Team MF Member #350 Posts: 3524
Joined: 6/3/2005 Status: offline
So, Here I am, back again to dispense my vast library of knowledge known by most as "Common."
Here is how the story goes. Boy/Girl is born, Boy/Girl plays with toys, Boy/Girl grows up, Smart Boy/Girl buys Mustang and becomes MFer. Now, from then on the same formula can be used, you get your car and you buy this for it, then you but that, etc.
Many people get CAI, Exhaust and Rims as the first mods for their car. The CAI gives good throttle response, the exhaust gives the respected "Mustang Rumble" and a nice set of rims will make any car really stand out but lets make them POP by complimenting the rims by making our callipers really standout. To illustrate my point here is a before and after shot of my callipers.
Before
After
See, are they not a thing of beauty and a MASSIVE improvement!
What You Need
2 cans of "High Heat Calliper Paint" (approx. $12) or a 2 part epoxy kit (Dupli-Color makes a good one) Note: The epoxy method is brush on, takes 24 to cure and costs about $70 US. This method will have the best outcome.
1 can of brake cleaner
Wire brush
Ratchet with 12mm socket
(optional) Pony or other calliper decals
What To Do
First, lets the the obvious out of the way...
1) Jack up your car and MAKE SURE to use jack stands as we don't need any crushed MFers. I started with the front end but if you want to do the back first or you have extra stands and are feeling a little crazy and want to put up the whole car, go right ahead.
2) Next, take off your rims and putt them where they wont be hit by overspray...otherwise your rims may end up a different colour.
<-----check out the U, what am I Canadian...oh wait...I am.
Lets recap, car up, rims off. Good! Now to the fun stuff.
3) First thing your going to do is cover up the car. You know you wash your car religiously every week to keep crap like dirt and break dust off your precious glossy paint, well this is going to make a mess so get to it. I was lucky enough to have a large plastic sheet and some old curtains lying around so I used those but failing that the daily newspaper and a role of masking tape (green painters tape is even better) will work just as well. Make sure to cover the entire wheel well, the exposed rotor and the body around the wheel well so that it stays its original colour, as seen below (Note: I did go a bit overboard)
4) Next is cleaning. While still attached clean the calliper as best you can, I found it much easier to wire brush it when still attached. make sure to get into all the small spaces as well, if you have trouble getting in the smaller spaces try using a flat head screw driver to gently scrape away some of the junk in the tight spots. The cleaner it is the better the paint will stick.
Here is mine after a good initial cleaning.
5) At this point you will need to take off the calliper, if you have never done this before don't worry is a pretty easy process. Take your ratchet with 12mm socket and take out the two bolts on the back of the calliper, circled in the picture below. Be careful as there is a small piece of metal that sits in the underside of the calliper that may fall out. Note how it is sitting before removing the calliper so you know how it goes back in, then take it out.
6) After detaching the calliper you can rest carefully on top of the rotor or hang it in the wheel well by a bent coat hanger. Which ever you do be VERY CAREFUL not to put stress on the brake line as it could pull out or tear and you will want to be able to stop when this is all said and done.
7) Now that it's off give it another quick clean with the wire brush in the spots that were difficult to get when it was attached. Take out your break cleaner and give the calliper a good soaking making sire not to get it in your eyes...if your worried about it, goggles are always good. If you want to really get in those pesky small spaces an old tooth brush with some break cleaner works out well. Wipe the calliper down thoroughly and allow about 10 min to dry. Now it should be ready to paint...here was mine.
8) Painting Time!!! WOOT!!! Take your tape and mask over the two exposed cylinders on the inside of the calliper so you don't get any paint on them and mess them up. Ok, so sit your calliper at an appropriate so that you can get to all sides, as it says on the label, keep the can 12 to 16 inches away and spray in even, steady passes. Start and end your passes just before and just after the calliper to avoid runs. Spray a first coat (its ok if the calliper is not covered in you colour yet) wait at least 10 min, apply 2nd coat, wait 10 min, and apply last coat, then wait 30 min so it is dry to the touch. The painting should be done in a 70 degree+ temperature, the hotter it is the better the paint will set.
Note: If on the last coat you notice small pin holes where the paint is not sticking, it means those spots were not cleaned well enough. Wait the 10 min. for the paint to dry and grab an old tooth brush, take the brush and spray it with the break cleaner, gently brush over the spots in one direction a few times, you will notice the paint smudge a bit, wait another 10 min or so and recoat with paint, this should fix the spots.
9) OPTIONAL: If you decide to go with the "Calliper Decals" such as the pony ones I used, this is an easy step. Cut out a decal off the sheet, very carefully pull off the backing and apply the decal to the desired spot. I think this is a great accent to the painted calliper.
