Smooth Brake Calipers
 

Quick question:

I want to paint my calipers but was thinking: Is it possible to make the surface of the brake caliper smooth first - filing or sanding or something? I just thought that it may look better smooth and painted than rough and painted?

Is it possible? Has anyone done it before?

i thought of the same thing whilst painting my callipers, but was lazy. i reckon u safe and can grind the rough edges down flush, cos they rough from beeing in a cast mould. make sure Nadia's out shopping 4 the day cos that's how long it's gonna take you. :) oh. what paint u gonna use?

It was just a thought that I had. I still have to get around to doing the calipers. But yeah, I know it's going to take a while. What I wanted to do to the calipers other than just making them smooth is to grind a flat side and then paint with one of the "RX-8" or "Mazda" decals from Polak so that I'd have a nice flat side with lettering on it. I like the idea of having lettering on the caliper but don't really like the look of lettering on a rough caliper...

What paint did you use for yours?

I didn't the first time around. The second time, I sanded down the calipers mostly to get rid of the old paint. It ended up giving the calipers a much nicer smoother surface, which was a nice improvement once it was all painted.

use the G2 paint kits. They cost a little bit more than the cheap stuff, but there is a reason why I had to redo my calipers after about 2 years...

When I can find the time to actually sit down and do the job, I might sand them down the same as you. Previously there was a post to a Scion XB site where the guy used a dremel tool to smooth them, but I don't have a dremel and even if I did, I don't think I'd be able to do it myself anyway. Sanding however is much easier. What grit paper did you use?

The problem with the G2 Kits as good as they may be is getting them here in South Africa - I'm not sure whether I can get hold of them other than by importing. I may have to go that route... But if phat8 managed with another paint, I might just use that instead as he's here is SA too...

In the united states they sell drill bits that have a sander on the end. Wire brush type things. Just plug it in and have at it. I wouldn't use a dremel unless it was heavy duty. I tried with a cordless one earlier and it failed with the sandpaper attachment.

I did with mine. Used a dremel tool with a grinding bit. Works well, looks good. I used G2 caliper paint.

Which grinding bit?

I used two, one is cone shaped, and the other is a wheel. I don't know the technical names.