Painting brake calipers...red or silver???
 

Anyone have any pics?

I would go with Red. I think tesv12 painted his Red too and the pics can be found on RF website. PNG wouldn't agree with me on this ;)

Yeah, I'm not a fan of painting calipers red, although I think they look good when they come stock. I think the silver looks great, particularly on a Ti Silver X5. I recall Art's X5 4.6is painted his calipers silver and had the clips finished in nickel. That looked at hot.

I think that either one is better than letting them get corroded/brake dust colored with age.

IMO, if you upgrade the rotors to cross drilled/slotted or some such red would be the choice. I tend to think silver would be the best in a OEM fashion set up which is probably what I will go with when the time comes.

Edit: On second thought, I would probably paint the stock calipers silver instead of red even on a rotor upgrade. Like PNG said, 8 piston brembos look good in red, but silver would look clean and "not fake" so to speak on OEM. These calipers painted silver would look sharp.

silver.....I agree with the others, red looks like you are trying to "advertise" an upgraded system.

Below you'll find pictures of the red calipers from TesV12 and two pictures when I had my OEM calipers painted in black. I personally like black is it also helps in coping with the brake dust generated by the OEM brakes.
Regardless which color you are using make sure you're using high quality (heat resistent) paint and you take your time (and multiple coats) , otherwise the calipers may peel very quickly and will look worse than before :)

http://www.janixworld.com/x5/calipers/red.JPG
http://www.janixworld.com/x5/calipers/red2.JPG

and in black

http://www.janixworld.com/x5/calipers/front%20brake.JPG
http://www.janixworld.com/x5/caliper...20on%20car.JPG

- Jan

Here are pics of KirkX5m's brakes - more in his Gallery - http://www.xoutpost.com/gallery/brows...erid=62&page=1

http://xoutpost.com/gallery/files/6/2/KirkX5MBrembo.JPG

http://xoutpost.com/gallery/files/6/2/KirkX5MBrembo3.JPG

http://xoutpost.com/gallery/files/6/2/KirkX5M14.JPG

Bad photo, at night, hard to see because of the rim's spokes, and not touched up yet, but I just did Brembo drilled rotors and painted the stock calipers silver. I'll do a better job with pics tomorrow in the daylight. The one with the unpainted stock caliper with the X still on the lift was taken with my camera phone, it sucks.

BTW...good advice from jmh about the type of paint to use. I used a special paint called, accordingly, 'caliper paint'. It's a porcelain type, similar to what's used on stoves and ranges, it handles heat real well.

JV

hey guys been off reading the forums for a week or so, but its nice to be reading these posts again! RED!!!!! thanks for posting the pic jeff

Welcome back. Yes, red does look nice... when they're on big ol' Brembos like yours! :p Give me a set of those binders and I'll even take them in Barney purple.

I have done both and the silver is much better on the silver car. Looks more subtle and not as out of place. The only exception is if you get big A$$ Brembo's or Porsche Big Reds.

Just my .02

I like red

Silver

Nice!

I like silver too.

I can name the city where the pictures were takin in post #7 too:). Memories....

Wow ok think you win...resurrection of a 10yo thread

whats your thoughts on yellow calipers estoril blue 4.6

What would you guys recommend cleaning them with prior to painting? Simple green? Any harm in the cleaner making it's way down to the pads?

TIA

I personally think yellow calipers on Estoril would be pretty disgusting. But then again you asked for opinion


To the guy above me, clean the calipers with brake cleaner

Brake clean and wire brush. Did mine in silver on estoril and looks good.

Agreed yellow on blue doesnt work. Decided on silver thinking anything else would make me a poser.

On a related note, what about silver or black?

I am fine with silver, but the caliper surface being rough as cast, it might not last, which is why I am thinking of black as well?

I use the truck mostly on weekends and clean once a week minimum with a pressure washer.

Oh, and how is VHT caliper paint for this job? Will I need the clear coat for it too?

I used Epoxy paint designed for calipers. Long lasting, easy clean, easy project.

Link: G2 Brake Caliper Paint Systems: G2 Brake Caliper Paint System Set

You can buy it from www.TireRack.com at a discount.

The image below is with two coats.