Hi guys,
I want to powdercoat my calipers on my SS/TC, but I have a couple of questions for those of you that have done it. I'm not concerned with pricing, I've already called a couple of places in my area and it's very reasonable of course. For those of you that actually had to remove the calipers completely and bring them in to a shop - How extensive was the work to remove them from your car, plus removing the pistons, etc? And I'm assuming I will need to bleed the brakes afterwards too.
I'm just looking for some input from those of you that have done and how the overall experience was.

Thanks.

 

You don't need to powder coat them...use the G2 caliper paint...works great and no need to bleed the brakes...

I did mine this way and they turned out great...

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/appearance-48/painted-my-brembos-129368/

 

I've seen what you did before. But I want them powdercoated, even though you did a great job on yours, painting and powdercoating have a different look. I want to get them powdercoated, so they are sealed and done for good and I won't have to worry about them.

 

Taking them off shouldn't be a big deal, but yes you will need to bleed the brakes afterwards.

 

What do you mean sealed and done for good? The G2 caliper paint is an epoxy based paint and will not come off...even after an hour or two, the paint left in the can started to cure...it is a two part paint with a hardener that you add when you are ready to paint...

What kind of "different look" are you talking about?

 

The paint will never last like a powdercoat will!

 

I think I'm going to go powdercoat on the wheels and paint on the calipers, but haven't decided yet.

When you did the G2 caliper paint, how long did you have to mix it and use it? Would I have a lot of time to paint them (I'm planning on all four), or does it set pretty quickly? Also, do you think I would be able to do detail work with it? I'm going to attempt to get in around the Brembo logo.

 

It was pretty easy to work with, however, I didn't do too much detail work. It is just a small can of paint and a small container of hardener. You just mix them up and stir for a few minutes and then you are ready to paint.

Be sure to do all of your prep work before you mix up the paint as you only have about an hour before the paint becomes useless. You will want to mask everything off (brake lines, etc). I took the calipers off, but left the lines attached to avoid bleeding the brakes. I just hung them with coat hangers in the wheel well. I just used the blue painters tape to mask off the front then removed when I was finished. I think I did three coats with about 15 minutes between coats.

If you are going to try to paint real close to the BREMBO, I would probably suggest trying to mask it off by taping over the whole front and then cutting around the letters with an knife...would be way to hard to get in there and it all by hand.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I think that you might be better off just painting or powdercoating the whole caliper and getting new Brembo stickers or a stencil so you can put it back on after. I think it would be too difficult and also not look as nice if you tried to do around the existing letters.

 

I agree...I think it would be very difficult and might not look very good...

 

That would actually be my first choice, though I've never heard or seen a brake caliper stencil being offered.

Maybe I can try making one using the design currently on the calipers.

 

Once my car comes in it will go straight on the lift and calipers removed! I will try to post pics of the process. Calipers will be red and the rear caliper mount black.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the "Brembo" on the fronts?

 

Yeah, I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

I plan on just getting new Brembo stickers after having them powdercoated. I agree with others, would be very hard to detail around the logo.

 

I took the calipers off to get them powdercoated but didn't realize how difficult it would be to get the seals out. So I've changed my plan and I picked up some DupliColor caliper paint (red). I'm going to paint them tonight, and if needed, I'll clearcoat them afterwards. But the paint should be pretty glossy. I plan on putting new Brembo stickers on after, then clearcoating them.
I'm painting the front and back calipers. I'll post some pictures as soon they are done.

 

You should have stuck to the original plan to powdercoat. I just did mine in my 2009 G5 GT.

You can see the pics for yourself.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/calipers%20016.jpg

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/calipers%20018.jpg

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/calipers%20027.jpg

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20002.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20004.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20005.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20007.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20008.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20010.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20012.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20013.jpg
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/calipers/car%20014.jpg




They were done by Mike The Powdercoater at www.thepowdercoater.com. He can also make sure the Brembo lettering still shows, etc. You can see from the pics on his site that he can do so.

 

Those turned out really nice. How was the brake pedal feel after you bled them?

 

Im pretty sure the Caliper paint will last longer...has a higher heat resistants. It looks really good on mine. And WAY cheaper.

IMO powdercoarting would be pointless

 

I had no problems with bleeding the brakes. They are just like the day I drove it home.

Paint doesn't last half as long as powdercoating, sorry.

Paint chips, or has the ability to, it fades, it gets dirty and stained and comes off rather easily sometimes.

Powdercoated calipers have a baked on finish all the way through the coating. It has a glossy finish, as if they were clear coated. It does not fade over time, chip or look dull.

 

I think mine (painted) turned out well, but I may go powder coating in the future. Thats going to be really hard though, since the hardened enamel will have to be removed first. I painted the rotor a bit too with black, hard to tell but it highlights it nicely.

Oh and there are stencils out there for the brembo logo - I cant find the link anymore, but I have two stencils sitting at home for whenever I feel like painting the logo back on.

 

Looks good! Could you post more pics?

 

I do like powdercoating. But I'll tell you what, the $30 can of Duplicolor caliper paint turned out amazing. And they are glossy, so to the member who argued only powdercoating is glossy, that's not true. I'm going to apply some clear coat on after they are cured to protect them even more. There's absolutely no reason for the paint to chip or fade if they are done correctly (painted, of course). I'm really happy how they turned out.
I'll have to park my car for another week though as I wait for the Brembo logos to come from eBay. It's a longer process than I expected, but I did do this impulsively so I didn't have everything ordered and timed out. But I believe if you're going to do something, do it right - so I'm taking my time.
I have the fronts done, I'll be painting the rears today.
I'll post pics when they are finished.

 

I didn't Powder coat mine... I grinded them down & polished them, then put on a ceramakote over it & so far it's last almost 3 years! So I would think that powder coating would give you about the same wear! If you do them grind them smooth 1st it will look so much better if you remove the sand casting dimples...As far as removal pretty striaght forward... take a rag shove it thru the collar after you remove the bolt & it will slow the release of fluid to very little! I did it & barely lost any fluid!

Heres mine!

 

Those look very nice. I've never seen them done like that. I wet sanded them down before painting to ensure a smooth finish.