Brake Caliper Refinishing

[ntmatter]

My front brake calipers are starting to look a bit faded and worn - I was wondering if anyone had any experience with getting them re-finished or re-painted? I know there are 2-stage paint kits, but I'm not looking for something ricey. Basically, I'd like to have the calipers protected from the elements and clean looking.

 

[Matt M PA]

I know that my local speed shop sells a specific spray can caliper paint in a few colors. It is made for this purpose, and I understand that it holds up to the heat. I think it is made by VHT.

 

[GTS Bruce]

Would it not be better to strip off the old paint and repaint with a flat black barbecue grill paint for better heat dissipation? Bruce

 

[Paul Hawker]

Carefull not to ruin a good thing. Yellowed brake calipers are kind of the ultimate status symbol among ViperDays racers. Stock white lettering becomes off white, then light yellow as the calipers get hot during the racing weekend. The ultimate honor is to have bright <FONT COLOR="Yellow">YELLOW</FONT c> Viper Logo's on your brakes.This means you have been using your brakes to their maximum, and are really flying. Of course changing brake fluid is necessary to really get those calipers cooking!

 

[ntmatter]

I definitely have the yellow caliper letters, however, I'm also getting some scoured patches on the fronts due, I'm pretty sure, to lots of swirling brake dust. My concern is getting rust or something else nasty in those un-painted spots. Another option might end up being to buy someone's take-off stock calipers, or just getting a pair of Stoptechs, though that would bump me out of the ViperDays super-stock class.

 

[kverges]

The calipers won't rust, they are aluminum.

As for StopTechs, don't bother for cosmetic reasons. I am on my third set of StopTech calipers (tried the pretty red twice, now have black) and they look like crap. They work great, but the inevitable brake fluid spills when bleeding brakes smeared the logos. Function over form, I suppose, but cosmetically the stock calipers held up much better for me.

If you want take-offs, I might part with mine, which still look pretty good.

Keith

 

[GTS Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul Hawker:
Yellowed brake calipers are kind of the ultimate status symbol among ViperDays racers. Stock white lettering becomes off white, then light yellow as the calipers get hot during the racing weekend. The ultimate honor is to have bright <FONT COLOR="Yellow">YELLOW</FONT c> Viper Logo's on your brakes.This means you have been using your brakes to their maximum, and are really flying.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ok, so what does orange-tannish brown mean?

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They get more colorful when you quit fooling around with Motul and use AP or that SRF stuff. You can keep running the car at 1200F rotor and 450F caliper temps without having to bleed them. (And yes, those are stock rotors without ducts.)