I noticed that the only caliper painting walkthrough was for the xA/B. Granted, they do have front calipers and you can just follow those steps, I did a lot more prep work painting my calipers. So here it is, my walkthrough in painting the calipers on a tC.

After seeing a pic of Syxxpac's calipers, I decided I was going to paint my calipers. So I went out and bought the duplicolor caliper painting kit complete with paint, caliper cleaner, masking tape, paint brush, and a stirring stick. I took the jack out of the back of my car and pick pocketed my fiancé to get her keys. I then snuck out to her car and stole the jack out of the back of her Taurus. I took the jack out to my garage and gently placed the keys back in her pocket without her knowing. (I actually asked her for her keys and if I could borrow her jack, but the other story sounded better.)

I decided to start with the front seeing those were bigger calipers. I usually try to do the hardest/most time consuming parts first. With the wheels still on the ground, I used the lug wrench to bust the lugs loose. A half a turn will do, just so that you can get them off easily when the wheels are in the air. Then, I used the handy-dandy arrows on the side skirts to figure out where to place the jacks and lifted up the front of the car. Once the front wheels were airborne, I finished removing the lugs and pulled off the wheels.

This is what the caliper looked like once I got the front wheels off:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061804.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061804a.jpg

And the rear calipers before they were painted:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061232.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061232a.jpg

After doing some research here on ScionLife, I learned that the results are only as good as the prep work you do. When I saw how bumpy the calipers were from casting them, I thought to myself, "this just will not do". So I bust out my two favorite tools for working on cars: my pair of Mechanics Gloves (I love those things) and my Rotary Tool Kit (no, not a Dremel, this is a cheap knockoff). I go through all of the attachments and decide on the larger of the two sanding drums, stick on a roll of 60 grit sandpaper, and away I went. This pic was about 5 minutes into sanding the first caliper:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061814.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061815.jpg

I continued sanding, trying to get every nook and cranny. After I got everything I could, I switched to a roll of 120 grit and went over everything again. After that, I took of that sanding drum and put on the smaller diameter drum and loaded that up with 120 grit as well to get the rest of the places the larger drum wouldn't go. This is what it looked like all sanded and fairly shiny:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061923.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061923a.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061317.jpg

Just to make sure I didn't miss anything, I took the bolts out so that I could pull the caliper off the rotor. I left the brake lines hooked up, but wanted to be able to move the caliper around a bit more. And just to make sure I didn't grind off anything important and screw stuff up, I pulled off the brake pads and the clips that hold them in. Those things are a pain to get off and I figured it would be the same putting them back together. So I laid them on the ground exactly like they came off the car. Seemed to work alright. I took this picture of the rear caliper clips in case I couldn't remember how they went on:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061322.jpg

I went over everything again with the small diameter 120 grit attachment. This got everything nice and smooth. (I spent about 45 minutes to an hour sanding each caliper.)
Tip: It would be a good idea to get some safety glasses when doing this. I never wear safety glasses, but with the dust the "rotary tool" kicks up, I got a fair amount in my eyes.

I didn't want to slop paint on everything under the fender, so scrounged around and found a couple of spare Wal-Mart plastic bags laying around (yea, right...who doesn't have a thousand of these stupid things laying around). I covered the rotors with the bag and loosely put the top bolt back in to hold the caliper on the car. I just slid the bottom bolt through the bracket while holding up the caliper. I let the caliper rest on that bolt instead of bolting it back on. It gave me a little more room to work. I had some painters masking tape laying around, so I used that instead of the tape supplied in the kit. I taped around the rubber fittings, the bleeder valve, and where the brake like connects to the caliper. Here are some pics of my calipers ready to be painted (in the first pic, you can see how I laid out my brake components so I could remember how they went together):

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061924a.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421061924.jpg

Before I started putting paint on, I found a bottle of Simple Green and hit the calipers with that to knock loose all of the dust from sanding the calipers. I sprayed the caliper, let it set for a few minutes, then used my fiancé's toothbrush and scrubbed them clean (actually, it was one of my old toothbrushes that I use for detailing, but again...it sounded better). Now that most of the dust was gone, I used the caliper cleaner that came with the kit. That stuff is fun. You spray it on and it dries in a couple of seconds, ready for you to paint.

