As I am typing this, I can tell this is a stupid question. But I'm going to ask it anyways.

I am putting LS1 front brakes and LT1 rear brakes on my '91 Camaro. I'm also doing 12" rotors and have new 17" SS/ZR1 wheels, so the brakes will be a lot more visible now. I've always had steel front calipers and rear drums that were barely visible, so I'm a little out of my element.

The front calipers are brand new AC Delco, and the rears are new/reman AC Delco. All are cast aluminum. I like the plain look of aluminum, but really want them to stay that way. Is it worth painting them with a gray/silver caliper paint? I'm sure they will be easier to keep clean, etc. but I don't want to spend any time/money doing it if it is a waste of time. I know aluminum doesn't rust, but it corrodes. I'm just not sure how that impacts the look of the calipers year after year. Since they are new, now's the time to do it - IF I am going to do it at all. Can anyone offer any expertise on this? Thanks.

 

New bare aluminum calipers won't stay looking new for very long especially if your Camaro is a daily driver. If you like the bare aluminum look it would be worth painting them with a high heat caliper paint or clear coat, I like the VHT flavor of paints but results may vary

 

I recently redid my brakes and hit my calipers with VHT caliper paint. All I did to prep them was clean them with brake clean, then 99% alcohol. The paint went on fine, but ended up being pretty thin and scratched off easily. Also, after a winter and just a few hundred miles, I noticed the paint is kinda cracking off the caliper in places. I don't really think it's an issue with the paint, but rather paint adhesion.

I just looked at their website and they recommend their caliper cleaner, followed by their clear coat. So I guess if you're going to do it, buy all the products and follow their instructions closer than I did.

 

If you like the look of bare aluminum/silver, I'd paint 'em silver. It's the easiest way to add protection and ease of maintenance. I've painted most of my calipers for years now, and I've had good luck with both duplicolor and G2 paint systems. I prefer brush on instead of the rattle can for both appearance as well as longevity. Takes a little longer, but I think it works better. 99% of the brush strokes will flow out as it cures.

 

Another option would be to polish them.
Do a service polish as opposed to a maintenance polish.
It's more work than painting, but doesn't chip, scratch, peel, etc.

 

You're right about painting them before you install them, that's the best time to do it. But if you want a natural, silver appearance, then I'd suggest you DON'T paint them with silver caliper paint from G2 or Duplicolor, because the result will be a glossy silver finish that looks PAINTED, not at all natural and will probably disappoint you.

I'd suggest looking for "cast aluminum" (color) paints that leave a flat-ish, "natrual" appearance, such as Rustoleum offers, or products with aluminum in them, such as Alumi Blast. I agree that brush-applied is better and easier when calipers are already installed, but if they're not installed, then spraying them is just as easy, and most "cast aluminum" paints are in spray cans.

Or if preserving the natural appearance is most important, then apply a flat/matte clear coat, or something similar, over the bare calipers to protect them, or they will get ugly. But even ugly, bare aluminum calipers can be brought back to looking new with acid cleaning products, such as Aluminum Brightener from Napa.

The brackets should be painted too, either to match or to coordinate/contrast with the calipers, or they will get really ugly. A lot of people paint them a different color than the calipers, and while that's stylish and attractive, it also has a tendency to make the calipers look small-ish. Whereas painting the brackets to match the calipers presents an image of larger calipers, for a more impressive appearance, IMO.

 

Never painted any of mine, just kept them clean. Used to daily them but not anymore but still look nice.

 

We painted my buddies Silverado calipers with a G2 silver (don't remember which) and they looked pretty darn "natural". Now I suppose a lot depends on the specific appearance of the original, and your own personal preferences for appearance, but I felt they appeared pretty natural, and not painted. Of course, anything would've looked better than greasy grimy DD brakes, so that also plays into my thoughts on how they looked.
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One of the reasons I like brush on is that it goes on MUCH thicker. Almost looks powdercoated how it softens and rounds over hard edges. Now that's what I like about it, however, for a natural look, I would agree that the spray on will go on thinner and look less "painted". I've felt the spray on wasn't as durable, however that's a different issue, and obviously many people have had success with sprays.

 

I used G2 Silver on my truck's calipers a couple of years ago. Good product, brushes on easily, two-part epoxy, virtually indestructible, will probably last "forever." And cleaning painted calipers is simple: grime wipes off quickly and easily. So painting/coating calipers is a good idea, IMO. But in the case of G2 Silver, and other "caliper paints," the finish is likely to be glossy, like mine turned out, which looks nothing like the calipers' clean, natural, cast aluminum. Doesn't look bad, just not very natural, like I'd hoped it would.

Whereas "cast aluminum" paints, which I've also used, most of which are also heat resistant, have the flat-ish/low sheen appearance of cast aluminum and look more "natural," though they're still not undetectable as paint.

I hadn't yet discovered NAPA's Aluminum Brightener, or I'd have probably used that to return the calipers' finish to "new" and then decided whether or not to clear coat them with a low sheen product for protection. In reality, it's doubtful I'd have taken the extra steps on my truck's calipers, so the quick and easy paint job was a good thing. My Firebird, however, I would've taken all of the steps necessary to achieve the type of finish that I really wanted, no matter what...