Painting brake calipers -tacky or not?

Bluefoam

I'm thinking of painting my calipers black,with a white decal... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alfa-Romeo-Brake-Caliper-Calliper-Decals-Stickers_W0QQitemZ260358257866QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item260358257866&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318#ebayphotohosting

Is it a bit nasty on a sporty car - as opposed to a sports car?

Car is similar to this:

feylya

No, you ****ing simpleton

I've been thinking of the exact same thing on the same car except Alfa red.

CharlieCroker

No, you ****ing simpleton

Have an Alfa myself. Reckon red is the only colour to paint them.
Why black, kinda defeats the purpose of painting them, imo.

JoeySully

Who gives a ****

Why paint them these guys have just what you want :rolleyes::rolleyes:
http://stores.shop.ebay.ie/Tokey-Online-Giant-Outlet__W0QQ_armrsZ1

you can drill the disks then with a good titanium drill bit :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Gary ITR

JoeySully wrote: »

Why paint them these guys have just what you want :rolleyes::rolleyes:
http://stores.shop.ebay.ie/Tokey-Online-Giant-Outlet__W0QQ_armrsZ1

you can drill the disks then with a good titanium drill bit :rolleyes::rolleyes:

God they're worse than the fake rear brake discs

tommmy1979

Who gives a ****

Go for it.. get a nice big nike swoosh for the rear windscreen too.. finish of the job nicely :pac:

Bearcat

pure tack imo unless car came with same. if you want to clean up callipers sandblast and powder coat them in black......they'll look understated and good.

Seth Brundle

Who gives a ****

On this topic: does anyone now where the thread on the internet was where some VW (Golf?) owner decided to do this and show the world but also painted the disks?

robtri

Who gives a ****

kbannon wrote: »

On this topic: does anyone now where the thread on the internet was where some VW (Golf?) owner decided to do this and show the world but also painted the disks?

no way
are you serious??? thats so so funny!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

Bluefoam

No, you ****ing simpleton

robtri wrote: »

no way
are you serious??? thats so so funny!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

Cool, I might try that too!

S.I.R

No, you ****ing simpleton

ive done it several times actually....

heat resistant paint and some bqag bags and your laughing...


just dont add " wil wood " or " brombo " to stock units..


because then you will know why people laugh when they see your car...

but bosche or any of the alfa signs would do grand imo....

Sean Quagmire

No, you ****ing simpleton

funny that i just got these off ebay yesturday for my Leon from the same guy.I think if they are not over done they will look fairly nice.

Bluefoam

No, you ****ing simpleton

Once I have them painted & the decals on, I have been advised to give them a coat of lacquer. Does anyone know if there is a particular type of lacquer required & where to get it?

Sean Quagmire

No, you ****ing simpleton

What colour are you doing the calipers? im split between black and red.
black would be a little more low profile which i like..

Bluefoam

No, you ****ing simpleton

Sean Quagmire wrote: »

What colour are you doing the calipers? im split between black and red.
black would be a little more low profile which i like..

I'm going for black - it suits the colour of the car & more subtle & won't be too obvious - just a nice detail...

maidhc

How do people clean calipers? I have them off the Capri at the minute and would like to put them on looking respectible. (I'm not going to paint them, just remove 30 years of dust).

Sean Quagmire

No, you ****ing simpleton

have you tried the break caliper cleaning products store?

maidhc

Sean Quagmire wrote: »

have you tried the break caliper cleaning products store?

They cost money!

Seth Brundle

Who gives a ****

maidhc wrote: »

How do people clean calipers? I have them off the Capri at the minute and would like to put them on looking respectible. (I'm not going to paint them, just remove 30 years of dust).

Use copious quantities of oil and grease but don't wash it off

Seriously, you could start with standard car cleaning products but I'd say you would really need something designed to remove the caked on dust.

mik_da_man

No, you ****ing simpleton

Go on and paint them.
I think they look well
A lot better than the mad fake brake disks you see on corsas

peasant

maidhc wrote: »

How do people clean calipers? I have them off the Capri at the minute and would like to put them on looking respectible. (I'm not going to paint them, just remove 30 years of dust).