So, I decided to stretch my legs while I was shaking up the can of paint. Spent about two minutes shaking it, then opened it up and spent another minute stirring it with the supplied giant popsicle stick. After seeing how thick the paint went on, I decided to do the first coat thin, but thick enough to cover everything. Since this was only the first coat, it is ok if you miss a couple of spots. I just wanted to get the thing mostly covered. Here is a pic of one of my rear calipers halfway done with the first coat:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061608.jpg

The nice thing about doing both of the fronts or both of the backs at the same time is while you are doing the second one, the first one is drying. After I got the first coat on the first caliper, I went to the second caliper and got that one covered. This is what the first caliper looked like after its first coat of paint and having dried for about 20 minutes while I was doing the other one:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421062016.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0421062016a.jpg

For me, I took about 20 minutes per caliper to paint them. Doing it this way, I got three coats on each before the paint started lifting and had to stop. The first coat is just to get a base on. The second coat allows you coat everything and get those spots you missed. With the third coat, I got everything coated evenly and it looked pretty good.

This is what the calipers looked like after the paint had dried and were bolted back on the car:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061204.jpg

After everything is dry, you can put the rims back on. I put them on the car and installed the lugs. I tightened them in a star pattern to make sure the wheel was straight. Then I let the car down nice and gently and finished tightening all the lugs so they are nice and snug. What is left to do but take it outside for a quick photo shoot:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061220a.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0424061453.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0424061452.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0422061220.jpg

For anyone thinking about doing this, I would recommend a full weekend when you know you won't be going anywhere or if you have another car you can use to get around. I started Friday afternoon after I got off work and did the fronts. Saturday, I worked all afternoon reassembling the front calipers and sanding and painting the rears. Saturday night, I reassembled the rear calipers and bolted them back on the car. I let it dry all day Sunday. The important thing to do is put the jack back in your car and even more importantly, put the jack back in the fiancé's car. I was sure to ask her nicely for her keys and place the jack back where I found it (haha, I actually stole the keys and just threw the jack in her car...........who am I kidding, I am whipped).

It was a fun project and really makes your calipers and wheels more noticeable. I will probably put another coat or two on the calipers just to even everything out and make it look nicer. I noticed several people staring at my calipers as they pass me/I pass them on the interstate. Very inexpensive, but noticeable mod for your car. And for any Release Series 1.0 owners who are thinking about doing this...the Red Duplicolor kit matches the Absolutely Red paint almost perfectly.

:bow:

very nice!

i did the same but i just took the damn things OFF and then painted them. then when dry put em back on...no tape needed or mess getting it on anything else but what you wanna paint

good write up!

wow! I think i'll add this to my my project list for this summer. I'm decomissioning the car for like 2-3 weeks and doing a whole bunch of crap. We'll just have to find time to do this.

looks great!

very detailed. you went all out on those bad boys.... how did it look polished? (like after you sanded? good enough to leave like that :rofl:)

Looks good. I painted mine some time ago with the Duplicolor kit. After several months it started chipping and peeling, so I recently powdercoated them.

Added to Tech!

very detailed. you went all out on those bad boys.... how did it look polished? (like after you sanded? good enough to leave like that :rofl:)

Actually, it probably wouldn't look too bad. They get really shiny when they are sanded, especially when the light hits them. They looked a lot shinier than in the pics. My "rotary tool" kit only had 60 and 120 grit sanding drums so I didn't get it completely smooth. But I am sure if you kept getting finer and finer, they would turn out pretty nice. It would just take a lot of time.

very detailed writeup< I like it but I wouldve skipped the sanding part, thats just me.

did you take those pics with a camera phone?

very detailed writeup< I like it but I wouldve skipped the sanding part, thats just me.

If you could take a look at the places that I couldn't get with the rotary tool, you would change your mind I think. The paint is all bumpy and looks terrible. Thank goodness it is only like that on the back of the caliper where nobody can see. The paint is fairly thin so you will be able to see any imperfections you don't sand out.

did you take those pics with a camera phone?

Yea, I took them with a camera phone. I kept forgetting my digital cam inside and had my phone with me. I thought the pics turned out pretty good considering.

i painted my calipers using the duplicolor red as well... turned out really nice and the red is very close to the RS1.0 red

im gonna paint mine red in the next couple of weeks

Did I inspire you to do this write up? LOL. Thanks! Hopefully I'll have enough time to do this before summer comes. Thanks again!

