Painting Calipers
Discussion
I think the standard calipers on the Chim let it down let it down aesthetically as they all seem to end up with a surface rust. I was thinking of getting them painted on mine with a high temp paint as I have done with previous cars. However, I cant decide what colour to do them (car is Iris blue Pearlescent):
1) Silver - subtle but might show the dirt
2) Titanium grey - subtle, current favourite
3) Dark Blue - match the car but not sure if this would look good or not.
4) Red - looks good on a Porsche, but maybe a bit much for a Chim? Plus, the calipers look a bit weedy anyway.
5) Black - most subtle I suppose.
Any suggestions? (or pics!)
1) Silver - subtle but might show the dirt
2) Titanium grey - subtle, current favourite
3) Dark Blue - match the car but not sure if this would look good or not.
4) Red - looks good on a Porsche, but maybe a bit much for a Chim? Plus, the calipers look a bit weedy anyway.
5) Black - most subtle I suppose.
Any suggestions? (or pics!)
Edited by nig-gtv on Tuesday 3rd April 13:55
An old shot and perhaps not emphasising exactly what you wanna see but, these are sprayed with a can of gold 'Hammerite'. It's been in place for 20 months and hasn't discoloured or flaked. I havn't cooked the brakes on track however but all's well after big squeezes on the brake pedal.
2Munkys said:
An old shot and perhaps not emphasising exactly what you wanna see but, these are sprayed with a can of gold 'Hammerite'. It's been in place for 20 months and hasn't discoloured or flaked. I havn't cooked the brakes on track however but all's well after big squeezes on the brake pedal.
never mind the callipers (which look very nice BTW) but those wishbones and chassis look absolutely superb.
mgaut said:
2Munkys said:
An old shot and perhaps not emphasising exactly what you wanna see but, these are sprayed with a can of gold 'Hammerite'. It's been in place for 20 months and hasn't discoloured or flaked. I havn't cooked the brakes on track however but all's well after big squeezes on the brake pedal.
never mind the callipers (which look very nice BTW) but those wishbones and chassis look absolutely superb.
I second that.Jees - I thought mine was clean but now I'm depressed
Ta, they only look that way because I stipped them down, applied a rust converter, a zinc rich paint (from a marine specialist) and 'Hammerited' them. Seemed daft not to as I had the things off the car for the fitting of poly bushes. A bloody awful job all round. No rust as yet and I put this down to the zinc rich paint which bonded superbly; very impressed.
Ref' the calipers, the gold (which is quite subtle) works well with the black paintwork of the car, especially when seen on the move through spinning wheels; not as pretentious as could be thought.
Ref' the calipers, the gold (which is quite subtle) works well with the black paintwork of the car, especially when seen on the move through spinning wheels; not as pretentious as could be thought.
2Munkys said:
Ref' the calipers, the gold (which is quite subtle) works well with the black paintwork of the car, especially when seen on the move through spinning wheels; not as pretentious as could be thought.
Yep, looks quite good actually - same colour as calipers often come in when new. Do you have a pic of them with the wheel on?
andy jb said:
just ensure you use high heat paint otherwise it will melt & spoil the finish
I know there are special paints for calipers (not cheap) and I did consider problems may arise. However, nothing untoward has occured to date. Dunno what temp' the calipers can get up to, such as on track, and I don't know what range of temperatures the Smoothrite is suitable for. But for a minimal amount of outlay and preparation the stuff has proven itself. I know others have used it. One large can did all four corners with enough left over for touch up.
2Munkys said:
andy jb said:
just ensure you use high heat paint otherwise it will melt & spoil the finish
I know there are special paints for calipers (not cheap) and I did consider problems may arise. However, nothing untoward has occured to date. Dunno what temp' the calipers can get up to, such as on track, and I don't know what range of temperatures the Smoothrite is suitable for. But for a minimal amount of outlay and preparation the stuff has proven itself. I know others have used it. One large can did all four corners with enough left over for touch up.
Did you prime the calipers before using the smoothrite?
I was thinking of getting mine powder coated...that should last a while!!!
andy-w said:
2Munkys said:
andy jb said:
just ensure you use high heat paint otherwise it will melt & spoil the finish
I know there are special paints for calipers (not cheap) and I did consider problems may arise. However, nothing untoward has occured to date. Dunno what temp' the calipers can get up to, such as on track, and I don't know what range of temperatures the Smoothrite is suitable for. But for a minimal amount of outlay and preparation the stuff has proven itself. I know others have used it. One large can did all four corners with enough left over for touch up.
Did you prime the calipers before using the smoothrite?
I was thinking of getting mine powder coated...that should last a while!!!
No priming, any surface conversion that once was had long dissapeared. Just a basic strip down (didn't remove pistons, dusteals or handbrake mechanism) and a good old stiff wire-brushing. Mask off that which needed it and merrily sprayed away with the utmost disregard for the kitchen work-tops.
I guess it depends on how far you want to take it all; it'd be nice to have them stove enamelled I guess. Anyway, I'm satisfied with the results achieved. And as I say, they've not deteriorated in almost two years.
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