Painting brake calipers

R

Richfarr

Member
For the average driver that is not going to track days do you really need heat resistant paint on brake callipers?

My old Ford Fiesta had very rusty callipers, so I whip the wheels off, a quick wire brush then painted on a rust eater that then acted as a primer. I used a water based black paint topped off with outdoor clear varnish from the shed. Just over 2 years later I am getting it ready to sell and the paint on the callipers are still looking in great shape.

About the same time my wife got a new Juke, as I like the nice shinny look of a new calliper I put the same varnish on those, no prep just cleaned. I varnished what I could see with the wheels on. Again no signs of flaking and still looking shinny, it is starting to yellow a bit as varnish will.

Painted the callipers on my newish Zed is on my list, has anyone else tried normal paint?
 
Sounds a lot of faffing. Just degrease and use smoothrite (the smooth version of hammerite) straight onto the caliper. Super tough, corrosion resistant and lasts years. The only thing better than that would be to have them powder coated but that's a lot more expensive and hassle.
 
I used smoothrite on the wife's Z. Bright yellow! Her choice, not mine.
Looks good, but I guess being a lighter colour it does look grubby quite quickly.
Every third or fourth wash I blast a bit of wheel cleaner on them and use a long thin brush to scrub it in. Quick squirt with the jet wash and good as new.
 
Someone recently put a link up for this stuff: https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/foliatec-brake-caliper-paint-and-engine-lacquer-243118/
Think I would try this the next time I do a set, good range of colours
 
Fitted E46 calipers, carriers and mtec discs to e85 3.0i a few days ago.

Rebuilt calipers , wire brushed, degreased and painted with black smoothrite. Looks sound thru black mv2s.

From what I've read I expect it to last. We'll see.


Tried to add my first pic. Here's hoping.
 

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I've always had excellent results with Hammerite Smooth. It smells a bit the first few times it gets warm but after that it's fine. Looks great for a long, long time and never rusts. Black on my Z4, blue on my sons 118d and red on our Disco4 :thumbsup: 20201024_211749.jpg20201024_211656.jpg20201024_211710.jpg
 
Bmwforachange said:
Fitted E46 calipers, carriers and mtec discs to e85 3.0i a few days ago.

Rebuilt calipers , wire brushed, degreased and painted with black smoothrite. Looks sound thru black mv2s.

From what I've read I expect it to last. We'll see.


Tried to add my first pic. Here's hoping.
Click to expand...
That looks so much better, can you tell me the part numbers for the carriers and Mtec discs?
 
Hi,

The calipers and carriers came off an e46 330d. Sorry I dont have part numbers. I read the threads on here for compatible parts. I then rebuilt the calipers with 332637440936 ebay kit inc pistons.

Mtec grooved and drilled inc mintex pads ebay 110807179142. Also fitted a new clips for pads and new mintex wear sensor.

Cheers mark
 
I used Halford heat resistant paint on my calipers. Fairly cheap just a wire brush and then paint on. Would recommend it.
 
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