Good write up.

Painting the calipers makes them look nice, but really emphasizes how puny they look. Too bad a BBK is mucho $$$.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0424061452.jpg


Be careful parking if you ever get a front lip. :)

I like the calipers a lot, it's good to see that someone took their time to do it right.

Looks good, but I am not sure why you's guys are using the cheap Duplicolor paint. I used the G2 Caliper paint ( it's the same stuff that they use on Indy cars ). It's basically a ceramic coat that is ridiculously durable. It probably took a little longer to put on, but it was well worth it and it looks great. Also, if you put it on exactly as the instructions tell you ( which I did ), it is guaranteed for life or they will send you another cannister of the paint to do it again.

No sanding or grinding, everything is included with the G2 paint kit. Caliper cleaner, paint, and brush.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

so you won't have to sand/grind if you use the g2 kit? Ive heard of that one too.

SAWEEET!

Looks good, but I am not sure why you's guys are using the cheap Duplicolor paint. I used the G2 Caliper paint ( it's the same stuff that they use on Indy cars ). It's basically a ceramic coat that is ridiculously durable. It probably took a little longer to put on, but it was well worth it and it looks great. Also, if you put it on exactly as the instructions tell you ( which I did ), it is guaranteed for life or they will send you another cannister of the paint to do it again.

No sanding or grinding, everything is included with the G2 paint kit. Caliper cleaner, paint, and brush.

I'd recommend it to anyone.

I did a quick search and found that the G2 kit is $35-$37. That would buy two duplicolor kits. I put three coats on each caliper and there is still about 2/3 of a can of paint left. If I put all that paint on, it would figure out to approximately 9 coats of paint per caliper. I would imagine that is pretty darn durable and still costs less than half of your stuff. Besides, unless the G2 stuff is ridiculously thick, you will still be able to see the casting marks from the calipers. As with any paint job, the final product is only as good as the prep work you do. And just remember, that kit may be for indy cars, but you are still putting it on a $16,000 car.

Thanks for the how-to, Tony! Nice timing since I'm going to do mine this week too! I actually have the G2 kit sitting here waiting to go on. The G2 stuff uses a hardener that you mix in right before you paint, so it behaves sort of like epoxy I guess. I got it for $27. I'll let you know how it goes.

^^ yeah, let us know

Just to let you guys know...I was telling my friend that he should paint the calipers of his xB with the G2 as well. The thing that he said amazes him most is the fact that no matter what kind of dirt or crap you get on them, you can still wipe it off with your finger. And yes it is like epoxy, to an extent. I would consider it more of a ceramic coating that never dulls.

Now, I am going to add that if you want to do it quick, do the Duplicolor. My car was out of commission for about 26 hours. But the way I look at it, you can either go fast and cheap ( which means that you will probably have to do it again in the future ), or you can pay a little bit more and take some more time and not have to do it EVER again.

Like I said before, I contiuously get compliments and I highly recommend the stuff.

off topic.. but is it easy to change your own rotors and pads?

Pads:Yes
Rotors: I have never done that, but I don't think it would be too hard. But don't quote me on that.

Pads:Yes
Rotors: I have never done that, but I don't think it would be too hard. But don't quote me on that.

cool. by any chance... do you know anyone aor anything willing to explain to me how to do it?

No, I just fooled around with the calipers for a while and figured out how everything worked. I'll try to list the steps later tonight.

No, I just fooled around with the calipers for a while and figured out how everything worked. I'll try to list the steps later tonight.

id greatly appreciate it. itl save me a few bucks..

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/krdshrk/Car/caliper_rf.jpg

I did mine too.

Just to let you guys know...I was telling my friend that he should paint the calipers of his xB with the G2 as well. The thing that he said amazes him most is the fact that no matter what kind of dirt or crap you get on them, you can still wipe it off with your finger. And yes it is like epoxy, to an extent. I would consider it more of a ceramic coating that never dulls.

Now, I am going to add that if you want to do it quick, do the Duplicolor. My car was out of commission for about 26 hours. But the way I look at it, you can either go fast and cheap ( which means that you will probably have to do it again in the future ), or you can pay a little bit more and take some more time and not have to do it EVER again.

