If you are wondering how to paint brake calipers without removing them, you must follow the steps in my article. You will not have to go to a workshop and spend your money. Freshly painted calipers will change your vehicle’s entire exterior and grab every car enthusiast’s attention.
Highlights can make the brake calipers look fresh and clean. It breaks my heart when I see a ride with a set of 18-inch wheels but the calipers behind it are rusted and dirty. Keep reading to see how easily the process can be done.
Painting the Brake Calipers Without Removing Them
In order to apply a fresh coat of paint to your brake calipers, remove the wheel, clean the corrosion (if there is any) together with the brakes, tape the brake while you mix the paint, and apply the varnish. There you have it; the entire operation can be done in less than 15 minutes.
Painting the brake calipers can be done with or without removing them. Since everyone is looking for the easiest approach that does not take a lot of time, I will focus on the painting without removing them from the wheels. Stick with me because, in the following section, I will give you a step-by-step guide on how to paint brake calipers without removing them.
Guide on Painting the Brake Calipers Without Removing Them
A new paint job for the brake calipers will make your wheels pop. In addition, choosing a unique color can make your vehicle stand out in every parking spot. Let’s face it, rusty rims and calipers are usually associated with a sloppy person who does not care about the car at all. If you follow the steps, you can enhance the entire appeal and vibe that your car offers and make people who called you out for neglecting your vehicle bite their tongue. I will divide the whole process into four steps:
- Removing the wheels
- Preparing the calipers
- Painting the calipers
- Finishing touches
If you follow my steps, you can apply new and fresh paint to your brake calipers that will last a long time and prevent rust. Let’s begin!
Removing the wheels
Before you start, you must think about safety. Therefore, apply the parking brake. While doing any kind of customization on a vehicle, safety should be your number one priority. You will be surprised how many people got injured from a small 5-minute change. As a car enthusiast, I recommend getting dirty and feeling like an “alpha male”, but safety should always be taken seriously.
Next, loosen the lug nuts with a quick turn. Because the tires are still on the ground, you can use an air gun or tire iron to remove the wheels more easily.
Close to the wheel that needs to come off, place the jack under the car’s frame. As soon as you remove the lug nuts, pull the tire gently toward you. Set everything aside and give yourself a comfortable working space. Repeat the process for the four wheels.
Read more: How to Remove Oxidation From Car Paint
Preparing the calipers
Now that you started the makeover of your vehicle, the next step is preparing the calipers. Remove them from the wheel assembly with the help of a ratchet wrench. I found that this tool works the best because of the security bolts of the caliper. You must be careful here, so you don’t disconnect the caliper from the break line. Also, be careful not to break or damage the hose. Carefully place the caliper in a box.
Now you need to separate the brake pads from the caliper. They are usually clipped in one place. Although this may not be necessary, by removing them, you eliminate the chances of getting any paint on them.
Now that the calipers are out, clean them properly. This step is crucial because it ensures that the layer of paint will actually stick and that your final paint job is top-notch. For cleaning, you can use a stiff wire brush that effectively removes the grime of metal.
Lastly, just like any paint job, use tape for the areas you like to protect from the paint. You can cover your mouth and nose with a newspaper mask if you don’t have anything else. Ensure the tape is all around the caliper pistons and the brake rotor.
Painting the calipers
The time has come; now you need to paint. Because calipers are exposed to very high temperatures every time the car breaks, you should select heat-resistant paint. Also, the color must be suitable for metal. Now that you have the paint ready, go over each side of the caliper at a time. Spray multiple coats, so there aren’t any weak areas. Spray different angles smoothly and achieve maximum coverage.
After you are done on one side, wait a couple of minutes before painting the other side. Repeat the entire process for every caliper on every wheel. In the whole process, be gentle so you don’t twist the brake line and damage the performance of your brakes. We all know how dangerous that can be!
Be patient if you don’t want all your troubles so far to be for nothing, and allow the paint to dry completely before replacing the caliper.
Finishing the job
Once the paint is dried, and the caliper is ready to go back, click the brake pads. If the brake pads begin to wear thin, now would be a great time to replace them. Your tools are already out, and the motivation is high.
To compress the caliper piston, use a C-clamp. Bolt the caliper back and make sure that each bolt is tight. Again, be careful not to twist or crimp the brake line.
As you place the tire back on the car, tighten the lug nuts onto the bolts by hand. You can use an air gun or a tire iron to remove the wheels. Use the jack this time to lower the car slowly and double-check that the lug nuts are tightly secured.
I know that is hard to resist, and you are eager to drive the car as soon as possible, but you should wait 24 hours for the paint to dry out completely. You can take her for a spin the next day and understandably brag to your friends. The first time you take the car out, test if the brakes are working properly.
Also read: How to Remove House Paint From Car Body
Conclusion
Now that you know how to paint brake calipers without removing them, the only thing left is to enjoy the admiring looks of people as you ride around the neighborhood. Good luck!
