I was wondering where would be the best place to get the brake calipers painted. I waiting on my red RX-8 and want to get the calipers red as well. I know I can do it myself, but...not me. I would never be able to do something like that, no matter how easy it is. I'll gladly pay money for someone to do it right. So does anyone have any idea? Also, how much would it cost, approx. And last question, with the uniqueness of the velocity red color, do you think that the red calipers (like Brembo) would look weird, since it would be a different shade? Thanks for the responses.

GH22

Look for powdercoating shops in your area, if your willing to pay to have it done right get them powdercoated. The colors available have expanded a lot in the last few years so you will need to check with the shop to see what they have available.

The best place I know of, is my garage :p

thanks for the input so far. Had no idea about powdercoating.

Hi guys,

Does anyone know where I can get those caliper stickers? I will be painting my calipers soon.

Thanx!

Try Tire Rack they have "G2" caliper paint kits for $38. I'm painting mine red as well. It will help the look in the wheel well.

I called G2 and spoke with them at length. Bottom line, their red is pretty bright, highly likely more so than Velocity Red, although they hadn't seen an RX-8.

Guy said go find a 911 and look at the calipers. They are their G2 red. Haven't gone to our local dealer yet, but intend too. That is my major concern (TOO red), so maybe silver or black would work, but I'd prefer red.

He said it was fairly easy, just be careful, clean the calipers well, there was plenty of paint (5 oz didn't seem like a lot to me) in one kit for 4 calipers. He said that as it is a mix, if it is 60-70 degrees it will harden in 6-4 hrs, if it is 80, be careful (!!!) as it will harden REAL quick (<1 hr) and you likely won't have time to finish, esp if doing only 2 wheels at a time.

Thanks for the info, my kit should be here in a couple of days i will keep you posted.

Just to let you know I finished painting my calipers eariler this evening with the red G2 kit. It was time consuming, but the results were very good. It was close to 80 deg. F, but I slowed the curing time down by putting some ice in a small cooler with some shop rags over the ice, didn't want to freeze it. I got 3 coats on and still had plenty of paint left. When I opened the can and held the lid against the body color it was close enough not to matter that much, by the way it looks great. I got the seal of approval from my sixteen year old son.

Originally posted by TNRED8
Just to let you know I finished painting my calipers eariler this evening with the red G2 kit. It was time consuming, but the results were very good.

Got any pics of your work? Did you do front then rear, or did you put it up on a car lift? And about how long did it take? Thanks.

No pictures yet. It's been raining nearly every day, maybe Saturday I'll be able to clean her up and send you some pictures. The paint takes 24 hours to fully cure, that's really the hard part not being able to drive my baby.

*mod edit*

Originally posted by Goldenhue22
I was wondering where would be the best place to get the brake calipers painted. I waiting on my red RX-8 and want to get the calipers red as well. I know I can do it myself, but...not me. I would never be able to do something like that, no matter how easy it is. I'll gladly pay money for someone to do it right. So does anyone have any idea? Also, how much would it cost, approx. And last question, with the uniqueness of the velocity red color, do you think that the red calipers (like Brembo) would look weird, since it would be a different shade? Thanks for the responses.

GH22

*mod edit*

Here are some pic's.

More

close-up

oops

rear shot

and the great thing about G2 paint is that it will not fade over time unlike spray paint etc.:)

Nice pics! Got to do this soon, love the look! Great job.

Hey folks

Craeted some photoshop files I'd thought I 'd share with you. What color do you think works for Sunlight Silver? I'll also be sketching the RX8 logo on the new caliper paint.

If you would like the Photoshop file to create your own caliper design, feel free to contact me via the site link below!

Heres the design link:

http://www.time4design.net/RX8/project_caliper.asp

You should paint them yellow and then paint the hubs blue.

Originally posted by RX8Lover
You should paint them yellow and then paint the hubs blue.

Serious, lol...and your an art director?....
Thanks...

Originally posted by RX8Lover
You should paint them yellow and then paint the hubs blue.

OMG
that is to funny

Originally posted by Irish_in_a_RX8
Serious, lol...and your an art director?....
Thanks...

I only said that because someone ACTUALLY did this to their RX-8, and it looked hideous.

Hence the joke.

I remember
thats why I thought it was so funny

..perhaps I'll get my drill out and put some holes in my rotor to make it look cool too ...lol...i think some kid actually did this ...

