Hey guys, I'd like to paint my brake calipers since they're kinda ugly with rust. And I'll be rebuilding my front end so I figured why not. Now how would I treat the rust? Or can I just spray the caliper paint right over it?


this is what i'm dealing with:


Oh and what color do you think would look good? I'm thinking black but I'm open to suggestions. I have a 91 Trans Am convertible with the gold rims, forest green paint, and a tan top.

 

How about using POR-15? Just knock off any flaking rust (none in your case) & POR-15 is great directly over rust.

This will easily do both calipers & some left over for the rears, rear end cover....Whatever else you wanna do. It would do an entire rear end, if you wanted, with some spare. Maybe you can do the whole rear end & your front calipers with it?
http://www.por15.com/SUPER-STARTER-K...ductinfo/SSKB/

 

Hmmm I actually have Chassis Saver lying around so I might try that... thanks for the idea! I just never really thought that it would handle the heat but I called the company and they said it should work fine. I'd like to do my rear end but I'm just gonna wait until I get a new one (disc 3.42) since the stock drum 2.73 isn't doing me much lol.

 

You could hook up an electric drill and use a wire brush wheel and grind away all the loose rust. Then go to Auto Zone/ Advance/ PepBoys and buy a can of caliper spray paint. It is a high temp paint and will last quite awhile.

 

I've got an angle grinder. So I'd just use a wire cup brush to smooth it out and remove the rust. After that I'd clean it really good and hit it with some paint. If you don't have an angle grinder I'd add one to your tool box. It is literally one of the best and most useful power tools I've ever purchased.

 

Oh yeah I got one of those. I use it all the time! I'm not sure what I'll do yet since I didn't get to the front end yet. I just don't wanna have to take any brake lines off or anything.

 

I used my Dremel (with the flex shaft) to smooth out my calipers & remove any casting "bumps". Good for using the wire brush on it, for getting to the small areas to "sand"/clean them.

 

It'll look a lot better if you do.. Buy a rebuild kit for the calipers too right away, take them totally apart, clean them, paint, then re-assemble. I just did that with some rear calipers I bought on ebay, took a couple hours to do and most of that was waiting for the paint to dry.

 

Oh crap I just remembered I need a brake flush anyway... yeah I guess I'll do that and bleed the brakes while I'm at it.

 

A reman caliper costs like $13 at the parts store and comes all shiny, like new. You may want to consider that before attempting a rebuild or investing much time or money into getting the rust off. You'll just have to clean the light oil coating on the reman caliper-then coat with POR15-top coat with your favorite color. Give it a few days before installing, any brake fluid will eat fresh paint quickly.