DIY Brake Caliper Painting
 

Disclosure, I am not responsible if you screw this up. You're messing with your brakes and if your brakes fail because you improperly reinstall them I am not going to be held accountable.

With that said, lets get to this DIY.

Tools needed:

10mm
12mm
14mm
17mm
Torque Wrench
Jack and jack stands
Caliper paint kit (should include brake caliper cleaner)
Tape for masking
The patience to not drive your car for 12-24 hours

1. Get your car on the jack stands and remove the wheels.

2. Start with removing the brakes. You will be remove 4 bolts per brake front and back.

Rear brakes:
1 10mm for the ABS sensor (hand tight)
1 12mm for the brake line support (28ft lbs)
2 14mm for the brake caliper (48ft lbs retorque spec)

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358701628

Front brakes
1 10mm for the ABS sensor (hand tight)
1 12mm for the brake line support (28ft lbs)
2 17mm for the brake caliper (59ft lbs retorque spec)

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358702106

2. Clean the caliper the best you can

I did my best to clean the caliper using a tiny wire brush, a cloth, and the spray caliper cleaner included. Please be careful with the caliper cleaner, spray it only on a rag and not the caliper itself. It is really nasty stuff.

3. Mask of the area you don't want to paint

This next picture is confusing. Please read... I masked of the top by mistake. I ended up not masking a damn thing front or back because I have good coordination and didn't paint anything I wasn't supposed to but you may have better luck masking so I kept this step in here.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358701694

4. Paint a light first coat, it will look like crap but thats normal

The first coat will look like garbage, but that's ok. This first coat starts the bonding process with caliper. The next coat will completely cover it up and make it look like the whole caliper was dipped in paint. Do not freak out at this step.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358701990

5. Wait 15 minutes and start the second coat

The first coat looks awful, then after 15 minutes it gets tacky and you're ready for coat two. On this second coat just gob on a lot of paint. You're trying to get a smooth thick coverage. It seemed scary at first but just use more than you think you should and watch for drips. This fills in all the little bumps and leaves you with a nice smooth layer. I couldn't get a good picture to show this step.

6. Wait 2-3 hours before reinstalling the calipers

Depending on the temperature of the air, and how much paint you'll have to wait for it to dry before you can reinstall. Wait as long as you can so you dont smudge or mess up your work.

Remember, 59ft lbs for the front two caliper bolts, 48ft lbs for the rears.

7. Wait even longer, 12-24 hours before driving the vehicle.

This part sucks but if you want this stuff to last you have to do it.

8. Enjoy your newly painted calipers

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358702451
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358702476
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1358702500

Very nice. Thanks

Good pics. It's funny... the last one makes it look like I live in Miami or something. Too funny. :D

That color looks great! Better than the look at me red. Nice job!

Can u do a diy without having to remove the calipers? I don't have a torque wrench :/

That's easy, remove the wheels, clean the calipers, paint them. That's all that is required, just be very very careful with the caliper cleaner.

which part should i mask?

Not to be rude but you need to paint the caliper and nothing else. If you're not sure what you need to paint then you shouldn't tackle this.

mmm. ok. :/ sorry. i just recently got into car modding and stuff so i dont really know my stuff..

It's ok, I just don't want you to get in over your head.

Check out this video for the masking part. To just search for videos on youtube if you want to learn more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnf_JEbfzI

I don't know that masking is really needed when doing a brush on caliper paint. Just brush it on any of the raw metal caliper surfaces and nothing else. Avoid painting the metal clips, dust boots, and brake line. Don't forget that if you paint them red you get an extra 25 kW.

wait, you didn't remove the caliper completely off the brake line in this, correct? just placed them on top of boxes? just making sure, because i noticed you didn't mention draining the line or pinching it down.

Correct.

Thanks for this DIY...