Painted my calipers today

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dezzy
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Painted my calipers today

Post by dezzy » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:01 pm

Okay, I know a lot of people think it's a bit chav to paint brake calipers, but I think if it's done right it can look really good. The way I see it is that Porsches, Ferraris and so on come from the factory with their calipers painted, so nowt wrong with painting our wee sports cars' calipers too!

I think the standard front calipers look a bit ugly and look really filthy once they get a bit of brake dust on them. Thought black would look good and did the neat little trick of making the raised LOTUS lettering silver. Also painted just inside the circumference of the disks as it was really rusty looking there.

Before:

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Calipers done black (this is when I decided I'd definitely do the LOTUS in silver):

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After:

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With wheel back on:

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Personally, I think it looks dramatically better and very cool! 8) :D

Will do rears at some point during the week.

BTW, if anyone wants to do this and plans on doing the LOTUS lettering like I did, I found a neat trick on SELC*CK: Paint the whole caliper your chosen colour. Then, once that paint is dry, paint the lettering colour onto a little bit of cardboard the size of the letters and press onto the raised letters. Hold for a few seconds, then lift to reveal the letters in your chosen colour! You may need to touch up a little bit with a fine brush.

Also fitted the Eliseparts anti-squeal pad thingies while I had the pads off, so will soon find out if it stops my pagids squealing before they're up to temp.

D
:D
2009 Mini Cooper, Midnight Black
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow

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Stewart
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Post by Stewart » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:21 pm

Looking good 8)
Stewart

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ExigeKen
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Post by ExigeKen » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:33 pm

Nice work Dezzy :thumbsup
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Ricky_111R
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Post by Ricky_111R » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:03 pm

Looks good mate...I might get inspired next time home :lol:
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Ricky_111R
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Post by Ricky_111R » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:06 pm

Oh p.s.....

Clean your wheels man :lol:
Storm Titanium 111R-Miss Chasing The Cam :-(
On The Hunt For Lotus Number 2 :-D
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dezzy
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Post by dezzy » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:27 pm

Ricky_111R wrote:Oh p.s.....

Clean your wheels man :lol:
My paws were mucky from handling calipers/pads/etc . . . plus, I don't think hosing down my wheels while there's paint drying behind them would be the best thing to do! :wink: :lol:
2009 Mini Cooper, Midnight Black
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mckeann
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Post by mckeann » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:32 pm

poof :roll:

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mckeann
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Post by mckeann » Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:47 pm

same difference :lol:

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j2 lot
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Post by j2 lot » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:51 pm

Personally, I think it looks dramatically better and very cool!
I'm with you on that - if I ever find time might have a go too - what paint did you use? Keith
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kenny
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Post by kenny » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:55 pm

mckeann wrote:poof :roll:
Moderator! ban this monster!



Looks good to me Des, ignore the gimps.

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BiggestNizzy
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Post by BiggestNizzy » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:08 pm

The black looks good, nice job
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jj
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Post by jj » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:10 pm

Dont know how long the paint on the discs will last!

Calipers do look better black than rusty 8)

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dezzy
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Post by dezzy » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:12 pm

j2 lot wrote:
Personally, I think it looks dramatically better and very cool!
I'm with you on that - if I ever find time might have a go too - what paint did you use? Keith
Brake caliper paint kit from Halfrauds: clicky

Comes with spray cleaner and hardner. Used Hammerite smooth (in silver) for the inside of the disks and the lettering. In terms of time, it took about 4 hours in total, including wheel removal, pad removal, cleaning, 2 coats of each paint. Then just leave it to dry for a couple of hours before putting pads/wheels back on. Then leave for 24 hours before you drive it again to let caliper paint fully harden. :thumbsup

I'm hoping the fact that it's rained tonight doesn't stop the paint from drying properly. :roll:
2009 Mini Cooper, Midnight Black
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow

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dezzy
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Post by dezzy » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:16 pm

jj wrote:Dont know how long the paint on the discs will last!
You mean dirt or rust? Surely it won't rust again as the paint has coated over the rust? :? I don't mind it getting dirty again and covered in brake dust . . . it's the rust that bothered me. Got the idea from SELC*CK. A few folk there have done it and nobody mentioned the paint on the inside of the disk not lasting.
2009 Mini Cooper, Midnight Black
2008 Elise S, Solar Yellow

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kenny
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Post by kenny » Sun Jul 15, 2007 11:18 pm

NOOPS 160 wrote:Must be some S2 , look I've got brakes pish... :lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:
Damn tootin', when us S2'ers are overtaking you we wanna make sure we have every bit o bling to let you know you're slow showing. :D

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