Painting Brake Calipers

[IndyIan]

When I was in HS I did the calipers on our 91 Escort GT in red rustoleum, did just a wire brush and paint thinner for prep and they stayed pretty good for years. The car was silver but had some red pinstripes so the red matched the car well. The stock wheels didn't have huge gaps and the caliper was tight to the wheel so you couldn't see the whole caliper either. The biggest pain was trying to keep the caliper clean as now dust and dirt showed up... I did some autocross but it never heated the brakes up enough to discolour them.
For my cars now I would do the calipers in black rustoleum and never touch them again. Probably the paint will stay on but if not, it won't look any worse than no paint.

 

[spasm3]

Probably expensive, but can calipers be powder coated?

 

[B6_Dolphin]

Thing is, most folks won’t be interested in getting in for a $1200 caliper paint job.

The $1200 also included a teardown & rebuild, not just paint. The original color was clear anodize, and since I was using these calipers on a car that would see track use (HPDEs), I wanted to make sure they would perform properly, so thus the rebuild. As for appearance, well, that was secondary, but it was a case of "while you're in there", paint them a more remarkable color.

 

[zray1]

I don’t know that the paint is the end of the world. I’m sure some of these colored calipers are painted.

But it is sensible that the right thing be used where possible. Thing is, most folks won’t be interested in getting in for a $1200 caliper paint job…..”

Goldline currently charges $75 per caliper for their Polymer coating. A bargain in my view.

Z

 

[JHZR2]

Goldline currently charges $75 per caliper for their Polymer coating. A bargain in my view.

Z

When you pay them $$$ for the rebuild.

Not saying it’s a bad deal. Surely a better bet than some third world rebuild. But still $$

 

[zray1]

When you pay them $$$ for the rebuild.

Not saying it’s a bad deal. Surely a better bet than some third world rebuild. But still $$

No, they will just coat the calipers if that’s all you want. Prices for the coating may vary from caliper to caliper , I just asked them for a coating price using the vintage Mustang 4 piston Kelsey-Hayes calipers as an example.

Yes, I agree the prices are not inexpensive. The service(s) provided are for those wanting the best possible product. Many people are satisfied with a product of lessor quality. No doubt about that.

Z

 

[02zx9r rev2]

The trouble with painting calipers is that the paint holds the heat in and keeps the heat from properly dissipating.

Would this really apply to daily drivers? I’m assuming most are not tracking their cars and the rotors aren’t glowing red like NASCAR etc.. so I would think this would be a non issue. Not really sure, is why I’m asking

 

[IndyIan]

Would this really apply to daily drivers? I’m assuming most are not tracking their cars and the rotors aren’t glowing red like NASCAR etc.. so I would think this would be a non issue. Not really sure, is why I’m asking

I think its only really a concern for vehicles towing kind of heavy in the mountains. My uncle had a 90's diesel 3/4 ton GMC truck with a decent size camper on it, and he nearly ran out of brakes a couple times in mountains. I suspect he was doing everything wrong, but also it had small brakes (16" wheels) with a heavy engine.
Or a stuff like a Dodge minivan with a 2800lbs of boat and unbraked trailer behind it, and a long decent... Then you are getting to the limits of heat dissipation a bit faster than you might expect. I suspect most vehicles still just over heat the pads and rotors before caliper heat dissipation becomes an issue, but maybe some do?
When I was tracking my 95 Neon with tiny front discs and rear drums, I never had the pedal go soft, but the pads would overheat and just gets slippery! Putting on some more heat resistant front pads solved that and probably the next failure point was going to be boiling the fluid, and therefore caliper heat dissipation, but I didn't get to that point on our little track.

 

[Pew]

Probably expensive, but can calipers be powder coated?

Yes. IMO this is preferable to painting and just a little bit more resistant to high heat before discoloration.

 

[zray1]

Would this really apply to daily drivers? I’m assuming most are not tracking their cars and the rotors aren’t glowing red like NASCAR etc.. so I would think this would be a non issue. Not really sure, is why I’m asking

Not worried about rotors getting hot. It’s the calipers retaining heat that can be an issue with painted calipers.

Going down a long decline can push any vehicle’s braking performance to the limit. Why not get all your brakes are capable of doing by reducing caliper heat as much as possible ? Eliminating heat barriers like thick paint and yes, powder coatings, which help to hold in caliper heat will benefit every driver who has to use the brakes repeatedly to keep scrubbing off speed.

I for one don’t wish to discover that having thick painted or powder coated calipers contributed to brake fade when I needed braking power the most.

Z

 

[KrisZ]

Paint has no real effect on heat transfer.

And actually:
Here is a study showing that paint can increase heat loss of a metal object.

https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3195&context=masters_theses

 

[zray1]

Paint has no real effect on heat transfer.

And actually:
Here is a study showing that paint can increase heat loss of a metal object.

https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3195&context=masters_theses

You really should have a conversation with the people at Goldline Brakes, the nations foremost caliper repair and restoration business. I’m sure they can be more informative than I.

I’ve trusted many calipers to their expertise. Always perfect in appearance and in operation.

Polymer Coated Disc Brake Calipers - Rebuilt Disc Brake Calipers

Goldline Disc Brakes specializes in custom rebuilding of disc brake calipers. Since 1967, we have rebuilt calipers using OEM quality parts to bring them back to like new condition. We welcome any special requests and can deliver custom rebuilt calipers according to your specifications.

www.goldlinebrakes.com

btw, a study (masters thesis actually) from 1956 would seem to be a little dated to have relevance, imho.

