Paint Brake Calipers?

[andreas_kc]

Should I be painting these brake calipers? Or it fine mechanically to leave them in this finish?

Current build thread has a few more Brake pics at end: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=735623

[Diesel6060]

I painted mine red. Nice contrast.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by andreas_kc

....Or it fine mechanically....

Paint and "mechanically" have nothing to do with each other.

[andreas_kc]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Paint and "mechanically" have nothing to do with each other.

Hah yea, I hear ya. Just wondering if I don't paint them, will they rust to heck and cause me a mechanical problem at some point? Or not in my lifetime?

[bowt1ed]

Being they are made of steel, they will rust (as well as the non-contact areas of your rotors). Whether that will affect the mechanical capabilities or not is typically not something most people would want to find out, especially with brakes. Why wouldn't you spend a little time and prep and paint them? Not much time or investment to prevent rust from possibly causing issues down the road (yes, pun).

Cheers, Jim

[andreas_kc]

Thanks for the input, I figured they need some paint, just wasn't 100% sure. First time for a complete rebuild on my own and have a bazillion questions

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by andreas_kc

Hah yea, I hear ya. Just wondering if I don't paint them, will they rust to heck and cause me a mechanical problem at some point? Or not in my lifetime?

They're NEVER going to rust enough to cause you a mechanical problem. Millions upon millions of cars coming from the factory have calipers that are not painted.

If you WANT to paint them, then by all means spend the time and money it takes. Talk yourself into all sorts of horrible tragic scenarios. Or if you WANT an excuse to paint them red or yellow like a Porsche or Ferrari, party on! But there's no "need"

[Jemezcrusher]

If you paint them, use self etching primer first on the bare castings

[whitedog76]

Power Stop has powder coated red calipers for just about anything.

[mr48chev]

Well if they show though the wheels nothing is much uglier than rusty rotors but I'd make sure the color choice goes along with the build. Bright red or yellow rotors on what is supposed to be a traditional build might be out of place while black or gunmetal gray will look clean but not be in your face bright.

If you snoop around the net a bit there are some big discussions on different boards on how to prep and paint them so the paint holds up. I'm thinking some of the automotive specialty paint outfits like VHT now sell special paint for calipers.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Well if they show though the wheels nothing is much uglier than....[a bright color on]what is supposed to be a traditional build

Even though my truck will be an obviously NOT "traditional build" or restoration with LS engine, and Corvette calipers I will be painting my calipers black or a cast steel color.

[G&R's57GMC]

I just painted the rear drums on my Dart and thought about painting the calipers when I realized that they can't be seen behind the MoPar Rally wheels.

So if your wheels allow you to see the calipers and drums by all means go ahead and paint them.

[mongocanfly]

I'm like dan..my vette calipers will be showing thru my wheels..luckily for me (haha) the previous owner decided to paint them red..it looks like he just sprayed them thru the vette wheel openings without taking the wheels off..pitiful job...somehow I've got to strip off that red paint..them I'm going with the cast metal gray... (I think)

[andreas_kc]

Alright, here it is. Red is for posers.