Any motor factors will sell you clutch and brake cleaner / parts cleaner for under a fiver. That stuff will do the trick ...wear gloves though and don't breathe the fumes

stealthyspeeder

Who gives a ****

See painting your calipers, would this be a "do it youself job" or a "pay someone" job? My calipers, could definately do with a coat of either blue or black paint as they look worn and alsmost rusty, but surely i'd need to prep the surface of the caliper first? (any idea on this anyone?) and would also need very high heat resistant paint (is this commonly available?)

Stevie Dakota

Who gives a ****

I think painted calipers look sad, unless on exotica where you know the owner has someone who will take the wheel off and clean the calipers on a weekly basis.

You could ALMOST get away with it on an Alfa. Although how will it look when those stickers are hanging off is another matter.

SV

No, you ****ing simpleton

Would only paint them if I had the brakes changed.

I'll probably paint mine when I get the brembo discs and pads in.

Eoin

I don't think painted calipers are the worst, but they need decent size disks to pull it off.

blackbox

Who gives a ****

Tacky - Yes

I think Porsche started this with their Big Red callipers - Now they use bright yellow for their latest brakes (JCB colour).

Pure conspicuous consumerism gone mad - and grotty when copied.

Bluefoam

No, you ****ing simpleton

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

You could ALMOST get away with it on an Alfa. Although how will it look when those stickers are hanging off is another matter.

The decals are heat resistant & the lacquer is to ensure they do not peel...

Stevie Dakota

Who gives a ****

Bluefoam wrote: »

The decals are heat resistant & the lacquer is to ensure they do not peel...

But do you believe them? Throw is power washing, alloy wheel cleaner, heat, dirt, corrosive brake dust and I would bet they will never survive. There is a good reason brake manufactures use paint and not stickers.

Bluefoam

No, you ****ing simpleton

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

But do you believe them?

General consensus on the Alfa forum is that they are good - also, informed to stay away from Halfrauds caliper paint & Hamerite...

My main concern is being able to get them off the car to do a proper job. Its only the front pieces that need to be painted, but haven't had a close enough look to see if they are connected to the hoses - bleeding bakes is a bit beyond me...

I don't mind doing them on the car as I am not using any spray paints & can mask the discs etc...

rebel.ranter

No, you ****ing simpleton

I think painting the calipers black is a good idea, it is better than having them rust colour. Would not be too sure on red or yellow or blue though.

The reds & yellows are fine if they are on a Porsche or Lambourghini or something though.

su_dios

blackbox wrote: »

Tacky - Yes

I think Porsche started this with their Big Red callipers - Now they use bright yellow for their latest brakes (JCB colour).

Pure conspicuous consumerism gone mad - and grotty when copied.

What utter rubbish!?

Most sports cars will come with painted calipers and a decent setup. If the alfa set up is big/powerful enough then go for it. If not, then don't draw too much attention to them by painting them red. Go for silver to brighten them up or black for the decals but those decals will not last!

I have 312mm brakes as standard on my GT and have them painted red (these are the exact brakes used on the gti which has them painted as standard).

Bluefoam

No, you ****ing simpleton

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm gonna in ahead with it... Like i said, i'm not going with a red or other strong colour. Am hoping the black will be subtle enough.

jim o doom

I've always thought it was tacky tbh - but despite the tackiness I like it anyway! - but only in red, stay away from the gold, because it is irredeemable (and ya barely notice black unless you are seriously religious about cleaning the car)

omb0wyn5ehpij9

No, you ****ing simpleton

As long as there is a good job done on them, then they will look well!

kuro_man

Who gives a ****

It tacky! Sell the 147, buy a Fiat Coupe 20vt plus or limited edition - they come with red calipers as standard. You'd have a wad of cash in your pocket and a proper car to drive.

Barr

No, you ****ing simpleton

I spent a whole day painting the calipers on my old FTO -a right pain in the ass to do .You have to take off the calipers to do a good job . I used hamerite paint and it done the job fine