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What colour for calipers?

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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 10:42 AM
  #1  
WTR388's Avatar
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From: Atlantic Canada
Car: 87 Trans Am
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
What colour for calipers?

I snagged myself from a 99 Z28 all 4 calipers, brackets, and rear backing plates, they also had new pads, and fresh cross drilled rotors... All for $50 yesterday. (I'm estimating that would have cost me $600+ if I bought it all on line).

So, I'm going to refurb everything before it goes on the car, but I'm not sure what colour to do my calipers. The car is jet black, with some gold highlights in detailing, engine bay highlights etc. I will have gold year one snowflakes at some point, hopefully soon.
Red: Everyone does red, but it stands out.
Black: Not the noticeable behind wheels that are not very wide open.
I'm thinking hugger orange since the parts are all GM, and it will stand out against everything else. Since the wheels don't show much behind them, it will make it noticeable but not too much.

I could do the same gold I have been using, but they might get lost behind wheels with gold highlights in them.

Ideas/opinions?
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 11:02 AM
  #2  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

post pics of the car
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 11:19 AM
  #3  
WTR388's Avatar
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From: Atlantic Canada
Car: 87 Trans Am
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Not sure if it will help too much since the wheels will be different. I don't have my gold pinstripes on yet, but they will be a thin stripe just above the GFX.

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And these are the Y/O wheels:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Year+One+Wheel...GLDV2/10002/-1
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 12:02 PM
  #4  
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Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: What colour for calipers?

Sounds like you got one hell of deal! If you want to double your money, I'll give you $100 for it all! They will be an excellent upgrade for you.

Color. It depends on what you see your car looking like when you close your eyes.

For me, I'd probably coat them in silver, or black. Either will "hide" well behind a bright finished wheel, which would be my goal.

My thinking...if they were 6 piston aluminum Brembos, I might want to scream to the world that they were there...they would have some visual impact worth accentuating in a red, orange, etc.

But personally, I don't think an LS brake upgrade offers that much visual impact. So while nice (again I'd buy them/run them!), I don't think I'd go out of my way to advertise them. But I prefer the more subtle look.

As I say...close your eyes...how do YOU picture presenting them? Like car color, it's very much a personal choice. No right/wrong.

When you get them done, post up some pictures. I'd like to see what they come out looking like.
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 12:55 PM
  #5  
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Car: 1992 Trans Am
Engine: 6.0 LQ4
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Re: What colour for calipers?

I just finished a set in black, and I agree with Dave. While the LS1 brake upgrade is nice, it's not like you're showing off a set of Brembos. I think something neutral like black or silver would go well with the wheels you have planned. It's your car, but I don't think hugger orange would look good. Here's the black set I just finished for my car.

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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 03:48 PM
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Re: What colour for calipers?

I would do black, but paint "Trans Am" on them in gold. That's how I did mine, but I did red and silver and painted Camaro on them. That will be subtle, should match the car and still be pretty cool
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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 03:51 PM
  #7  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

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Old Oct 25, 2015 | 06:39 PM
  #8  
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Car: 87 Trans Am
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Did not expect this type of response.
I agree, the hugger orange is just too out there...
I think I'll end up with the same gold on the calipers with the retaining brackets gloss black since they cover part of the caliper it takes away some of the gold colour and they will blend in with the new wheels while still being somewhat visible.
I was going to do C5 brakes up front, but with the score at the yard yesterday I couldn't say no... Driving season is essentially done here for the year, so now it's mod season.
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Old Oct 26, 2015 | 09:48 PM
  #9  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Originally Posted by dbrochard
Those do look nice.

Originally Posted by WTR388
I think I'll end up with the same gold on the calipers with the retaining brackets gloss black since they cover part of the caliper it takes away some of the gold colour and they will blend in with the new wheels while still being somewhat visible.
Sounds like a plan. Be sure to post some updated pictures when you get them done.
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Old Nov 6, 2015 | 02:05 PM
  #10  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Gray. Looks natural, doesn't stick out but is somewhat noticeable, matches about everything.
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Old Nov 25, 2015 | 09:20 PM
  #11  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Metallic copper is a good color for calipers. Anyway, post pics once you're done painting them.
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Old Nov 26, 2015 | 03:11 PM
  #12  
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From: Atlantic Canada
Car: 87 Trans Am
Engine: LS1
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Gonna be a bit, currently still working on getting my mounts ready to weld to my ZR2 axle, once I have that done (possibly by Saturday) then I'll measure up what I need to get the LS1 rear brakes set up on that diff (would have been bolt on but the mounting flange on the ZR2 axle is too far inward).

Bit slow, we had rememberance day (veterans day) that took a couple days from the schedule, the hobby garage on base isn't open all the time and there are a lot of guys in there doing winter tire changes so it's been a bit slow for me, plus a buddy has an E30 project on the go and I spend more time helping him.
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Old Nov 26, 2015 | 08:42 PM
  #13  
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Car: 1989 Iroc-Z Camaro
Engine: TBI,5.0
Transmission: Automatic 700R4
Axle/Gears: Eaton Posi,3.42,LPW Ultimate Cover
Re: What colour for calipers?

Your car is a beautiful glossy black.
I would stay that way with the calipers.


If my car was black I would not like looking at it from the side and seeing the calipers any other color than black. Any other color will draw the eye to it every time.


The drilled rotor will still show and that's a good thing.


Again ,if they were mine with a black car I would Paint "CAMARO" on them in silver to match the rotors.


If you have your heart set on showing them off a "little" bit than this to me is how I would go. With just the word "CAMARO" on them styled like the one in Reply # 9.

Last edited by Ron U.S.M.C.; Nov 26, 2015 at 08:46 PM.
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Old Nov 26, 2015 | 08:55 PM
  #14  
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Re: What colour for calipers?

I do the caliper carriers in cast iron color and leave the calipers natural aluminum.
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Old Nov 27, 2015 | 03:09 PM
  #15  
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Car: '88 Trans Am GTA
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Mine will be gold when I get around to doing the LS brake swap. My stockers are currently black and they're damn near invisible. Which is fine because they're tiny but with decent sized brakes I think the gold will be a nice subtle touch.
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Old Nov 27, 2015 | 03:24 PM
  #16  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

make them pop..get some chrome on them..
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Old Dec 30, 2015 | 03:43 PM
  #17  
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Re: What colour for calipers?

Or choose a color that looks like unpainted steel. Or anodized silver. It will be different.

Last edited by MintWS6FORMULA; Dec 30, 2015 at 03:47 PM.
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