Painting Calipers Safely?

[Jesse16v]

My new brakes came today and now im just waiting for my hoses,dot4 fluid,copper grease to turn up then im going to fit them. but im wanting to clean up my calipers and spray/paint them, is it safe enough to do this whilst their still on the car? also would brushing the paint on be better or using spray cans? im going to do them in matt black.

Just after some tips really

 

[gregwilliams333]

yeah fine painting them on the car just cover the bleed nips and all other bits you dont want paint to get on ie arch liners, spings/shocks and brake discs wont do no harm but look gash

 

[Barney3589]

Hi Jesse16V

I paint my calipers using gloss black hammerite by brush. Not to difficult and you get the chance to clean inside the arch etc at same time.

Quick tip , place the can of paint in hot water, it thins the paint and makes it go on easier .

 

[Jesse16v]

Ah thankyou I feel more confident doing by brush as i can get into the grooves etc, what would you suggest i use to clean the calipers with? i have some carb cleaner? Does it matter what gloss black hammerite i use? or can i just purchase the one down B&Q?

How long does it take to dry? Because i would like to do the calipers before i fit the brakes on. Do you have a picture of what yours turned out like?

The hammerite i have seen is :

Hammered Hammerite:

Or Smooth Hammerite

Whats the best?

 

[Jesse16v]

Really want to order the paint and cleaner/s tonight so could anyone help?

 

[CHRISK172+]

If you have a Boyes near you they sell a large aeosol of brake cleaner for £3.50, enough to clean all 4 brakes. I used halfords caliper paint....£9.99 using a 1/4 brush. Remove disc and caliper, then put caliper back on uing top bolt only and nip up with the caliper swung out a bit.....doddle to paint.....2-3 coats, once you've done 1 coat, start next coat.....job done.

 

[Jesse16v]

Im just ordering my bits from ebay, want to get everything in order before i start. did you get more than 250mls of caliper paint? this is my daily driver so i cant really afford to leave it more than 2 days really, is it going to take that long to dry?

I dont want to spend loads getting a pro to fit my brakes, ive done front pads & discs before but ages ago, anything i should be aware of to refresh my memory? safety wise

Ill look into some proper brake cleaner then!

 

[cat171]

I used black hammerite smooth to do mine. I wire brushed the areas up inc the calipers. Painted them up, left them about an hour before I put the second coat on. Then left them overnight before I put the wheels back on the car.

Hammerite smooth was about a fiver from B&Q the paint brush was about two pounds.

Pics of the end result are in the 'show us your calipers thread'