CALIPER COVERS

[Larz]

Disclaimer to avoid any misunderstanding: I am NOT affiliated in ANY way with this company, nor am I 'selling' this item. To purchase it, you must go to the website as I did, and buy it directly from them. I am merely sharing a mod I did, reviewing it over time used, and nothing more.

That said, I have been thinking about painting my calipers for some time, but did not want to go through the trouble of sanding them smooth, and masking and / or removing them from the car, etc. I had seen plastic covers that aglue onto your calipers to 'look like' Brembos but they seemed rather flimsy and looked crap too.
Then I found a place called MGP. I did a bit of research and decided to give them a try. I didn't want to post about them until I had driven them in all sorts of weather at a wide range of speeds and felt they did what the manufacturer claimed.

Installation: about an hour (mostly due to lifting the car and removing wheels). The website has videos and FAQs.

Pros:
They are very well made from T6 aluminum, tac-welded, and are pre-painted and clear coated to prevent rust or discolouration. They attach securely with metal clips and screws - easily removed and re-installed in a minute for brake jobs. (the plastic ones have to be pryed off, then re-glued)
They come in a variety of colours for the 'look' you want for your calipers. The engravings are deep and will never wear away.
They reduce heat by forcing it out the top and they reduce brake dust on the wheels by sending the bulk of it out the back and into the air behind the wheels.

Cons:
They are not available with the Infiniti logo (they have just about all makes but ours). I bought Infiniti decals on Ebay that are designed for calipers. If you have concave wheels, it's a good idea to measure space between the wheel and the outer surface of the calipers. I believe the website recommends 3mm spacing between wheels and calipers. Supposedly, most wheels will not be an issue.

This is how they look on my car:
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They give a 'big brake' look without using a dodgy plastic trim piece. They look closer to OEM brakes than any other covers I've seen. After having them on the car for a while now, I can confirm greatly reduced brake dust but have no way of measuring any difference in heat accept to say there is no brake fade, no smell, and no damage to my brake pads or rotors.
I have gotten many compliments on them and they make a great improvement over the plain calipers, giving the car a powerful look about it.

Here is the website: http://calipercovers.com/

[TDot]

I came across those a while back when I was trying to deal with this brake dust issue. After two weeks my front wheels look like I drove through the Sahara while my back wheels look like I can go another month without a wash.
My issue is the pics just look cheesey. I don't mean like a brmbo copy cheesey, I mean like led sticker lights around the head light don't belong cheesey. They remind me of hub covers to protect from dust. Do they really look that different in person? What would you say the percentage of dust reduction you got?

[Larz]

I understand what you meant. In the close-up pics at the website they do seem thin and cheap looking. They don't bend or twist in your hands, and they have a very 'solid' feel to them. They also have weight to them and are not as light and flimsy as they appear in pics. Of course, in the end, it's a subjective thing and different eyes will see them differently. Once installed, you only see the flat shiny face and the rest of the cover, the clips, and the mounting screws are not visible at all. To me, they look like large brakes with a smooth steel cover over them. They don't look look thin or cheap, and they don't look like a flimsy glued on trim piece. Also, I have a black car so the black covers blend in better than a red cover used on a white car, etc. I reckon silver would look great on any car because they will blend into the wheel and make a more subtle look.

As for brake dust reduction, that again is going to be different for everyone. As you know, different pads create different amounts of brake dust. I'm using the pads that came with the brakemotive kit and they seem to make less dust than the OEM pads even without these covers. I reckon that the amount of dust sticking to the wheels is at least 50% reduced with the covers, but I imagine other brands of pads will result in a higher or lower reduction.

[M35SFIREMEDIC]

I've considered the caliper covers as well, can you post some pics from different angles,so we can get a better idea of how they really look. Thanks. FM.

[Larz]

I've considered the caliper covers as well, can you post some pics from different angles,so we can get a better idea of how they really look. Thanks. FM.

I can, and I shall. We've been getting strong off-shore rain bursts but tomorrow looks to be better weather. Hopefully I can do some close-ups as well as angles to show them off better.

[svard75]

You're reducing the cooling significantly so you'll experience brake fade much sooner than you should and experienced eyes will tell you it's just childish games.

[Larz]

You're reducing the cooling significantly so you'll experience brake fade much sooner than you should and experienced eyes will tell you it's just childish games.

That was my fear as well and it seemed to be simple common sense that heat will build up, but ...

Copied from the website FAQ:

Do the caliper covers trap in brake heat?

MGP Caliper Covers actually reduce caliper heat. The Caliper Cover only covers the front of the caliper allowing all heat to escape up through the top of the caliper. Additionally, our product is thoroughly tested at the OEM level prior to our license agreements.

Some of these tests include but are not limited to:
Heat Soak testing
Track testing (on-road)
Track testing (off-road)
Long-term road testing
Stress testing
Corrosion testing

[Larz]

I've considered the caliper covers as well, can you post some pics from different angles,so we can get a better idea of how they really look. Thanks. FM.

