Painting brake calipers

[mgm]

I'm going to be painting my brake calipers soon but need advice on how to raise this car up using two floor jacks. Where is a good location for the front jack? What about the back? Is it OK to jack it up using the center of the differential?

[Pablo]

Hi. I recently did the brake caliper thing too. It is OK to use the diff as a jack point. Please put a thick towel folded several times on the jack head before you do however. There is another jack point in the front, do same with towel there. I didn't have jack stand so I used cinder blocks with a piece ot 2X8 lumber on top (blocks laid on their side not upright) I put the blocks by the standard jack points on the side of the car.

As mentioned in a previous thread, this technique has been used successfully in the South Bronx for many years. ( you many have to be local to NYC to get that joke)

Have fun and pick a pretty color!

[desmo4]

Buy 4 small jack stands or a set of ramps and 2 jack stands Cinder blocks have no mechanical strength, concrete blocks do, but I wouldn't use them either. If you can push the car off of 2 jacks then it can fall when you are unbolting the calipers. Thus enduth the sermon.

Jonathan

[NEIGHBORHOOD LEGENDS]

Originally Posted by mgm

I'm going to be painting my brake calipers soon but need advice on how to raise this car up using two floor jacks. Where is a good location for the front jack? What about the back? Is it OK to jack it up using the center of the differential?

What color you painting them?

[sky2k]

yeah, what color? you should post some pics after...

[mgm]

yeah, what color? you should post some pics after...

Brackets black and calipers red. I will post pics. when I'm done but it may be a while. Sounds like I need to buy some decent small jackstands and possibly another jack. Plus it says not to use the paint I bought when temp is over 70 degrees. It's been in the 90's here. I will post pics. when done though.

[batguano]

If you are using the G2 kit or any that requires a catalyst, I suggest you only use about half of each and save the rest for touch ups. Once you mix the two, you have a certain time frame to work.
Jack stands for sure.
Use a good wire brush to clean the burrs off the calipers then before you begin to paint, clean the calipers with brake cleaner and let it dry.

Good luck. You will love the results.

[lonestarbuzz]

that's sick with the sticker bat! nice.

[batguano]

Originally Posted by lonestarbuzz

that's sick with the sticker bat! nice.

Thanks. It looks neater now that I have replaced the pads. No over paint on them.

[mgm]

If you are using the G2 kit or any that requires a catalyst, I suggest you only use about half of each and save the rest for touch ups. Once you mix the two, you have a certain time frame to work.
Jack stands for sure.
Use a good wire brush to clean the burrs off the calipers then before you begin to paint, clean the calipers with brake cleaner and let it dry.

Good luck. You will love the results.

That's exactly what I bought. Thanks for the tip. It's not much paint that they give you so I was figuring after 3 light coats I'd use it all.

[gomarlins3]

I have had mine painted for years with G2 paint. I have done them three times with red and recently switched to black. Jack stands are a VERY good idea. Ramps will not work since you are removing the wheels to paint the calipers.

[gomarlins3]

Another suggestion: If you are still on the OEM rotors, it is a good time to remove them and paint the hat and the spines with VERY high temp paint so the rust doesn't show after they get wet. Nothing looks worse than cool calipers clamping rusty rotors.

[J'sS2K]

What kind of paint do you use to paint the rotor? I'd figure the paint would melt for regular spray paint. And where did you get the S2000 decal?

[batguano]

Originally Posted by J'sS2K

What kind of paint do you use to paint the rotor? I'd figure the paint would melt for regular spray paint. And where did you get the S2000 decal?

This is where i got mine.

http://www.vinzdecals.com/create.html

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by desmo4

B Cinder blocks have no mechanical strength,
Jonathan

For somethin' with no strength, they are holding up an awful lot of houses........

[gomarlins3]

Originally Posted by J'sS2K

What kind of paint do you use to paint the rotor? I'd figure the paint would melt for regular spray paint.

VHT Very High Temperature Flame Proof 1300-2000 degree Header paint- ceramic coating spray paint. Bought it at NAPA.

Originally Posted by J'sS2K

And where did you get the S2000 decal?

decalgirl.com, but she stopped making them years ago. I still happened to have a few left over.

[mgm]

I have had mine painted for years with G2 paint. I have done them three times with red and recently switched to black. Jack stands are a VERY good idea. Ramps will not work since you are removing the wheels to paint the calipers.

Thanks for the pics! I'm definetely getting me some jack stands. Just hoping I can find some short ones.

[Pablo]

I used Duplicolor brush on from local autoparts store (Autobarn). Eight bucks. So fra so good. There is enough paint to apply at least 4 coats to each caliper.

[lonestarbuzz]

those look great pablo! did anyone primer, or just thoroughly clean the calipers?

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by lonestarbuzz

those look great pablo! did anyone primer, or just thoroughly clean the calipers?

The Duplicolor came with as "kit". I used the brake cleaner that was supplied and a wire brush (not supplied). No primer.

[Red Stwokay]

Cinder blocks are fine though I have four stands and used them. Use what ever ya got, logs work, hell stack them old unused encyclopedias under there! I like Pabs towel idea, I used a wood block under the differential and just the jack alone in front.

TIP! The higher you get the car the easier the work...

I just wiped mine with a rag and some cleaner, mineral spirits or what ever ya got will work. I bought spray paint from Auto Zone, just plane engine paint good for up to 500 degrees. They had spray caliper paint but it was good up to 500 degrees as well. Couple guys there used the engine paint with good results and they have never steered me wrong so I went with it and am very happy with the results and durability. I did my rotors black and the calipers red. The rotors got wire brushed to remove rust and scale. You know how much work this is so I didn't want to waste my time, I do research and yes this is working out fine. No discoloration, no flaking, peeling etc...

Another TIP! With spray paint you'll be better off taking everything apart and doing a good masking job as necessary... With the spray paint one can of each is way more than enough to do a very nice job with two or three coats to get a nice even coating.

The rotors, I did the front, back, outer edge and fins. Try that with a brush. Just mask the pad contact areas and mating surfaces for the wheels and hubs. Also painted some components while the wheels were off. I used low luster rustoleum with a brush for that.

The lighting was bad in the last three pics so the color is off. The first two are outside, natural light so the color is nearly correct. The calipers are almost a perfect match in color to my car, actually visually they match, no discernable difference to the human eye.

[Broke 20]

ha ha it looks like you have the car jacked up on the living room floor in the last three pictures

[lonestarbuzz]

^^ That's exactly what I thought! What's up with the sculpted carpet, Red?

[DJJSR]

Not everybody does things the best way. I wonder if this guy is still around............

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Red Stwokay

I like Pabs towel idea, I used a wood block under the differential and just the jack alone in front.

I can't take credit for that idea. It came form that free shop manual (pg. 1-13) that some folks were poo pooing in another thread.