Painting Calipers?
 

Hello all

I'm set to paint them next weekend. I have a version 4 sti. 4 pots front, single on the rear.
I'm intending to remove them, brush them off, steam them and paint them with this stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Savage-RED-Bra...#ht_1407wt_905

My questions are: -

Is this the right stuff to use?
I want to paint the subaru sign white, can anyone recommend what paint and from where.

Thanks in advance.

I found hammerite smooth does about the best job.

Spraying or brushing?

Well i brushed mine on. In my opinion hammerite is thicker than the caliper paint and covers better.

I had my mate spray mine with 2pac paint and the finish is quite nice.

Whilst their off may be worth changing the seals,I've recently refurbed a set with stainless steel pistons from Godpseed Brakes and a new seal set.

As for painting the Subaru bit you either get a sponge and lightly dip it in to some white paint then gently press against the Subaru bit,or if you have a steady hand and use something like Holts touch up paint which comes in what looks like a Tippex bottle.

If you use Smoothrite, (Hammerite smooth), you can brush paint it and it leaves few, if any, brush marks.

Painting the letters is easy if you have a steady hand. If not, cut a block of wood a bit bigger than the letters, paint with Hammerite smooth and press onto letters. Repeat if it doesn't cover in one.

Cheers all, much appreciated.

Just bought a 15 piece artist brush set and white smooth of the bay. Just looking for the red for the calipers and black for the hubs.

This could be the cheapest mod ever :)

I've bought a set of kevlar pads off Bob at Aztec with fluid so i shall update you all with how i get on with some pics if any one is interested?

Hammerite smooth can be had in 500ml tins from B&Q, Homebase, Tesco, Halfords carshops etc etc.

Ranges in price though, so shop around;)

I used hammerite smooth (about 4coats) and got some stickers off ebay,but I do like the idea with a block of wood

It does work, but TBH, too many people faff around trying to get them perfect. They worry about tiny imperfections you can see in good light in your kitchen from 600mm away.

Put them back on the car, under the wheel and view from 2000mm and they look perfect.
And after a few miles they look filthy again;)

On my last Scoob I painted all the calipers (carefully as I couldn't be arsed to taken them off ;) ) red again with Hammerite smooth. Thick brush and a thin brush for fiddly parts, steady hand and 24 hours to dry - looked fine. I preferred the full red look opposed to red/white lettering. Looked simpler IMO underneath the P1 wheels I had on at the time :)

Dont suppose you have any photos?

Before & after. I used hammarite smooth spray & paint with a steady hand for the lettering.

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/afa80950.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/dd00dd3e.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/546dd57d.jpg

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...e/56325164.jpg

Erm, just scour Photobucket...


Ah...


http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1...n/S6300056.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1..._brian/3-1.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1..._brian/2-1.jpg

HTH

Andy :)

i used hammerite smooth on my old 4 pots and them a steady hand to do the lettering:)

I used hammerite high temp spray in the end them some high temp vinyl stickers (eBay) and coated them with high temp varnish. Took me ages. Hammerite sounds much easier!

To get a good finish you need to take your calipers off. I would definitely use the spray rather than a brush, it gives a far far superior finish. I tried using wood and sponge for the lettering and to be honest it looked rubbish. I just used a steady hand and used a fine, stiff paint brush that was angled at the tip. This is the results.

http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSCF1543.jpg

Hello all

I took your advice and bought Hammerite Smooth off ebay. Three different colours, red for the callipers, black for the hubs and white for the lettering.

I spoke to bob at Aztec performance who sorted me out with Kevlar fast road pads, braided hoses and two bottles of dot 4 brake fluid.

I've yet to drive the car but i'll update with my opinion of them.

I didn't get round to doing the hubs as i was told the discs were on their way out. Didn't get the lettering either as it was sooooo cold and wet the paint took for ever to dry.

I'm not giving up though and will return on a warmer day armed with my artist paintbrush set i also got :)

My neighbour who is a brake specialist did the fitting and removing for me and charged me very little compared to what i was quoted by garages. His name is Rob and can help you out if you have cash waiting and live in the surrey or south london area.

Some pics for people who are interested in doing the same.

P.s SrSport and Paul&bon, you're just showing off :)

Before
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0575.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0576.jpg

The parts
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0578.jpg

The painting
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0579.jpg

Calipers back on but needing one last coat and a bit of touch up
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0583.jpg

The rears, before
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0583.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0589.jpg

What they look like now, lettering to be finished.

http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0590.jpg
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/x...e/IMG_0591.jpg

That looks really good, well done. Bit of advice when you do the lettering, be patient and have plenty of spare soapy water and sponges at hand as the lettering can easily go wrong. I nearly gave up and just kept it all red but pleased I didnt.

Cheers mate, i showed the misses the thread. When she saw your picture her exact words were "Thats how you should have done, his wheels are much nicer than yours".

I would have kicked off but she's taking me out tonight and i don't want to give up a free dinner :)

Looks good mate. I know what you mean about the weather. Pain in the ass. On the spray Hammerite you can put the coats on wet, every 15 Min's or so. I had to leave mine 24 hrs before they dried for me to be able to do the lettering. Top job though. Looks really good behind the wheels.:thumb:

Make sure the Hammerite is the rollable stuff. Otherwise you'll get "hairs" of paint around the lettering.

Looks very good. Do the blue ones have painted letters or filed letters?

Painted. The calipers are cast iron so would rust if I just filed them ;)

Ive heard of other people filling and then clear lacquering. I think Ferrari does that on the 612.

Did these late last year mark, then i sold them , to get a proper finish that will last i think a strip down and shot blast is the way to go and a nice spray job with 2 pack paint .

I have a very good friend dave who does all my spraying for me top block if interested.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17...eddiscs041.jpg

Love the blue ones! Any pics of the rest of the car?

Yours look awesome as well Lee. Did you have the calipers sprayed as well or are they new?