Given your car color and if you want to be noticed then go with the red. The other colors are so subdued that nobody will really notice enough to care (except for yourself).

Originally posted by Irish_in_a_RX8
Hey folks

Craeted some photoshop files I'd thought I 'd share with you. What color do you think works for Sunlight Silver? I'll also be sketching the RX8 logo on the new caliper paint.

If you would like the Photoshop file to create your own caliper design, feel free to contact me via the site link below!

Heres the design link:

http://www.time4design.net/RX8/project_caliper.asp

I think the charcoal grey goes nicely. Also, you might consider a subtle lavender. I think this goes well with the Silver, though you might have to mix your own color to get this. "purple" would just be too much.

How about Glossy Black with Red RX-8 Logo. I think it will look deadly on a Black 8.

M-ster - yeah I think I agree with you there. I thought black might work well (G2) but it would not stand out on its own - hense the RX8 logo painted on top. I thought of silver, but Red looks pretty good!
Thanks for you ideas.....

Nubo I think G2 paint has purple, did a search on ebay. Looks good too ...thanks :-)

I'd vote for silver.

i like the black one with white letters...subtle and very clean looking...red sticks out too much on the silver car...

i agree with RX8Lover...paint them yellow and the hubs blue...and only spray lightly and as unevenly as possible...

NICE

Hey If you had a blue car, what color would you paint them?

Originally posted by RodsterinFL
NICE

Hey If you had a blue car, what color would you paint them?

Do it like the WRX STi, GOLD with RED lettering:D

Well, so far I have been happy with everything I have done to the car except painting the calipers. I was mostly my fault but I painted them gold with blue lettering (blue car) THe gold was hideous to me bright and tacky and I did not remove the brake pad so I have a painted rear on the pad.

The blue lettering is not bad but that bright gold reminds me of painted poinsettas at christmas or something. I did one and left the other. Any recovery ideas

Originally posted by RodsterinFL
that bright gold reminds me of painted poinsettas at christmas or something. I did one and left the other. Any recovery ideas

One way to make the gold paint less bright is to spray a layer of matt vanish over it. Then it will give more like the brembo calipers on the STi.

Now I know what you are talking about M-ster. I saw an Infiniti G35 with the gold and red combo. Yes, my gold is very different. Ironically though my family came and saw the car this eve and said they liked the gold/blue I did. My dad even said he liked the shoe painted. (I don't but...)

..I went ahead and ordered Black G2 paint - I might go with the white/silver lettering. It may not stand out as much, but I want to try and avoid the rice look. A pimped out civic wanted to race the other night, and as much as I respect a guy who loves his car - I just dont want the rice pack in my mirrors....

btw - I won...lol

how are you going to write rx8 on the calipers?

Originally posted by mikeb
how are you going to write rx8 on the calipers?

- Mike, with stencils. Traced the RX8 logo onto transparent material so that when attached to the caliper I can paint over the first coat with a second color. I'll probably post the info once completed!

that sounds interesting and I'm sure it will look great

I did the same, made a template by tracing and cutting. I tell ya though, that gold is funky. The blue lettering works.

I am going to paint the calipers on my yellow rx8 gt.

What color would you go with. I am thinking red like porsche uses.

It has to be that exact Porsche red, if not, they do not look good.
Black is always good.

TekP - I have yellow as well and the only color that I would go with is black. Mine are still oem but if I ever decided to paint them thats what I'd do. I only like to see painted calipers if its on an exotic such as the brakes that come on Ferraris, Porsche, Lambo's etc. or on the set of kick *ss brakes such as Baer, Brembo or StopTech. IMHO - Brightly painted calipers, if not a part of the before mentioned group, tends to cheapen this cars looks. I just makes me think of teenagers and their civics and mustangs that paint them all the time.

If you do decide to do it - do it right with primer, paint and clear. Post pics when done if you forge ahead.

how about YELLOW CALIPERS?

Originally posted by TeKP
I am going to paint the calipers on my yellow rx8 gt.

What color would you go with. I am thinking red like porsche uses.

I also have a yellow GT model and have decided to paint my brake calipers in titanium / gunmetal grey with red RX8 LOGO on the calipers.

Michael

Yellow on Yellow? Nah. I'm with the others. Black would look good and If you want, paint the embossed Mazda Yellow, IMO.

