While giving the mini a bath today, i was thinking that if the brake calipers were painted cr like the body, it would look really sweet. Anyone else do this yet, possibly with the crown spoke wheels.

 

Ayup, I used G2 paint. I also painted the rotor hats too, I personally really like painted hats. I have a post here somewhere with pics, I'll try to find it.

After about a year and 12K miles, they color is still as bright and shiny as when I painted them.

YD

 

Same, though I need to touch them up. Paint is coming off after a year.

 

I painted mine silver to match the wheels. I also painted the hub. So far they are holding up good after 7 months. Picture in my gallery.

 

I am actually planning on painting my hats black along with the rims in the next few weeks (calipers are getting G2 orange)...do I need to regrease the hats with the anti seize stuff or will the rims still come off easily the next time I have to take them off without it on?

 

I painted mine in red and they are holding up pretty good I used G2 paint, the only problem is that they get really dirty because of the brake dust and they get kind a dark after not washing your wheels for some time.

 

Autozone special and its held up fine so far!

 

I suggest checking and adding new antiseize to the center hub as necessary every time you remove a wheel. Also remove and apply antiseize to the little torx screw that keeps the rotor in alignment with the hub. I also do not tighten that torx much at all, just enough to get the head just below the flush level of the rotor. Once the wheel is in place, that torx screw is doing nothing, except keeping you from removing the rotor if it rusts in place.

Brake dust can be totally eliminated with the appropriate brake pad, especially if you are just driving, not autocrossing and racing.

Any dirt and dust can be washed off the caliper and also the inside parts of your wheels through the wheel openings if you get the long, soft, flexible brush talked about in some of these threads. It is a motorcycle brush sold by a motorcycle vendor.. I'll try to find the link.

YD

 

Painted mine with Orange G2 caliper paint...thanks pete

 

did you sandblast or prep beyond just the wire brush method?

 

Any chance painting calipers would void a warranty?

 

nah , its just paint.

 

Here's mine, with red hats, too, courtesy of Autozone!

 

what is the process to do it? prep work? do i have ot remove the wheel?

txhs in advacen

 

Yes must remove the wheels...and really is ideal to get the whole car on 4 jack stands and all wheels removed

I found the most time to be in the prep (which goes for just about anything as long as you want it to come out right) its all in the prep...first wiped them down, then sprayed and wiped with brake cleaner, then some steel brush and more brake cleaner and wipe....do other wheels...then you almost have to do it all over again because it seems like that brake dust is never ending haha
You can easily expect about 30+ min per wheel

Now you must mask off the parts you don't want to get paint on (rotors, brake pads, or any piece of the brake pad, brake lines, etc)
Can easily expect another 30+ min per wheel here as well

Then (if you have the brush on paint) you can begin mixing in the reactor....this leaves you with a window of 4-6 hours to get all the coats you want (2 is all you need)
This part takes about the same 30+ min per wheel because 15 min is needed between coats...I did the fronts first...painting each coat takes about 10-15 min so once your done the other caliper is ready for another coat

Goodluck and if you need more help, just ask

 

I only did the steel brush, paper towels, and a lot of brake cleaner oh yeah and a ton of Q-tips to get all the little areas

 

Here's my writeup...

 

Nice write up on the painting. I guess that it really isn't necessary to remove the calipers then. If you do remove them and support them correctly, does it make the job easier?

 

I used the duplicolor caliper paint. It's ceramic I think and you use it right out of the can. No reactor or anything. Good for a year with weekly washes and then in spring I touch up a couple chips or flakes. Nice thing is it is easy to touch up if needed as you use it from the can as is.

 

Frankly I think it would make it harder.... it's pretty darn easy with them on there... and they're not moving around AT ALL.... which they'd tend to do, no matter how you hung them... No reason to remove them IMHO...

 

I didn't even tape anything off, I did use a two brushes, one small disposable chip brush and a tiny artists one, like the kids use, tiny and cheap for a bag full for edge work.

 

Nice! That is going to be one of the first mods to do when it gets here!

 

See with the G2 caliper paint, they give you life time warrantee...if there is ever a chip or anything, you send the a pic and proof of purchase and they will send you a new kit for free

Just another thing to consider...I really like that garrantee

 

Well, I did my calipers and have touched up two times now (annually) and have only used about than half the can, so if I can touch up and redo 2-3 more years that'll sorta be like a five year warrenty.

 

Haha yeah true