits are available for purchase at almost any auto parts store. I bought mine at O'Reilly Auto Parts for around $17.00 each. The kit includes a can of caliper cleaner, a 1/2 pint can of high-temperature caliper paint (with ceramic), an application brush, stir stick, masking tape, and instruction sheet. Says it's enough to clean and paint 4 calipers.

As I said, I plan to paint the calipers red and the mounting brackets black. I also am adding the "MAZDA" text logo (1.25 inches long) in white engine enamel paint onto the red caliper via a custom made rubber stamp. Hope it turns out. Looks good in my mind, we'll see when it's done.

Would like to see your pics! Send them to me at ntimd8r@earthlink.net.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[pmeilakjr]

Some pictures

Hey - I figured out how to attach some pictures. The pictures are from my 92 miata that I painted 4 years ago some 60K miles - still glossy. Also, the shocks and springs were installed at the same time - the stock paint did not hold up on them. I have my G2 paint on order - going total red. Will post pictures when done.

Thanks, Peter, for your reply. I bought two kits made by Duplicolor especially for brake calipers--one for the red calipers and one for the black mounting brackets. The kits are available for purchase at almost any auto parts store. I bought mine at O'Reilly Auto Parts for around $17.00 each. The kit includes a can of caliper cleaner, a 1/2 pint can of high-temperature caliper paint (with ceramic), an application brush, stir stick, masking tape, and instruction sheet. Says it's enough to clean and paint 4 calipers.

As I said, I plan to paint the calipers red and the mounting brackets black. I also am adding the "MAZDA" text logo (1.25 inches long) in white engine enamel paint onto the red caliper via a custom made rubber stamp. Hope it turns out. Looks good in my mind, we'll see when it's done.

Would like to see your pics! Send them to me at ntimd8r@earthlink.net.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[MM3Canuck]

Just painted mine today. Used DupliColour, Silver.

Looks very nice

 

[NTIMD8R]

When I paint the calipers on mine, I also plan to put the Mazda logo on there... but I think there's an easier way than trying to use a stamp.

I've never used these, but there are lots of places that sell caliper decals. The link below is just the first place I found that sells them, and they're cheap ($10/pair) so even if they needed to be replaced on a yearly basis it wouldn't be a big deal.



Be sure to post pics after you've gotten a logo on those calipers.

Thanks for the tip! I did a search for "Mazda brake caliper stickers" and was the most impressed with this web site:

http://www.xenonmods.com/newallcaliperdecals.htm

They have a picture of a Mazda 6 brake caliper painted all red with a white Mazda text logo--just what I was going for originally. Anyway, for only $7.99, you get 18 high-temperature decals/stickers that include 6 of the text logo, 6 of the mazda "shield," and 6 of the 3 logo.

I ordered a set of white and a set of black. I'm kinda leaning toward the black as of now thanks to the reply of Foolish ("I would say go Black for the Mazda logo, once you figure out how to do it. White would stand out too much and matches nothing on your car. Go subtle.").

After some careful consideration, I would have to agree. I think the black would look better. While my initial intent was to draw attention to the painted calipers and drilled rotors with the white Mazda logo, it seems the red paint on the calipers achieves this all by itself.(headbang) Still, I bought a set of white just in case I change my mind!

Will post pics after they are applied!(nailbyt)

 

[ALIEN3T]

I am not sure if you would want to paint the back of the brake pad.

I personally wouldn't bother for two reasons, 1) Very high temps at this location, and most paint won't last long here. 2) I think it would look a little too ricey.

paint may be rice! especially if you belive in the term rice (its to thrown aroudn these days) but honestly if kept up looks way better than rust crap brown! i hate when parts do that! lol i usually take them off and paint them!



also on the logo! if the 2 part caliper paint is used with the clear i have seen peeps do the paint let it dry add the stocker logo then put it on then spread the clear then it wont rub off as easilt! look as good as the clear over it!!

 

[pmeilakjr]

Stickers

I would have to disagree - I think the whole reason you would put on the stickers is to draw attention to them. Most cars that have stock painted calipers with branding use white or silver for that purpose.

If I do get them - custom MAZDASPEED in silver.