As requested. Mind you we've had rain nearly every day and the rotors, wheels, and car have not had a proper cleaning in about 2 weeks of daily driving. Still, no significant brake dust on the wheels.

front wheel:
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rear wheel:
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close-ups: cyrved edges, hidden clips, solid looking construction:
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[TDot]

I think the other thing that bothers me the most and strikes me like the led light strips on the headlights is the fake bolts on the covers.

[Larz]

I think the other thing that bothers me the most and strikes me like the led light strips on the headlights is the fake bolts on the covers.

Now that you mention it, I can see where those gizmos could be considered fake bolts. I just saw them as decorative trim, LOL. If they made a model with absolutely no markings and no MGP logo, that would be ideal. Just a plain, smooth metal cover and you can add your own decals, or leave them blank.

[M35SFIREMEDIC]

Thanks Larzs, the covers look great. The good thing about putting a mod on your car is that the only person that has to like it is you. Enjoy the good comments and shake off the other comments. Nice look might try it myself. I have the sport 19's they should look great. Thanks again!!

[Larz]

I an pleased with them too. I have no problems with members who may not fancy these things and I appreciate their honesty and their input. That's why we have variety so we each can get what WE like.
My wheels have 8 rather wide spokes. If your wheels have less spokes or thinner spokes, the covers will be more noticeable when stopped and when you're at speed, the spokes will disappear and the covers will look great.

[svard75]

Ah just noticed they are made from T6 Alloy. Some of these are made from plastic and those are units reduce heat dissipation. Are all parts Alloy or mixed alloy steel? I wonder what will happen when the retaining clips break or rust off and your driving :O

You have broad shoulders so I'll be blunt. It's designed more for looks than functionality. They will reduce a bit of brake dust but not all and let's face it the markings on the cover are cheesy. I'm going to put that into the same pile as the folks that enjoy doing this to their cars

[sin1505]

I am consider doing the same, I just got back from my road trip ; historic Route 66.
Now I need to purchase new brake pads and discs, so adding a Caliper Cover might make a fun addition! Thanks!!

[Larz]

Ah just noticed they are made from T6 Alloy. Some of these are made from plastic and those are units reduce heat dissipation. Are all parts Alloy or mixed alloy steel? I wonder what will happen when the retaining clips break or rust off and your driving :O

You have broad shoulders so I'll be blunt. It's designed more for looks than functionality. They will reduce a bit of brake dust but not all and let's face it the markings on the cover are cheesy. I'm going to put that into the same pile as the folks that enjoy doing this to their cars

Bloody Nora! That car ! ... there are NO words, LOL. The only non-negative thing I can think of is that the owner obviously enjoys a $12k stereo in his $2k car. I reckon he/she is saving up for the spinning wheel covers to complete the look, LOL.

The covers and clips are completely aluminum and the odds of both upper AND lower clips breaking at the same moment is, well, ... impossible but if they did, the cover will fly out the back of the wheel onto the roadway and you will have to buy a new one. It's like worrying about electric windows because ... what if the switch breaks?

I bought these covers soley for the looks, and only after I could confirm they won't harm my brakes or rotors. And you're correct - they have no function other than hiding the calipers. Reduced brake dust on the wheels didn't influence me ... it's just a small added benefit. I don't see them as 'fake brakes' or as an effort to make peeps think I have some special super braking system. I see them as metal covers that hide the rough, ugly calipers and nothing more.

I appreciate and respect your honest opinions. I also appreciate that through the time I've been on this forum, you are among a very few who take time to post answers to our questions and offer advise. Loads of us (including me) benefit from having fellow members like you who take an active role and make the effort to help others.

[pedsemdoc]

I see them as metal covers that hide the rough, ugly calipers and nothing more.

I think that is prolly what is bothering Tdot and myself a little with the "fake" bolts - sort of trying to come across as something you are not.
Although it will cost you considerably more to upgrade your brakes to the big brake kit (BBK - akebonos) or anything else aftermarket.
Plus, could they make the MGP logo any bigger!! lol
I would have to paint over that.
They could probably offer a completely plain version, without the fake bolts and logo, BUT that would be an extra charge.

Craig

[Larz]

I can't work out why I didn't see them as fake bolts. I just thought they were siver dots as decoration and the MGP logo is a non-issue. When I called about getting completely blank ones they told me they can't make them without their logo unless they replace with a licensed logo and Infiniti has not given them license (Nismo has given them license, but not Infiniti).
I've gotten compliments in car parks and the like, but so far nobody has asked me if I'm posing with fake brakes.
I'm waiting to see TDOT's calipers as he has smoothed them and will be painting them himself. If he adds the Infiniti caliper stickers, I reckon they will look great.

[pedsemdoc]

I'm waiting to see TDOT's calipers as he has smoothed them and will be painting them himself. If he adds the Infiniti caliper stickers, I reckon they will look great.

I know a few members have already done that and they do look good, it's just a lot more work than getting caliper covers.

I painted mine when I replaced my pads and rotors a few months ago, but increased the job time by several hours, since I had to take apart the caliper, clean and prep it, wait for it to dry, paint, and then wait for each coat to dry.

I didn't have any decals, so didn't put 'em on, but maybe next time. We'll see how my paint job holds up.

Craig