I don't know if I would like the yellow on yellow look. I am probably going to go with black.

don't do red....it'll look like mcdonalds...

Ya... I think the yellow on the rx8 is too light for red calipers. The cars I have seen it on that I think look good have always been a more orangish yellow

I was thinking of Red on mine. I like it. Doesn't brembo make a big break kit for the 8 and arn't there calipers red?

How hard is it to paint brake calipers? There is a Porsche I park by in my building that has red calipers (they come that way) and I think it looks neat. Wondering how hard it would be to paint the ones on the 8? Anyone have an idea what it might cost if I had someone do it?

The Brembos on the G35 Coupe are red.

I believe the Brembo calipers are actually copper on the G35c and the 350Z. They were to match the Z's LeMans Sunset color. At least they were on last years '03's. Straight sexy, IMO!!

As an FYI, I have seen StopTech and Baer in red.

I couldn't find any shop to do it.

It took me and my friend about 2 hours to complete

The Eastwood Company, which sells automotive restoration tols and supplies, has a brush on caliper paint in various colors. It's advertized to be good up to 900 degrees F and sells for about $40. I have yet to try it, but it looks pretty easy, and the quality of their other products is excellent.

Their web site is: www.eastwoodcompany.com

How far back around the block caliper did you paint it, mikeb? Just eyeballed?

Originally posted by Lock & Load
I also have a yellow GT model and have decided to paint my brake calipers in titanium / gunmetal grey with red RX8 LOGO on the calipers.

I would love to see a photo of your calipers, if it isn't too much trouble :D

Originally posted by ranger4277
I would love to see a photo of your calipers, if it isn't too much trouble :D

As soon as i do them i will post them for you , i have got all the necessary materials for the job but havent gotten around to do them.

just eyeballed

www.g2usa.com sells caliper paint as well. They are distributed through tirerack.

Seek and ye shall find, boys.....

here's two large threads all about painting those fugly calipers...

Thread #1 (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?threadid=7940&highlight=ugly)

Other (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?threadid=7940&highlight=ugly)
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doc

Originally posted by success07
I believe the Brembo calipers are actually copper on the G35c and the 350Z. They were to match the Z's LeMans Sunset color. At least they were on last years '03's. Straight sexy, IMO!!

As an FYI, I have seen StopTech and Baer in red.

I tested positive for color blindness when I was in elementary school so you're probably right about the color of the G35 calipers :p

But I know my 8 is Ti-Grey because the moroney said it is ;)

1st is ricey, 2nd brake caliper need to breath also! that will somowhat lower the coolin-bility on the brake caliper

I just painted mine yesterday (and the day before). It's quite simple actually, but will take you about 6 hours total time to get it finished.

The inside cover behind the brake pad is metal, and rusts very easily. I had a ton of rust build-up forming (only 8500 miles), and it's damn near impossible to get to it's surface without taking the break pad off, so I spray painted it black with some of that high temperature spray-paint they make for grills, etc. Hopefully that won't wear off. I also sprayed the inside of the brake pad (behind the rims) black due to the rust building up there. Seemed prevalent on every wheel.

Painting the caliphers thereafter was easy. If you get one of those $30.00 kits off eBay, they send you calipher cleaner and paint. The paint dries VERY quickly, but it does take some time to apply 2-3 coats (which is recommended) to the whole calipher.

Again, it's pretty easy to accomplish and accents the car beautifully once you're finished.

I spray painted my hubs and calipers last weekend, using Dupli-Color's High Performance Wheel Coating on the hubs and Dupli-Color's Metalcast anodized surface color system (metallic ground coat topped with the blue anodized color) on the calipers. The Metalcast paint system is heat resistant to 500 degrees. The body color of my RX8 is Whitewater Pearl.

The process was time consuming, as I removed the caliper assemblies from the front & rear wheel assemblies, leaving the brake lines attached. The end result, IMO, turned out quite exceptional.

On the calipers, I prepped with brake cleaner, wire brushed and did an alcohol wipe-down cleaning of all surfaces. I then masked off all areas not receiving the paint system, applied an etching primer, applied two coats of the Metalcast ground coat, and three light coats of the Metalcast blue paint. It took about four (4) hours for each wheel due to the prepping done and the set up time between the various coats of paint.

I painted my calipers last summer and they have held up well. Last week I was out at a lapping session and used up most of my front pads AND the paint looks burned near the pads. Has anyone had this happen?