DrDrilZ

i noticed on every used 997 with the standard brakes, the black calipers were not glossy anymore. my S has red calipers and they still look new. is it a different paint used for the red? or have these owners been on the track and is a result of the heat?

99firehawk

usualy a result of the cleaning sprays used on the car

sharmat

Any role for waxes/polish to bring back the gloss?
Would it hurt the "PORSCHE" lettering?

JENGLAND

The black standard calipers are not an enamel paint like the red ones. It is almost like a powdercoating or dye. i don't know what kind of paint they use but it is not like the black enamel that use to be used on the 996 and older cars. The base Boxster has the same problem. that fades with time and heat. I see them all the time at our dealership.

sharmat

I think mine look ok so far but looks like there is no way to really prevent this problem. i just try to give them a wipe down during regular washes. What else can you do?

PAULSPEED

Hi,
You could take the wheels off and wax them.
Paul

mdrums

This is the exact reason I DO NOT use those acid type of cleaning wheel sprays on my Porsche. They will ruin the paint on the calipers.

jaf996cab

says they (3.6 Carrera) are anodized and the S calipers are painted.

Jeff
07 C2S

gota911

You could try to spray them with a gloss clear coat spray like Duplicolor Engine Enamel - Clear. It is rated heat resistant to 500 degrees. In February of '06, I painted the stock black calipers on my 996 Red, and then "top coated" the calipers with this spray. So far, after 11 months, it has held up well.

If you decide to spray your calipers, MAKE SURE you cover your car with a drop cloth (one of the lightweight plastic kind will work) because "sprays" get air born and settle on everything. Take two minutes to cover your car so you don't have to spend hours removing over-spray from it. Don't ask me how I know this!

The first 2 pics were taken the day I sprayed the clear coat on the calipers (Feb. '06) and the 3rd pic was take in Dec. of '06.

Paul S.

I agree with you--there has to be something different on the black vs. red. I have yet to see a set of "reds" fade like the basic black ones do; the blacks get very chalky. And something definitely changed. I had a 99 Boxster with black calipers that didn't fade; but you look on the dealer's lot and Boxsters and 997's with faded black calipers are common.

99firehawk

the red ones fade too, when you sue acid wheel cleaner, it turns them dull pink

cleanme

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll be careful about that. Tim it looks like that 'Clearcoat' you applied made them look...shinier?

gota911

The Duplicolor Caliper paint has a gloss finish (shiny). The clear coat was added mainly to protect the PORSCHE decals I applied to the newly painted calipers. And yes, the clear coat is a little more glossy (shinier), but not much different than the caliper paint gloss finish.

997driver

The black calipers are not faded, as stated before several times, they are just anodized aluminum, and the 'S' brakes are painted red, hence the high gloss finish compared to the flat finish of the anodized aluminum.

Coochas

Hey Tim....
Great caliper shots man !!