Z

 

[KrisZ]

You really should have a conversation with the people at Goldline Brakes, the nations foremost caliper repair and restoration business. I’m sure they can be more informative than I.

I’ve trusted many calipers to their expertise. Always perfect in appearance and in operation.

Polymer Coated Disc Brake Calipers - Rebuilt Disc Brake Calipers

Goldline Disc Brakes specializes in custom rebuilding of disc brake calipers. Since 1967, we have rebuilt calipers using OEM quality parts to bring them back to like new condition. We welcome any special requests and can deliver custom rebuilt calipers according to your specifications.

www.goldlinebrakes.com

btw, a study (masters thesis actually) from 1956 would seem to be a little dated to have relevance, imho.

Z

A yes, take a short verbiage without any technical backing from a company that wants to sell you stuff over an unbiased paper.

Also, I didn’t realize that metal properties changed from 1956. Must be the some new digital or nano tech or something


Also, also the paper does go why the paint increased thermal conductivity and it’s mostly do to oxidation layer, which is porous and traps air. Paint eliminates that and fills in the pores.

 

[zray1]

Can’t be bothered to call and learn something, eh ? Usual response .

 

[Pew]

You really should have a conversation with the people at Goldline Brakes, the nations foremost caliper repair and restoration business. I’m sure they can be more informative than I.

I’ve trusted many calipers to their expertise. Always perfect in appearance and in operation.

Never heard of them for being the nation's foremost caliper repair and restoration as you claim. Have you had a conversation with a real brake engineer yet or see any cars at the track with fixed calipers? All of them are painted or powder coated. There's nothing on that page with any technical information. Actual brake manufacture for race cars like Brembo or AP Racing are also open and can get real information from an engineer.

If you're running into temp issues with paint vs nonpainted then there's an issue somewhere else within the brake system causing it to fail.

 

[KrisZ]

Can’t be bothered to call and learn something, eh ? Usual response .

Digging out papers is a usual response?

Well, since you have so much experience with this company why don’t you tell us what’s so special about their polymer paint?
I could understand your position if this company was against painting calipers all together, but they just use the heat entrapment claim as a method to boost their paint claims.

 

[GMBoy]

When I do a customer's calipers - I take them off the rotor and mask off well and brake clean and scrub several times until surgically clean. Then light sanding and cleaning them again. I have been using the VHT caliper paint and it sprays nice and cures hard - curing is key here! Once you are done painting (3-4 good coats) and they are fully dry - put them back on and drive the car and do several hard stops to get the caliper temps high enough to cure the paint. The paint reaches maximum gloss and durability ONLY after high heat curing. Read the can for more tips lol

I get so sick of seeing shoddy jobs where they just sprayed the caliper on the rotor and left overspray everywhere - on the hoses, rotor etc and looks horrible -don't be like that. Do it right!

 

[02zx9r rev2]

Not worried about rotors getting hot. It’s the calipers retaining heat that can be an issue with painted calipers.

Going down a long decline can push any vehicle’s braking performance to the limit. Why not get all your brakes are capable of doing by reducing caliper heat as much as possible ? Eliminating heat barriers like thick paint and yes, powder coatings, which help to hold in caliper heat will benefit every driver who has to use the brakes repeatedly to keep scrubbing off speed.

I for one don’t wish to discover that having thick painted or powder coated calipers contributed to brake fade when I needed braking power the most.

Z

I’m just a daily driver. 15 mile highway commute to work, 15 mile highway commute back 12 hours later.

I just wouldn’t think it would really cause a problem for someone like me. I can see your examples though

 

[02zx9r rev2]

When I do a customer's calipers - I take them off the rotor and mask off well and brake clean and scrub several times until surgically clean. Then light sanding and cleaning them again. I have been using the VHT caliper paint and it sprays nice and cures hard - curing is key here! Once you are done painting (3-4 good coats) and they are fully dry - put them back on and drive the car and do several hard stops to get the caliper temps high enough to cure the paint. The paint reaches maximum gloss and durability ONLY after high heat curing. Read the can for more tips

I used the VHT paint but I guess I didn’t read the can thoroughly enough, I didn’t do the driving and cure the paint. Maybe that’s why mine didn’t turn out the best. And I’m sure my prep wasn’t the best.

I’ve read where some people take the parts and bake in the oven to let cure too but I won’t be doing that

 

[zray1]

“……Well, since you have so much experience with this company why don’t you tell us what’s so special about their polymer paint?
I could understand your position if this company was against painting calipers all together, but they just use the heat entrapment claim as a method to boost their paint claims.

The Goldline polymer coating is much thinner than typical “caliper paint” or powder coatings. More durable too, just my anecdotal experiences of course.

For details and specifics, the folks at Goldline are better equipped than I am to respond knowledgeably.

Being very well known in the vintage racing and vintage restoration communities they have a healthy back log of business , and don’t need to be selling snake oil to get by. If their products had questionable value I doubt they would’ve lasted 50+ years.

After using their (fixed) caliper restorations on several original Shelby Mustangs and Shelby Cobras, I can endorse the product they provide, even in the most grueling racing conditions. Caliper heat reduction was measurable with the Goldline coatings vs any other coatings, or even bare calipers.

But as mentioned, I’m merely in a position to mention their name and product reputation, and my satisfaction with same.

I’d advise anyone desiring more information to contact them directly and make up your mind(s) that way.

Z