caliper spruce up

[cococola]

I collected my 2004 Z4 recently and noticed that the disc edges and the brake calipers were rusty so I rubbed down the rust and painted the disc edge black and then the brake caliper in a nice bright red caliper paint.
Finishing off with covering the wheel studs with chrome bolt caps.I hope everybody likes the results attached.

 

[Zedebee]

Good job on the callipers, did you paint them in situ?

I don’t much like the chrome bolt caps though, too bright compared to the wheel.

 

[MikeyH]

Very nice job, what paint did you use for the disc as mine are looking rusty on the edge.

 

[cococola]

Very nice job, what paint did you use for the disc as mine are looking rusty on the edge.

I used matt black spray and topped up with a black gloss so either one if you want shiney or dull finish.
The caliper paint was on ebay as ferrari red caliper paint in brush on because it takes better on the calipers.

 

[Zedebee]

Very nice job, what paint did you use for the disc as mine are looking rusty on the edge.

I have found Hammerite very satisfactory for the brake discs.

 

[Pondrew]

Very nice job, what paint did you use for the disc as mine are looking rusty on the edge.

I have found Hammerite very satisfactory for the brake discs.

Agreed. Smooth Hammerite is excellent for calipers; it is dirt cheap, goes a long way and is very durable.

I also paint the hub part of the discs in smooth black hammerite. It can be applied directly to rust too

 

[cococola]

Isnt it amazing how a mornings work like this can improve our cars so much.Its also the sort of job that bI enjoy doing.

 

[Nanu]

Very nice job, what paint did you use for the disc as mine are looking rusty on the edge.

I have found Hammerite very satisfactory for the brake discs.

Agreed. Smooth Hammerite is excellent for calipers; it is dirt cheap, goes a long way and is very durable.

I also paint the hub part of the discs in smooth black hammerite. It can be applied directly to rust too

I assume they are easy to paint in situ once the wheel has been removed that is?

 

[Mr Tidy]

The paint on your calipers and disc centre is a huge improvement.

I'm not sure about the chrome covers on the bolt heads. I bought a set of black ones on Ebay but they were such a loose fit I've never used them!

 

[Zedebee]

I have found Hammerite very satisfactory for the brake discs.

Agreed. Smooth Hammerite is excellent for calipers; it is dirt cheap, goes a long way and is very durable.

I also paint the hub part of the discs in smooth black hammerite. It can be applied directly to rust too

I assume they are easy to paint in situ once the wheel has been removed that is?

Yes, you can paint all the visible bits, but if you want to paint the whole calliper, you really need to take them off which is no biggy if you take precautions to prevent brake fluid loss and give them a bleed after.

 

[MikeyH]

The paint on your calipers and disc centre is a huge improvement.

I'm not sure about the chrome covers on the bolt heads. I bought a set of black ones on Ebay but they were such a loose fit I've never used them!

My wife’s Ford Focus cab has them and yes they are also a little loose. But they brighten up her wheels

 

[cococola]

I bought the chrome caps off ebay and the push on quite tightly and there is a tool that clips on and pulls them off.
I painted the discs in situ its just a case of taking your time and its well worth the finish...Very therapeutic too

 

[Nanu]

Agreed. Smooth Hammerite is excellent for calipers; it is dirt cheap, goes a long way and is very durable.

I also paint the hub part of the discs in smooth black hammerite. It can be applied directly to rust too

I assume they are easy to paint in situ once the wheel has been removed that is?

Yes, you can paint all the visible bits, but if you want to paint the whole calliper, you really need to take them off which is no biggy if you take precautions to prevent brake fluid loss and give them a bleed after.

Cheers, visible bits it is then. Have some silver hammerite somewhere in the garage already so that should look fine with VO.

 

[Pondrew]

I bought the chrome caps off ebay and the push on quite tightly and there is a tool that clips on and pulls them off.

I did the same but three split as I was pushing them on so gave up and bought a set of 20 bright silver bolts off eBay for about £15. They are holding up well and still clean up nice. No locking bolts but does anybody nick wheels anymore?

£1 centre cap, £4 bolts and 20p of paint later:

 

[Zedebee]

I bought the chrome caps off ebay and the push on quite tightly and there is a tool that clips on and pulls them off.

I did the same but three split as I was pushing them on so gave up and bought a set of 20 bright silver bolts off eBay for about £15. They are holding up well and still clean up nice. No locking bolts but does anybody nick wheels anymore?

£1 centre cap, £4 bolts and 20p of paint later:
IMG_8086.JPGIMG_8114.JPG

Excellent refurb Pond

 

[tiglon]

Please excuse the stupid questions - but do you need a high temp paint for calipers, and are we talking about applying with a brush rather than spray?

 

[Pondrew]

Please excuse the stupid questions - but do you need a high temp paint for calipers, and are we talking about applying with a brush rather than spray?

The paint one not a stupid question and one which seems down to personal taste. I used to think that calipers had to be removed and stove enamelled with ultra high temperature expensive paint. Turns out not so. Maybe if you were racing around a track all day the paint may 'melt' off but for everyday use 'normal' Hammerite paint holds up well.
I did all mine with a very small artist's brush while still attached to the hubs. The protruding hubs of the discs are really easy to paint aswell and look so much better than standard. As said above I find it very therapeutic and the difference is instant. Also a 250ml tin of hammerite will probably paint every caliper on every car in the world; twice.

 

[tiglon]

Please excuse the stupid questions - but do you need a high temp paint for calipers, and are we talking about applying with a brush rather than spray?

The paint one not a stupid question and one which seems down to personal taste. I used to think that calipers had to be removed and stove enamelled with ultra high temperature expensive paint. Turns out not so. Maybe if you were racing around a track all day the paint may 'melt' off but for everyday use 'normal' Hammerite paint holds up well.
I did all mine with a very small artist's brush while still attached to the hubs. The protruding hubs of the discs are really easy to paint aswell and look so much better than standard. As said above I find it very therapeutic and the difference is instant. Also a 250ml tin of hammerite will probably paint every caliper on every car in the world; twice.

Brilliant, thank you

A job for a summer day!

 

[cococola]

Wow yours were in worse condition than mine, the outcome is a major improvement though. 8)

 

[Zedebee]

You can take the caliper holder off the car without disconnecting the caliper, just make sure the caliper is supported and not left dangling. This means you can give the give the caliper holder a good scrub and clean (a drill with a wire brush attachment is good here) and allows you to paint into a few more nooks and crannies than if you paint it fully assembled.