What's the best caliper paint?

[ph0enixrising]

I am thinking about getting my calipers painted. (Not by me. I am not a real "fix-it" kinda guy when it comes to my car), and was wondering what the best brand(s) are when it comes to this sort of thing. I have a black P5, and want the calipers painted red to match the interior dash lights, and the strut tower brace under the hood.

So any help on brands would be appreciated. Also, how much would it cost, where can I get it from, and how much do you think it would cost a shop to do it for me? And for anyone that lives in Southern California, and knows of any good body shops that would do a good job of this, let me know. Thanks.

 

[Kooldino]

G2 caliper paint. If you can change a tire, you can paint your cals.

 

[ZoomZoom]

I personally think VHT is the best. I have used other brands and the VHT that I have on my Nissan is holding up GREAT! It still shines when they are sprayed off and if you need to do a little touch up, you can spray it on some paper and use a brush to touch up some spots, although hardly ever needed. Just my .02

Griff

 

[manuel]

duplicolor high heat paint

 

[Don]

I read all the posts about how important it is to use high temperature paint, but really, unless you race, the calipers just don't get that hot - The rotors do, but not the calipers.

I painted all 4 on my Miata yellow with a $3 can of Krylon about a year ago, and they still look "like new." If any color would be prone to changing color when overheated, I would think it would be yellow, no?

I did mine while doing my usual 3K tire rotation. I wrapped the rotor in in a Wal-Mart bag, took a brass wire brush to the caliper and sprayed them - Probably took all of 15 minures extra (not counting the tire rotation) to do all 4.

It's sure not "rocket science" - I wouldn't PAY anyone to do it, for sure.

Don

 

[Laagernaught]

I used G2 yellow paint for my calipers. I painted them myself using a single jack. It was not a fun time. I couldn't move fast enough and the paint had almost solidified in the can by the time I got to the last caliper(they took three coats each). So I had to buy another can. Anyway in the end they looked good but I would have rather spent some cash and had someone do it professionaly(actually take off the calipers and get them completely painted all at once).

good luck

 

[cmack98]

Here's my story with painting the calipers.

I did it like 2 days after I got my car. I used that high temp paint from the walmart thats supposed to last and all....

It looked great for the first couple of weeks....Then they started to look iffy...At about 6 months, it looked as if brake dust was collecting on them, when I used my finger to wipe it off, off came all the paint!!!!

When I applied the paint, I took off each tire, masking taped the important parts, thoroughly cleaned each caliper with a wire brush and brake cleaner, then I applied 4-5 coats of the spray paint, so it wasn't a quick half ass job.

Now it looked twice as bad as it did before...So I went back took off each tire, wire brushed all the paint off and used the FOLIATEC RED PAINT. This paint was one of those 2 part hardeners paint brush applied paint. It looks so sharp now...It looks better than they did with the spray paint, and I would steer anyone away from the spray stuff after my incident. Yeah its way more expensive, but painting those calipers twice absolutely sucked, and I'm glad I finally did it right...Once I develop the pics, I will post step by step how they looked and all...

 

[Red Baron]

I bought regular rust resistant paint at WalMart, used a stainless steel toothbrush like wire brush and simply painted the calipers using small paintbrush. Things look great after 2 coats.

 

[Kooldino]

I personally think VHT is the best. I have used other brands and the VHT that I have on my Nissan is holding up GREAT! It still shines when they are sprayed off and if you need to do a little touch up, you can spray it on some paper and use a brush to touch up some spots, although hardly ever needed. Just my .02

Griff

That right there shows that VHT is inferior to G2. G2 will never come off, and is guaranteed for the life of the car. No touch up, ever.

 

[gjmoreo]

There is no doubt about it. G2 and FOLIATEC are the two best ways to go! The overall look an quality is well worth it.

 

[ph0enixrising]

What do you guys think the labor costs would be if I got them painted at a local shop? I'm lazy don't really want to mess with the car myself, but I don't want to get ripped off either. Thanks.

 

[Red Racer]

I used a can of Ford red engine paint on my calipers. It was the closest they had to classic red. I'm not disappointed at all with the result. Oh, I put 3 coats on just to be sure it would last.

 

[o.g.sk8er]

I will have to agree with Don all the way! Bought some Plasticoat Vivid - yellow this weekend and a couple hours later, my cals look friggin' great. Almost a perfect match to my Vivid- yellow body paint. Now, I hope the s%it last's. The cals really don't get all that hot, so I'm not that worried that much. The rotors, yeah, but not the cals. Unless you are racing, like Don said. Let you all know in a few week's if they fade or anthing funky happens.

 

[BK's black P5]

I painted mine this weekend - used Duplicolor high heat engine paint in silver color. I had seen someone's previous suggestion that worked beautifully - instead of masking everything off and spraying the paint on, I sprayed the paint into a glass jar, then used a brush to apply to the calipers.

 

[medicnys]

I painted my calipers last weekend with Tremclad Fire red. It took a little while, jack up one side take the wheels off, put them back and repeat the process for the other side. Two coats of paint on each and they look great. Total cost not even 15$ canadian.

 

[Kooldino]

So what did you decide on man? G2?