Peter F

Have just mounted my new brake disks and painted the calipers red.
I have sanded the paint off the Porsche letters .



Now my question is, should I spray a layer with clear paint before mounting?
And if so what type should I use?
The red is a paint for brake calipers on a spray can, but I have not found any clearcoat for calipers.
I guess they can get a bit warm with some inspired driving
Would it be folish to use normal clearcoat for wheels?

Cheers/Peter

Adam C

No Clearcoat on mine and they are fine. You did a great job, but I don't think you should have painted the bleed screw - I left this alone along with the rubber cap since paint will not stick to this - at least after a bleed job. I'd strip that down.

Also, paint the disc hub black since it will rust in short order.

Vlocity

You would need a clearcoat that would stand up to the high brake temps.

If you clearcoat with just a regular paint it will yellow.

I'd quit while you are ahead.

Ken

Peter F

Hi Adam,

the discs will be rust proof for 3-5 Years with the yellow chrome plating done to them, no paint needed.
Ken, that is exactly my concern, dont want a clear cote if it might get discoloured.

Cheers/Peter

Adam C

Ok Peter, but my brand new zimmerman rotors that were plated with something started rusting not two months after i put them on - and I never drive in the rain!

Cheap insurance to paint the hubs black. IMHO.

Peter F

Hi Adam,

most new discs have very poor rust resistance from factory, accept maybe Porsche original which I beleive have treated caps?
My discs are Sebro discs and i had the company doing the slits, chrome them as well.
According to them they will not rust the first three years, I beleive it when I see it. (will soon know though)
It will wear of quickly on the pad surfaces, it will only take a few miles.

Cheers/Peter

the flyin' scotsman

Peter..........I painted my front brake calpers also and added a high temp clear coat. I also cleaned and polished my bleed screws and pipe that joins the 2 caliper halves and masked them before painting.

Big Easy Sharkster

Anybody got some pictures of red calipers on a black shark? I'm thinking of painting my stock black calipers red. Don't want to get too much 'showboat'.

Ed MD

Use high temp clear coat, it helps when your cleaning them later, also paint the disc drums black while you're there.Ed M

Ed Scherer

Click the pic for a bunch more "black shark with red calipers" photos.



When I got my Big Red fronts, I painted the rears red, too. A few coats of VHT 1200°F clear on top, and they're looking fine three years later. Also used VHT 1200°F clear over some VHT 1500°F silver on the Zimmerman rear rotors, which rusted really badly within a couple of months of putting them on the first time. Word to the wise... if you get rotors like the Zimmermans, paint the hats before you put them on, so you don't have to remove them, paint them, and put them back on like I did.

Oscar M

Peter,

Did mine with touch up paint. It comes in a small glass jar and includes a brush. Can be bought at most auto parts places. The finish holds up fairly well on the calipers. I tried clear coating them once and found the clear to heat up and bond to the brake pad dust....not good. I cleaned them up and kept with the paint only method.

Peter F

Hi Ed,

nice pictures, like the kitchen approach on curing the paint
I assume that wife was away shopping or something...
So there is high temp clear coat available in spray cans.
I have not been able to find it so far in Sweden.
And by the way the 'dirt' inside the fenders is not dirt.
It is old wax for rust proofing, that will be cleaned outdoor when it is warmer.
We had down to -8 F this week so it will be at least 1-2 months.

Cheers/Peter

Big Easy Sharkster

Ed MD and Ed Scherer - thank you very much for the pictures... answer's my question exactly. Surprisingly, the 'style' I liked the best was the black caliper, red lettering (mine is presently white lettering) and painted porsche caps... very refined!