DO NOT buy Duplicolor caliper paint! It is Garbage!

[Bsaint]

Looks like shitty prep to me

I've painted, wheels, calipers, and door panels with dupli-color and as long as the prep, technique and time is taken it turns out fine.

And since OP gets mad without proof...

[B Rod SRT]

You failed at it, thats life. Move on.



Sarcasm Unit is gonna get you, Run!

[Am3n]

Little insight? So sorry for trying to help. Its gotta be in the prep.

I used paint stripper on mine (as they were coated from the factory), sanded, taped off pistons, wiped them down 2x with prepping agent/degreaser, quick shot of adhesion promoter, then about 7 light coats of hightemp VHT color, 2-3 coats of high temp VHT clear.

Took this pic this week (roughly a year and a half since I painted them.) 2 track events along with some street miles:

That looks gorgeous...
If I might ask, how did you put the "Porsche"? Sticker, Paint, ?

[luke318is]

It sprayed evenly enough though came out extreemely thin, and would run easily if applied to closely to the surface.

:facepalm 1

Though i was wrong, coming out the next morning to see that the paint was still tacky after 16 hours or so sitting outside.

:facepalm 2

I took down the calipers to being the assembly process, though still i could tell the crappy caliper paint wanted to stick to any surface it rested on. Additionally, removing the blue tape i had used to mask off areas of the caliper peeled off some sections of the paint adjacent to it.

:facepalm 3 & 4


not prepping and being a smartass seals the deal!

[Rakshas]

So what is the correct process for caliper painting? Going to be doing my own in a few weeks and would like not to fail.

I was planning on:
1. Removing calipers
2. Cleaning with dish soap and degreaser(simple green) with wire brush
3. Wipe down
4. Spray Rustoleum silver high temp paint

Missing anything?

[Rtistik]

Maybe a Nor Cal Racer Boy sabotaged the paint cans while you weren't looking.

i lol'd when i read this...

Your post has been reported.

but I was after reading this.


if a whole thread is telling you that you went wrong with the prep, why can't you stop having your head so high up and admit that you prepped it incorrectly? oh wait, I've never painted my calipers before either so you might as well take my words as worthless too, or maybe you want to continue throwing insults and generalize everybody from the bay area as a "boy racer," but even I know that if paint isn't sticking, it's obviously in your prep.

Your rant on duplicolor is just like those fools walking into Maaco expecting a $5000 paint job without doing any prep. Maaco does great spray work, but they are KNOWN to NEVER prep. I've seen 10/10 paint jobs that have came out from Maaco, but the owners spent endless hours sanding/applying primer before they took it in. Your paint not sticking is the same mentality, you need an adhesive under there. Scrubbing with a wire brush and fine grit sandpaper won't do the job.


**EDIT: notice the can in Bsaint's picture, the grey one that says PRIMER. Maybe you should ask PepBoys about that before you rant on them too and call them names.

[2000mkoop]

I think you over-thought the process and spent too much time prepping, using too many chemicals. Your parts probably got saturated with whatever chemicals you were using, then you didn't allow them enough time to gas out before you applied paint

I've painted calipers on crappy old cars using what's laying around the shop (even used vinyl dye once haha) and all the prep i did was a quick wire brush, blow off debris, and wipe down with wax/grease remover or paint thinner.

probably didn't wait any longer than a few hours before driving

No issues with the paint bubbling / peeling / fading / whatever

(I'm definitely not saying this method is proper. It is not, and I would've done it differently had the car been worthy)

[uberSteuer]

OP is an idiot. Stay on e36tech.

Brake clean is not a good primer as it will create a film on the caliper that paint will not stick to.

[SamGrant951]

That looks gorgeous...
If I might ask, how did you put the "Porsche"? Sticker, Paint, ?

Thanks! Its a vinyl decal actually. I cleared over it and it has held up very well.

[Am3n]

Thanks! Its a vinyl decal actually. I cleared over it and it has held up very well.

I was going to do this with 'BMW' but I opted for a simple and clean paint job on the calipers and rotor hats.

A)
Because I will be changing out the entire system for a BBK Kit

or

B)
Even if I dont do the BBK Kit, I will be doing new rotors.

[compactdisc]

OP, why did this rant end up in rides and styling?

[j0sh866]

So what is the correct process for caliper painting? Going to be doing my own in a few weeks and would like not to fail.

I was planning on:
1. Removing calipers
2. Cleaning with dish soap and degreaser(simple green) with wire brush
3. Wipe down
4. Spray Rustoleum silver high temp paint

Missing anything?

As I suggested to the OP, I'd do high heat primer as well if I was going to do it.

[Am3n]

OP, why did this rant end up in rides and styling?

Because like painting his calipers, he had no idea what he was doing?

[2000mkoop]

Because like painting his calipers, he had no idea what he was doing?

[XCELMotorsports]

haha, this thread is hilarious.

Would it be ok to use the Ceramic paint used to coat engine bays ect for this job?

I used it to paint my entire engine bay when i did a swap, turned out really nice. Would guess it would hold up on calipers/rotors since it has a high heat tolerance.

[slocar]

I've always used the high temp engine enamel or whatever the hell that one stuff is for calipers and it worked fantastically.

[B Rod SRT]

Because like painting his calipers, he had no idea what he was doing?

Hahahaha.

I've always used the high temp engine enamel or whatever the hell that one stuff is for calipers and it worked fantastically.

+1

[hon2bmw]

Sounds to me like he admits to

A.) not letting them cure properly before handling them.

B.) not knowing how to lay down paint on a part properly.

C.) over prepping a cast porus metal with some rather odd procedures.

D.) disregarding directions printed on a product by the manufacturer.


Then complaining about it when it doesn't work like he beleives "its supposed to."

Am I missing anything?

[stealthbeam]

Honestly, I used the Duplicolor Caliper paint kit and it still looks flawless after 3 years. I used the brush and the results were great. I do not recommend paintng a rotor with this material paint tho. It wont last and will warp/scratch your rotors

[M3Rob95]

I use there stuff on my calipers and rotors. Never had problems.

I took a lot of spray painting classes tho.. A LOT!

[abr5]

ouch

[germancarguy]

Sorry to hear the caliper paint didnt tickle your fancy. I think the results your expecting can only come via powdercoating($50 a caliper). Try the paint brush kit as another member mentioned. The brush on kit seemed to be more rugged and glossier. Just my 2 cents.

[Yarberrymt]

It's all about the prep work my friend.

[jhstealth]

i used vht from autozone/advance auto parts. Worked awsome. The duplicolor brush on works well tho, id never get the sprey on tho.

[BLUIZE256]

That looks like a poor prep and job to me. I've used the duplicolor caliper paints before with great success.

word, I even did a bit of a half ass prep job and mine came out great and lasted up until i sold the car (about a year)