Red Brembo Calipers

[ati]

I was thinking of painting or powder coating my stock black Brembo calipers Red. I'm looking for suggestions on which way to go with this.
Should I paint them with a heat treated caliper paint that you buy at an auto parts store? Not sure if this is the best way to go.
or
Should I send them out and have them professionally powder coated?

I'm thinking the powder coated method would probably be better but I'm not sure of how to do it. Is there a reputable vendor out there that does this? Ideally I would like to buy a set already Powder coated and just do a swap out. Not sure what options are out there.

Looking for tips and suggestions or real life experiences to guide me.

This will be an over the winter project so down time is not an issue.

[Carnut]

Powder coating involves spraying on the powder then baking it in an oven until it melts. You have to completely disassemble the caliipers and mask those areas you don't want coated. Depending upon how handy you are, you can do it yourself with a powder coating kit or have it done. Using your kitchen oven may leave it stinking for awhile, which could be a problem. It is a lot of prep and clean up work. Having it professionally done could cost you a couple hundred dollars depending upon the shop. The finish is extremely durable and brake fluid resistant.

The epoxy caliper paints work well, but the surfaces have to be really clean. Just mask off areas to not be painted. Brake fluid can soften and ruin the finish so you have to be careful when reinstalling the calipers. You don't have to disassemble them. I've seen the paint last for years. It is also a lot cheaper. I've seen some guys just carefully mask the outer half (the one you see) and paint them in place and they look okay from a distance (although I don't care for it, it looks like a two tone).

[onecrazydog]

There is a guy on TS that does a lot of powdercoating...

Brembo says not to powdercoat them...

Caliper paint link,
http://www.g2usa.com/

[ati]

There is a guy on TS that does a lot of powdercoating...

Brembo says not to powdercoat them...

Caliper paint link,
http://www.g2usa.com/

I checked out the link and they recommend brushing the paint on. (I'm picturing in my head paint runs, drip marks, blotcheyness and air bubbles) This may work OK for the rear because they are rough to begin with but the front have a smooth texture to them. I'm looking for a more professional / factory looking finish in gloss red with the Brembo name in white letters. I wonder why Brembo says not to powder coat them? I wonder if Brembo makes them in red.

[Tommy Gun]

They probably say not to powdercoat because you are heating them up to a couple hundred degrees and it may warp or mess w/ the tolerances.

[Tommy Gun]

Possibly the Brembos on the new GT's are the same size?

I would call Brembo and see if another car uses the red Brembos that would fit, then search for some of those.

Gonna be expensive. Personally I wouldn't paint them unless you drive like a granny?

[onecrazydog]

Loco painted his red, then put on new brembo stickers and cleared over them...

[Carnut]

I've seen Brembo calipers that have been powdercoat so I don't why that would be a problem either. Perhaps they don't won't amatuers trying to bake them with rubbber and plastic parts still in them. If the cylinders aren't carefully masked, the powder coating can get into them, then its a nightmare getting it out.

I also know a number of car guys that have used purpose made spray on caliiper paint and they look great too. You can also hand paint the raised letters white, it isn't that hard. And if you have to repaint them again in a few years, so what.

[ati]

I've seen Brembo calipers that have been powdercoat so I don't why that would be a problem either. Perhaps they don't won't amatuers trying to bake them with rubbber and plastic parts still in them. If the cylinders aren't carefully masked, the powder coating can get into them, then its a nightmare getting it out.

I also know a number of car guys that have used purpose made spray on caliiper paint and they look great too. You can also hand paint the raised letters white, it isn't that hard. And if you have to repaint them again in a few years, so what.


My Brembo letters are flat & smooth, probably a decal under the clearcoat.

I only want to do this once and my talents only go so far. I can replace the calipers and bleed the brakes but I don't know how to powder coat and I'm sure my wife will strongly object to cooking them in her oven. The problem I have with painting them is that they will chip easy and any brake fluid that would leak or happen to drop onto them while bleeding the system will remove the paint. I'm not sure how long the paint will last and I don't want to do it again in 2 years.

I also don't want to make a real big project out of this, somewhere there has to be a shop that will powder coat these red with white letters and all I will need to do is swap them out.
I see a lot of pictures on the internet of Red calipers with white Brembo letters. Maybe I just need to find out where to buy them.

[68fastback]

Alan, this thread sounded like it might be of interest (http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php/topic/79120-red-calipers/)...if so, this is the G2 system they also talk about (http://www.tcpglobal.com/spraypaintdepot/Brake-caliper-paint.aspx?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(roi)+aerosol+spray+paints&utm_content=break+paint&utm_term=+brake%20+paint&utm_creative=b). Sounds like the paint is specifically hardened for calipers ...they also talk about the decals in that thread, I think. It's a relatively current thread (Jan'13) so you might be able to contact the TS guy in that thread who talks about having it done by a shop that painted/decalled/cleared his.

[Carnut]

Here is the easy way, http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliperPaint/ and http://www.xenonmods.com/newallcaliperdecals.htm. You should be able to clear coat over the vinyl with an appropriate spray paint. That is what a shop will do.

For the hardway, various online vendors will sell you the whole thing done for more money that you probably to pay.

This really takes minimum skill levels to do it yourself.

[Tommy Gun]

A body shop could paint them using hardener in the paint and would be as resistant to chemicals as the finish on your car.

[Gr8snkbite]

here's a neat alternative....




http://youtu.be/-cSqvlZ621s

[68fastback]

Cool process!

[Carnut]

Cool process!

I think it takes a heat gun, Dan.

[68fastback]

I think it takes a heat gun, Dan.

I have one -:banana:- hot process!! :shades:

[ati]

I think I am going to try to find a set of stock (used / take off) Brembo calipers and paint them red with white Brembo letters and clear over everything. If they come out looking good then I will install them and keep my stock calipers as spares. This way it reduces the down time on my Shelby and I can take my time with it. And if for some reason I totally Fućk it up the Shelby is not affected.

[Carnut]

There is something to be said for not being under a deadline to do a new project. They usually come out much better.

[ati]

There is something to be said for not being under a deadline to do a new project. They usually come out much better.

:iagree:

[Tommy Gun]

:hurryup1:

[onecrazydog]

There is something to be said for not being under a deadline to do a new project. They usually come out much better.


:logical:

[mustang loco]

Loco painted his red, then put on new brembo stickers and cleared over them...

I did bud and still look awsome after 2yrs(seasons) Alan you could also check Brian Pancoast's work,he powder coats plenty of stuff including Brembo calipers,seen plenty of his stuff...awsome work he does imo!!

[Joe G]

I did bud and still look awsome after 2yrs(seasons) Alan you could also check Brian Pancoast's work,he powder coats plenty of stuff including Brembo calipers,seen plenty of his stuff...awsome work he does imo!!

:faint:

Loco's back!

[mustang loco]

:tiphat2:Hi Joe,hope all is well!

[Joe G]

:tiphat2:Hi Joe,hope all is well!

Missed ya around here buddy. Stick around. :canada:

[68fastback]

Yeah, Loco :frolic: ;-)

[Tommy Gun]

:tiphat2:Hi Joe,hope all is well!




:faint:

[mustang loco]

Missed ya around here buddy. Stick around. :canada:
:beerchug:,think about this place and you guys too Joe!

Yeah, Loco :frolic: ;-)
Hi Dan,:webers::tiphat:

:faint:
:hug2:,LOL

[Tommy Gun]

:grin: