mrace240sx

Im looking for advice on how to go about painting my calipers. Have any of you done it on your 240's?
Should I completely disassemble the brakes for cleaning? If so how do I tie off the brake line so my fluid doesnt leak out, without damagine the hose?
Can I paint them without removing and taking everything apart or would that be a bad way to do it?

What materials did you use? Ive bought high temp paint and brake cleaner for the job but is there anything else someone can recommend.

Any advice would be great, I think Im gonna start the project tomorrow and do one wheel at a time.

Im going for red calipers on my cobalt green s14, I think it is gonna look real sweet... I hope hehe.

96SEChick

One odd question--do you have any warranty on your brakes?  If so, painting your calipers will most likely void your warranty.  I know it sounds stupid, but I have been told by many, many people and brake shops that it will void any warranty on your brakes, calipers, and rotors.

mrace240sx

I replaced all 4 brakes about 15k ago, I would think that any parts warrenty would have expired by now. I had the dealership do it, my first set lasted about 60k so Im thinking these should have alot of life left in them. The warrenty on the car is up so I dont think itll be a problem, but thanks for bringing it up, I hadnt thought of it.

96SEChick

I don't know how you could "condition" your calipers to get ready for painting, but I do know that you need to use a high-temp primer/paint (I've actually heard that paint used for barbecue grills works well) or else it will create a fire hazard and the paint will begin to chip off due to the high heat.

Jeff240sx

Yeah.  Engine paint just won't work.  I wouldn't recommend High Temp paint unless your paint is rated to 500 degrees Celsius.  There are certain paints, called brake caliper paint, and my friend has had success with that, whereas the high temp paint he had peeled off.  Sand the caliper after you clean it.  Get primer, high temp, and paint away.
-Jeff

96SEChick

Good idea Jeff!  I bet brake caliper paint would work pretty good on painting brake calipers!  hehe.  I didn't know they made paint especially for that:)

yea they do but make shure you take off the calipers it will look more professional

Jeff240sx

Oops, did I not mention take everything off?  I would.  I would also make a cardboard cut-out of the brake pads, and put those in the pad's place.  This will prevent paint from getting into the piston.  
-Jeff

konkman

Do you need to use a caliper paint.  That stuff is really expensive.  I have some paint that is good up to 1500 degrees C, it is a flat red.  Will this to the job?

And what kind of primer should I use?  Does it have to be a high temp primer?