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Doing a set of calipers. The duplicolor red I have been using looks to maroon to me. Anyone have any experience with other brands that actually turn out looking like "big reds"?
Mine are painted in Guard's red cellulose and have stood up well for over 10 years. Showing a few chips now from wheel removal but otherwise fine. Appreciate some use special heat resistant paints but I am left wondering why.
I hear VHT's caliper paint is pretty good. Mine were painted by my Dad back in 2001 with a caliper kit made by G2. They are now chipping in two spots on the driver side front caliper only due to the fact a tire installer completely missed the lug nut, striking the brake.
The G2 Caliper kit is brush painted. Make sure you use even strokes if you choose this route.
Yup, that is why I mentioned VHT. Very user friendly stuff. My ML350's brake calipers were painted with it. Nothing red or flashy, just their silver paint to make them look new after the appearance looked a little worn.
I just refurbed all mine using VHT spray paint and their clear lacquer. I stayed original so went for Gloss Black, so can't comment on how their red looks. But it's good quality stuff, applies nicely and results in good finish.
Over the years I have painted several sets of calipers. I get guards red paint from the auto body supply store (Carquest) in my area; had them mix a quart of guards red paint (with or without reducer- mixing is easy), epoxy 2k (2k = with hardner) primer (from Eastwood) and 2k high gloss clear (also from Eastwood). Prep is the critical part. Strip or scuff (in the case of new or undamaged surface) the surface and prime. I picked up the atomizer/sprayer from Home Depot used to spray guards red which was applied same day as epoxy primer. Let setup/offgas overnight and next day apply PORSCHE decal and apply 2k clear. I have not used high temp paint and unless you're going to do track event it's not necessary. This process has held up extremely well over the years.
Here's a set of GTS calipers I did for my GT this past weekend:
Wish I'd known about high temp paint only necessary for track. There were few sources for the VHT gloss black, so was quite expensive and had to wait for supplies when I needed more. If I could have used regular auto paint would have made job simpler.