Like I said before, I contiuously get compliments and I highly recommend the stuff.

Just a FYI, dirt, brake dust, and road grime wipes just as easily off the Duplicolor calipers. And my car was out of comission for most of an entire weekend because I wanted to do it right. That is why I spent so much time sanding and getting calipers looking nice before I painted. I also get compliments on my calipers. I think it is safe to say that Duplicolor and G2 look essentially the same depending on your prep work and will make your calipers look much better than stock.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0424061452.jpg


Be careful parking if you ever get a front lip. :)

HAHA no kidding! if that was my RS 1, you'd see about 2 feet from my front bumper to the curb!
Very nice write up! im sold! Sounds like a long and tedious process though.. i hate that!

i just painted my calipers, but i couldn't get those damn bolts off. So i just painted it without removing them.

I just finished, I couldn't take the bolth out either....So I did anyways. Came out looking clean

The bolts were tough, but can be taken off. I used a breaker bar and tapped/hit it with a hammer a few times. That broke it loose and I was then able to remove the bolts. They just need some intimidation :P

Thanks for the tip, but I finished the job...Now im relaxing ...Good write up :yawn: :yawn:

sciondriver...what color did you paint yours? i did red on mine. looks pretty sick. i had this dude with a porshe twin turbo say they look real good.

I did it red too..its kool. I was thinking blue ...but I didnt want to go out to the paint story and buy matching blue paint.

yeah man, i think red stands out more on a blue car. my mom and sister are like ''it looks so ugly..no ones gonna like that'' im like whatever yo, its my car. plus they dont know car style anyway lol.

MY gurl.... would be the same way....but she at work and I'm at Home

Alright so whose calipers are chipping now? Mine use to but not anymore. Just curious to see if anyone had the same problem. Most likely because of how I prepared it and how I coated it but still just wondering. You did a really good job and I'll make sure to do it this way next time on my new tC.

Well did everything the same way. I just didnt take pad off the caplier.....

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/THansenite/CaliperProject/0424061452.jpg


Be careful parking if you ever get a front lip. :)




no kidding. i tore a small hole in mine while parkin at a wendys.

just wondering...has anyone used the caliper spray paint. just like take the whole caliper off and first spray it with white so the red comes out better.

Pads:Yes
Rotors: I have never done that, but I don't think it would be too hard. But don't quote me on that.

i have a 92 civic and couldnt get the bolt that holds the rotors off. I ended up going to a brake shop for them to change them.but i believe i couldnt get it loose cuz the car is old and it is the original rotors.(the car only has 40k on it)i found it for 3200...45mpg with ac on. hahaha

Pads:Yes
Rotors: I have never done that, but I don't think it would be too hard. But don't quote me on that.

cool. by any chance... do you know anyone aor anything willing to explain to me how to do it?

should be able to change the pads..just follow the directions everyone used to take the calipers off when they painted them.

Has anyone else notice our brakes look sissy with the 18inch wheels on em? I hate it. I'm saving up for some willwoods or the powerslot big brake conversion.

[Watching]

[Watching]

Ummm...what exactly are you watching? This is a DIY thread, not really much discussion.

I can't convince my dad to let me do this, being as the shop fixing my car didn't do it like we asked. That's all right though, I wanted a gold color, unlike the red my dad asked for.
Super hardcore noob question - does taking the rims off the car affect alignment?

No.

where can i buy this Duplicolor kit, what store has them

where can i buy this Duplicolor kit, what store has them

Most auto parts stores. See AutoZone, Pep Boys, Advance...

I got mine at Wal-Mart.

thanks

Does anyone have pics of their G2 paint job? I would like to compare the two....G2 vs Dupli....

http://g2usa.com/installs08.shtml


I did mine just two weeks ago..

I took my calipers off though. It is time consuming but alot easier.

can you also get the g2 kit at autozone, pep boys, etc...?

I don't think it goes by the same name or the same exact product, but I'm sure you could find it else where.
I chose G2 because a friend had used it and the results were awesome.

The price is pretty good less then $40 shipped.

i thought that the duplicolor set was spray on only, but i found this... is says brush on.

