Painted Caliper + brake cleaner = NO!!!
 

Hi, I did a search and couldn't find what I'm looking for. 4 years ago, I painted my calipers with G2 brush on, it's chipped a little bit here and there now so I decide to try the spray paint. So I got 1 can of Dupli-Color caliper paint with ceramic and a can of Engine Enamel clear coat which is also Dupli-Color. I didn't do any research before shopping. So, I went home, took everything off, cover everything and clean it with brake cleaner, wait about a minute for the cleaner to dry. Sand it down a little with 4000 grid, the caliper then looks smooth, and so I spray a couple coat and waited 2 hours for it to dry, it dries pretty fast, faster than the G2 brush on. Then 2 light coat of clear. Looks good so I put my wheels back on. next day morning went out for a short drive. I notice some dirt or brake dust on the caliper, so I use some brake cleaner. 2 mintues after I see the clear coat start melting and the paint is melting too. Anyone spray paint their calipers??? how do you clean them????

Ouch I spent the time painting mine too and I know how much time and work it takes so i feel for you. Luckily when i was preparing mine for painting I used brake cleaner and read on the label how it and paint dont mix and havent made the same mistake. What I have done instead is every time i clean my stock rims I use the same wheel cleaner and get what I can reach. It is always obviously mostly brake dust on the calipers too and that seems to work the best on the dust. By the way did you spray all of the calipers at the same time if so :banghead:

yea sorry, brake cleaner should not touching the paint unless you want to get it off... i bet the clear coat keeping the heat in helped the melting.

use non-chlorinated brake cleaner, its safer on painted calipers

yea I called Dupli-color up today they said NO BRAKE CLEANER

the lady on the phone was nice enough to tell me she feel sorry and tell me to use some mild degreaser...

gotta redo the calipers again~_~.....

good luck with repainting your brakes again.

I used the brush on kit. It holds up pretty well, and if you apply it right it levels out just as well as spray.

4000 grit isnt going to help the paint bond, you need something like 600. 4000 would be more for the final finish. I didnt even bother to sand mine.

Cleaning mine isnt that hard, a sponge and some carwash gets red of dust just fine, IMO.

Most brake cleaners will say it on the can not to touch paint with it. Try Simple Green. It works pretty well and is safe for anything.

Bob

^Agreed. Also you don't need to spend $$ on the G2 Kit. A small can of Rustoleum ($3) will do the same and last just as long. I've used it on several cars over many years with no problems at all.

You should never use clear coat because it is not rated for high temperture.

spend the $12 and buy another can of G2. Best stuff for it.

i used rustoleum black and it still looks good.

the paint takes like 7 days or 2 weeks to cure fully.... after that you shouldnt have such a dramatic effect. however i still wouldnt do it... i just wipe mine off when i wash my car.