Caliper Paint

[TDot]

So here are my choices...that I've found.

G2 = 4oz for $40.00
Eastwood = 16oz for $40.00 (activator, for gloss I guess, for $15.00)
Duplicolor = 16oz(I believe) for $20.00
POR-15 = 8oz for $40.00 (with rust protection paint to use as first coat)

I want my calipers to shine. I'm going with silver or blue...most likely silver. I hear great reviews on the G2 about the gloss, but no one really says if one is enough for all four calipers. Again, MAIN concern is gloss/shine. So who has experience with one or more of these, and how many cans do I really need?

Also I plan on putting the infiniti decal on and a clear coat over it, but I've read that the clear coat will yellow and broan eventually. Any truth to that?

[White-Rush]

- I have used the G2 on two separate vehicles. They were both from the Honda / Acura family, and there was plenty available; enough to allow for two separate coats each time.
The color and gloss held up good, even after having rim & tire cleaner sprayed on them to help clean them up.

[The Bodyguard]

Good luck.. I wanted to have mine painted black this sat the 31st but I have to take car in to dealer for check up of my tensioner... Is your car light blue (Lakeshore slate) or dark blue/grey like mine (dark slate)? Just wondering I know your profile says Lakeshore slate... If the light blue? What tone of blue are you planning on doing the calipers?? If they don't match I would say go with the neutral color (silver).

[TDot]

I'm beyond surprised that little bit of paint is good enough for two coats on four calipers.

Yeah, it's light blue, I'm going with silver because I'm not going to pay them to match it, and I think matching it to this color would be a little cheesy.

[Ilya]

Not gonna lie...my friend tinted my windows and when my car was in his shop he just took good ol spray paint to my entire rotor and caliper. Looks fine and last a LONG time. I now have a zinc plated EBay rotor and pad setup, but calipers look fine. No prep work, etc. Just right there. Spray it (with wheel off obviously), let it dry, drive away. When you brake, it will burn off/rub off any thin layer of paint you actually got on the brake surface.

"Caliper Paint Kits" are a waste of money.

[mexillis]

I used Duplicolor's black caliper paint and some high heat clear to give it some gloss. So far they have held up good on my calipers, rotors, and spacers.

[bicsintegra]

my car is dark blue and i used rustoleum engine enamel paint from autozone and it has held up for 2 years with no problem.

[TDot]

The spray paint thing/delivery system is out of the question...just not taking a chance, and not spending all of that time preping.

I could have sworn I saw duplicolr in regular paint on, but I cant find it again...I guess I was imagining it.

White-Rush, you say the G2 is good enough for two coats, how clean did you get the calipers before you started? Were they practically brand new, or did you just wipe it down with brake/engine cleaner? ...how much preping did you do?

[06M4.5]

500 degrees engine paint.

No preping, just wide dust off and paint.

[White-Rush]

White-Rush, you say the G2 is good enough for two coats, how clean did you get the calipers before you started? Were they practically brand new, or did you just wipe it down with brake/engine cleaner? ...how much preping did you do?

- The calipers were cleaned up really good. I was swapping out rotors and pads so I had a chance to clean them really good. BUT keep in mind, the 2 coats applied to some Honda calipers.. They are somewhat smaller than our binders, so i'm not sure if you'll be able to get that 2nd coating on our cars. Overall though, the whole G2 thing went well, but it is a lil on the pricey side, compared with the cans.

I have used rattle can paint before on my old Acura. After the initial cleaning and some prep work, this worked very well also. The can method will require a little bit of patience and attention to detail; if you just rush it, you won't be overall happy with the finished product.

For whoever is planning this in the near future. Set aside an hour or two for completion and take your time. The more effort u put into it, the greater the outcome will be.

[TDot]

So it is between G2 and duplicolor(It turns out I can get duplicolor in a paint can). Duplicolor is looking good for the price to quantity, and overall it seems to have decent reviews. But G2 has me for the self-leveling thing and consistent excellent reviews. From what I understand the self-leveling thing means it won’t leave paint strokes which seems like a GREAT selling point, the size scares me though. Does duplicolor have a similar feature and just not marketing it?

[TDot]

I went with duplicolor and bought a large and small oil brush because it has been said that the brush duplicolor provides is no good. The paint runs really well, not heavy and not watery. It is not self leveling so watch your brush strokes and drips. Started early morning because of the temp. I was prepping, painting, applying decals, and glossing from 11am to 4pm, then left it alone for 18 hrs. I could still indent mt fingernail in the paint at that time. Note, if you leave the brush out long between painting (1hr) it will get stiff. Easiest way to loosen it up is to swirl it around int the paint for 10min or so. It came out pretty well. The drivers front is the worst job, because it was the first...worst being relative because I feel the others turned out excellent and there are a couple slight flaws on the drivers front.

After finishing the color coat (I did four coats, 5-10 min between), let dry longer than 15min before applying the decals (That was my mistake, I tried applying the decals on the front drivers after 5min because it was dry to the touch). Then wait a bit for the decals to settle in because the gloss can lift the decals if it runs. Do a couple light coats of the gloss before going over it heavy.

All and all, I think it came out well.

[White-Rush]

It looks like you did a pretty good job. And yeah, that color is probably the best way to go. Simple-Clean-Classy.

[TDot]

Update
The clear gloss from duplicolor is NO GOOD. It is not truely clear. Once dried there is a brownish/goldish hue to it. A little disappointing if you want a truely shiny pure silver color, but not terrible...as of right now. For now it seems to have settled and offsets the silver wheels and rotors with an interesting contrast. I'll see if it continues.
So my recommendations as of now, if you are going with the decal thing and want the pure color, find a clear gloss from a different company. If I were to do this again and was NOT doing the decal thing, and I wanted the glossy look, I would go with G2(Once I truely know how to paint and wont run into a problem of running out from the tiny bit of paint they give).

[shak77]

^As you found out, the clear from the rattle cans will turn yellow, and it will it will crack from heat after time. Also, paint like duplicolor spray will also peel off over time. I ended up redoying my calipers with g2, and it turn out great.

What I did is use foam brushes for the first two coats, and then poured the remainred of the paint into a prepal spray can and sprayed the calipers. This was on my Supra with large calipers, and I just had enouph to paint all 4. If I was to do it again, I would not even bother with the brush. G2 sells the prepal cans, and you can also get them at amazon for $5 or so. The finish is glossy, and no clear was needed.

[M35SFIREMEDIC]

I'm not much of a do it yourself guy, so in lue of painting the calipers have anyone tried the caliper covers?? Post pics if you have them please.