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliper.html

You can spray both products on after purchasing the aresol kit for them. It may be easier. I brushed mine on. I was up until 3 am doing it but the was because I was getting ready for Sibling Rivalry here in J'ville. I think they came out real nice. The main thing to remember is to take your time, and keep everything clean.

It was alot easier for me to do the work with the caliper off of the vehicle. I highly recomend doing this. If you don't have a bleeding kit then just go to Advance Auto Parts and rent theirs. (you get your money back...I promise)

Let them dry a full day before putting them back on. Easier to handle if your afraid of them getting damaged in anyway....

a quick question i can still paint them with out taking them off the car and removing the brake pads right????

Yes...just make sure you cover the rotors and "all"other hoses, bolts, bleed bolts, and pads. You really don't want to get any paint on this stuff.

What product did you decide to go with?

Duplicolor kit (red) ummm is there pics of what needs to be covered or taped off

Duplicolor kit (red) ummm is there pics of what needs to be covered or taped off

Tape off whatever you don't want red. :P

It is pretty much just common sense. I taped off the bleed valve and the brake line, removed the pads and pad mounting hardware, and painted the rest.

If you do not plan on taking your calipers off then place a bag over the rotors.

Good luck with the painting. I need to see pics after you get them done.

Here are what my look like just after they were done. They have since gotten as litle darker from curing.

http://g2usa.com/images/submissions/ridesubmission26.jpghttp://g2usa.com/images/submissions/ridesubmission25.jpg
during...don't mind the popcorn on the floor had just gotten a new p]art and my daughter threw the packing mat. all over the place.
http://g2usa.com/images/submissions/ridesubmission24.jpg

By the way I recommend sanding or smoothing the caliper for a much smoother look.
I did mine that way and they look good.

i took my rims off for my two fronts then got lazy and just painted the rear quickly lol

Great tutorial!

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/personal/23310_1.jpg
http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/personal/23310_2.jpg

I really want to do this but unfortunately i have to drive my car everyday and i want it to look good. and i also dont think i want to sand my calipers so im pretty much sol :loser:

Not really....all you need is to take at least 1 full day to do this. It is pretty straight forward. The easiest way to do it is just tape and cover the areas that you don't want to get paint on and buy the Duplicolor from alomost any autio parts store and go to town. By the next day you are back on the road.

Yeah but i want it to look as nice as possible and its sounding like in order to have that you need to sand the calipers...

If you start early enough in the morning ( before the sun rises )

You can have all this done in about 7 hours. You may want to hang them out of the way to dry but by the next day you will riding again.

Granted I pulled mine completely off that's why it takes so long. But I am gald that I did. A friend of mine went with yellow and he is still trying to get paint off his wheels, because he got in a rush.

thank you for that I did mine on friday and this realy helped. I'll post pictures tonight or tomorrow.

Did mine over the weekend.. I can take more pictures later if ya want..

[img=http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9126/brakepaintyr2.th.jpg] (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brakepaintyr2.jpg)

How do you guys feel about bright orange or royal blue on a CSM? Orange might be unusual and if I get underglow...I'm getting orange so it would match.

Did mine over the weekend.. I can take more pictures later if ya want..




Looks good from what I can see...pic was sideways.. :D

D'oh!! :(

Its a very simple mod that looks good even with stock wheels. I did the plastic bag trick, use plenty of tape and a plastic bag and you don't have to take anything apart or anything. It honestly took me less than 2 hours to do this, two coats on each.

:clap: :clap:

nice!!

i might do it!!

do it!

I wish i bought a diff. color car. sigh..

lol
ok so i have waveline pearl tC....what color should i color the calipers??
may be blue, gold, red.......any suggestions

thanks

jj

gold would be quite unique

^like mines:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/DSCF3961.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/ilovemy65stang/MY%20TC/DSCF3967.jpg

dude that looks great

hey dude.....that's exactly what i wanna do right thier!!!
did u get the gold color from dupli-colors?

do u guys think i should paint my stock rim gold too or black w/ gold calipers??

black with gold calipers for sure!

what brands r those caliper color kit from??

finding time to do this is going to be hard... oh goodness.

i was just wondering how long it takes to make them turn black xD! i was thinkin bout doing this, but my friend with a celica did it and he said after a year or so its black. lol used to be blue XD