DIY: Painting brake calipers
05-11-2010, 12:26 PM
#127
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Most of my tools are from Sears (Craftsman), Northern Tool, Autozone (Duralast), and Harbor Freight (the latter for lesser used items). The Harbor Freight torque wrench is fine, but as you're building up your tools the Amazon linked is probably preferable as you cite it has the adaptors you may need. I prefer an ol' school click type as well. I can't be bothered looking at a needle. 
Yup, an 18" breaker bar is a must. Autozone has a good one.
Get a "race jack." The very low profile is just right. 1.5 or 2-ton is fine. I can get to my front center jack point (just aft of plastic undercover) with the low profile jack, and that's the lowest point. Some other typical:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=67022
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPULJC/...SIN=B000NPULJC
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ment+%26+Jacks
http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?id=324&cid=
Also get a set of Rhino Ramps (Autozone or similar) for when you don't need to remove the wheels but still need clearance e.g. oil changes.
http://www.rhinoramps.com/12000.html
Wheel chocks are a good safety item as well.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96479
It's not really that hard to take off the calipers/rotors. Proper tools, take your time, don't force anything, and you'll be fine. But masking for caliper paint will also work aok.
Yup, an 18" breaker bar is a must. Autozone has a good one.
Get a "race jack." The very low profile is just right. 1.5 or 2-ton is fine. I can get to my front center jack point (just aft of plastic undercover) with the low profile jack, and that's the lowest point. Some other typical:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=67022
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPULJC/...SIN=B000NPULJC
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ment+%26+Jacks
http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?id=324&cid=
Also get a set of Rhino Ramps (Autozone or similar) for when you don't need to remove the wheels but still need clearance e.g. oil changes.
http://www.rhinoramps.com/12000.html
Wheel chocks are a good safety item as well.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96479
It's not really that hard to take off the calipers/rotors. Proper tools, take your time, don't force anything, and you'll be fine. But masking for caliper paint will also work aok.
Hey I know this is an old thread but I wanted anyone's opinion on this jack and stand combo from Torin .
Has anyone used this product before and is it of decent quality? Theres an even cheaper one for $50 but the stand aren't included and its max lift is around 13" vs this one which is like 17+". Gunna be painting the cailipers and eventually doing other projects down the road so I figured its time I make the investment.
05-11-2010, 12:30 PM
#128
I zoom therefore I am.
a jack and stands are one of those items that you want to pay a premium on. I'd rather pay more up front then have to text for help because my car is resting on my lungs
05-11-2010, 12:53 PM
#129
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lol I don't think you'll be texting for help on account of the fact that you'll be DEAD if these were to fail while you're under the car...very valid point.
06-01-2010, 01:10 PM
#132
Well the thing about Dupli-color is their paint is only heat resistant to like 450° F, G2's is 900°F + .... So, plus I've also heard great things about G2... Was just wondering about the matching of the blues and if they'd be off a little too much to notice...
06-01-2010, 03:58 PM
#133
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06-02-2010, 06:20 AM
#134
Just go with G2 black caliper paint and you'll have no blue-matching worries.
Here's an online color chip fwiw: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/acces...tail.jsp?ID=41
Here's an online color chip fwiw: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/acces...tail.jsp?ID=41
06-02-2010, 07:24 AM
#135
my dupil-color paint survived a track day with no problems...just saying. though an extra 500 degree buffer is certainly better.
Here is a pic from my car
https://www.rx8club.com/album.php?al...ictureid=15193
and remember, the colors you see on a website are always going to look much different then the real color (looking at the generic swatches on the G2 website)
Here is a pic from my car
https://www.rx8club.com/album.php?al...ictureid=15193
and remember, the colors you see on a website are always going to look much different then the real color (looking at the generic swatches on the G2 website)
Last edited by Bigbacon; 06-02-2010 at 07:26 AM.
06-02-2010, 09:37 AM
#137
With one G2 kit you can get two coats on the calipers, which is all you need, with enough left over to do the rotor inner rings. You have to work somewhat quickly tho' as there's a definite "shelf life" after being mixed. If you've got everything apart and cleaned on a bench (recommended) piece o' cake tho'.
06-02-2010, 10:07 AM
#138
the dupli-color isn't a mixture and it will coat a lot more than twice it seems. I did two coats on mine and there is still TONS of paint left in the can.
But it is super easy either way, and the brush on is fool proof. I think it took me no more than 45 minutes to do all 4 and thats with jacking the car up and taking the wheels on/off for each corner.
I wish I hadn't bothered with spray on the first time.....huge PITA
But it is super easy either way, and the brush on is fool proof. I think it took me no more than 45 minutes to do all 4 and thats with jacking the car up and taking the wheels on/off for each corner.
I wish I hadn't bothered with spray on the first time.....huge PITA
06-02-2010, 10:26 AM
#139
With one G2 kit you can get two coats on the calipers, which is all you need, with enough left over to do the rotor inner rings. You have to work somewhat quickly tho' as there's a definite "shelf life" after being mixed. If you've got everything apart and cleaned on a bench (recommended) piece o' cake tho'.
Id like 2 coats on them if possible, and the shell life after being activated says 4-6 hours so im covered there...
06-02-2010, 12:52 PM
#140
^ I hear ya; it is a bit of work, but I was replacing my rotors and pads at the time, so I benched them. You can certainly mask effectively and the G2-kit supplied brush is well suited.
I found the paint got tacky well before the 4 - 6 hour limit and it was a fairly cool day in early Spring. But again 2 coats went on the caipers easily and I'm sure the rotor rings wouldn't take long as you can simply rotate them for ease of application.
I found the paint got tacky well before the 4 - 6 hour limit and it was a fairly cool day in early Spring. But again 2 coats went on the caipers easily and I'm sure the rotor rings wouldn't take long as you can simply rotate them for ease of application.
06-04-2010, 01:02 AM
#141
Derp Kitten
I'll be painting my calipers as soon as I get my polak decals in the mail... but I cant decide exactly what I want.
My 8 is Nordic Green, with black and chrome wheels.
I'm either going to paint all 4 calipers glossy black, with a silver/chrome RX-8 stenciled on just the rear calipers OR paint the front calipers silver/chrome, and the rears as previously mentioned.
Thoughts?
My 8 is Nordic Green, with black and chrome wheels.
I'm either going to paint all 4 calipers glossy black, with a silver/chrome RX-8 stenciled on just the rear calipers OR paint the front calipers silver/chrome, and the rears as previously mentioned.
Thoughts?
06-08-2010, 01:25 AM
#143
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Here is my Winning Blue Rx8! I painted my hubs black and the calipers red because it was too rusty. I think it turned out very good for a first timer.
Last edited by ***andrey06***; 06-08-2010 at 01:33 AM.
07-05-2010, 07:02 PM
#146
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This forum is excellent! I just bought a 2006 RX8 with 18k miles and needed a bit of help on how to get into the engine air filter box. The owners manual was of no use. After watching a video someone posted here, it was cake. Thank you!