10) When you go to pt the calliper back on remember to put in that small metal piece that sits in the center of underside of calliper and take the tape off. Try no to handle the calliper too much as it is still no fully cured. I put a dish towel over it when I had to touch it so I wouldn't leave marks with my grimy hands. Also, if you notice, the bolts have a red stripe on them, it's Loc-tight. Use the wire brush to clean the bolt and you don't have to but should put a drop or two of blur Loc-tight on. When re-inserting the bolts turn them in by hand as far as you can to ensure you don't cross thread them and make sure they grab. Tighten them up good and tight and throw your rim back on.
In conclusion, just make sure to always double check your work and that everything is as it should be. Because its better to be sure than having something vital fly off while driving. If you have any question at all please post them and I will be happy to answer you as best I can.
Nice write up. I would like to add one thing...I like to also paint the caliper mounting brackets. Especially if you use a diferent color than black on the calipers. As you might remember, I painted my calipers yellow, and then painted the brackets black. It reallt sets it off nicely. Methinks we have a Tech how to addition here. NICE JOB!!
Team MF Member #350 Posts: 3524
Joined: 6/3/2005 Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: 03YellowPony
Nice write up. I would like to add one thing...I like to also paint the caliper mounting brackets. Especially if you use a diferent color than black on the calipers. As you might remember, I painted my calipers yellow, and then painted the brackets black. It reallt sets it off nicely. Methinks we have a Tech how to addition here. NICE JOB!!
Yeah I was gonna mention that but taking them off is a pain and to spray them on could get messy so I left it. The way to do it is be a fansy pants like you and get the epoxy kit.
I would like to thank the Academy, and all the fans....
< Message edited by Jefferson -- 6/12/2006 3:19:51 PM >
Nice write up. I would like to add one thing...I like to also paint the caliper mounting brackets. Especially if you use a diferent color than black on the calipers. As you might remember, I painted my calipers yellow, and then painted the brackets black. It reallt sets it off nicely. Methinks we have a Tech how to addition here. NICE JOB!!
Very true. I painted my calipers red and my mounting brackets black. It looks a lot better if you paint the mounting brackets IMO. But yours still look great.
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1996 Mustang GT 4.6L 5Speed Flowmaster American Thunder Bought w/Performance Clutch (Never Told What Kind) MAC Cold Air Intake
Team MF Member #350 Posts: 3524
Joined: 6/3/2005 Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: penceman
Very true. I painted my calipers red and my mounting brackets black. It looks a lot better if you paint the mounting brackets IMO. But yours still look great.
Thanks, I think I can get away with it cause mine are black and the brackets are close to.
quote:
ORIGINAL: 03YellowPony
Hey Jefferson, hope ya don't mind, but I PM'd Booze so he can put this write up in the Tech How To thread.
Yeah, thats cool. I actually did the same thing yesterday but I guess he hadn't gotten around to it yet.
Posts: 13332
Joined: 12/29/2003 From: Southern California Status: offline
Good job Jeff, and a nice write up. I'll add it to our tech article section. I painted my calipers red and I painted the brackets and the back plates silver to give the disc a larger look.
Team MF Member #350 Posts: 3524
Joined: 6/3/2005 Status: offline
Thanks!
I can see that and it looks great. There is still a few things that I want to paint and I may just use a brush. The silver brackets look nice. I may steal the idea.
The problem was that I ran out of time...although I didn't want to, I had to get to work. Maybe if the paint fades, I go at the calipers with an epoxy kit in the late fall when the car is stored. (of course using a heat lamp)
Thats actually something else I wanted to mention to everyone... More heat = better results, if you have access to a heat lamp, use it!
Team MF Member #350 Posts: 3524
Joined: 6/3/2005 Status: offline
Um, it would be fine I guess. I know of some people that have done that and really liked the outcome. The only downside to priming then painting that I have HEARD (I dont know this for sure) is that addind a primer then paint does not allow the calliper to disipate heat as easily. While it may be true, I dont know how much this would really affect you unless you were racing or something and were using the brakes hard and constantly.
Post some pics in here when you do them I would like to see the outcome!
ONe question where did you get the ponies in the caliper??
good question. i would also like to know. i painted my callipers red quite a while back w/ the duplicolor kit and it is workin out great. a lot of people ask why i didnt paint them blue but i am very happy w/ the red ones, ive always loved the look of red callipers....it just seems like a sports car thing.
...You forgot the most important step being a fellow canuck, a beer between each step
Oh most definetly. Consider two between the drying steps/paint coats. Beer is the fuel for all car guys. To bad I don't drink it anymore, I guess thats why I always have someone else do the work I want done on my car......that and I am extremely lazy.
Quick side question, since my 6er is red, what colour would you suggest for my calipers? As a side note, I will be looking into getting all my enblems replaced with gold ones. So maybe gold? Or would that look stupid.
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1995 Mustang V6, 5 Speed, Laser Red
Current Plans: ASP U/D Pulley, Steeda Tri-ax Shifter, MAC Cold Air and MAC V6 Catback Exhaust
Printable Version
How To Paint Your Callipers - 
1995 Mustang V6, 5 Speed, Laser Red 