Painting Brake Calipers

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-30-2011, 04:47 PM

My calipers are stock and they came on the car as already annodized gray from the factory.

I've been thinking about getting them powder-coated red.

I work with a company that does powder-coating so I'm pretty sure they will blast them and paint them for me for free. They also currently use "fire engine red".

My question is: I am assuming I have to disassemble the internal pistons, etc on the calipers. I will also have to remove the brake line.

Any tips on this? Will I have to buy a new kit to put the caliper back together? How tough is this? Where can I order it from?

When I remove the brake line, any special tool needed? Will I need to do anything after re-installing the calipers? Bleed the brakes, etc?

Thank you,
Jon

**Knight** · 01-30-2011, 05:17 PM

I'm not sure, but I'd be willing to guess most auto supply stores will carry a rebuild kit for the calipers. I don't know if the seals would survive the dismantle. As for removal of the brake line, a 3/8 open end wrench will remove the fitting, but I would suggest a 3/8 open end flare wrench if you have one as the fittings tend to round off and can become more difficult to remove. Sometimes a set of vise grips come in handy in that situation. Upon reinstallation, you will more than likely need to bleed them.

**0rion** · 01-30-2011, 05:25 PM

it's a pretty straight forward job really and yes, you can get rebuild kits at parts stores. Powder coating is definitely the way to go. First time I did mine I tore them completely apart and sprayed them. Lasted quite a while really but the second time I did them I used the brush on paints. Doesn't look near as good close up but so far has been much more durable than the spray.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-30-2011, 05:26 PM

That was the other option. My friend bought a caliper painting kit and brushed his red. He has left-over paint that I could use, but I figured powder-coating would probably be superior over brushing.

**0rion** · 01-30-2011, 05:32 PM

yes....it's far superior but also a lot more work. That's why I've always just painted mine. Much faster and cheaper. Doesn't look as good and won't last as long as powder but from 5 feet away they look fine to me.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-30-2011, 05:39 PM

I understand and most I've seen are probably brushed on and I think they looked fine. Some even up close, if prepped and enough time was spent on them.

I just have the option to powder-coat for free and probably have it completed in a day or 2 from the company so I was thinking about going this route instead. Just wanted to know how much hassle it was to take everything apart and put it back together again.

**Y2KPewterSS** · 01-30-2011, 05:47 PM

I have tried both the spray and brushed on applications. I have had better success with spray on. I have a second set of calipers I have always wanted to powdercoat. Maybe one of these days I might do it

Powdercoating is definitely the best of all the options.

**pajeff02** · 01-30-2011, 05:58 PM

I went the spray route with ours and have been very pleased with the results. I found that a cap from a spray can works just about perfect to cover the piston and boot. You just have to contour the edge a bit with a pair of scissors.

**20ws6speed01** · 02-01-2011, 04:58 PM

A friend of mine bought a new set of calipers,disassemble them & powdercoated...That way if he messed them up, he could still drive to work..(powdercoated is alot smoother.. imo)