Painting brake calipers? Here's how

Painting brake calipers is a great way to give your car a personalized look. Follow our step-by-step guide to successfully painting brake calipers.

Follow these steps to paint your brake calipers:

1. Brake caliper paint kit (including cleaner and primer)
2. Sandpaper (320-400 grit)
3. Brush or spray can (depending on paint type)
4. Masking tape
5. Jack and axle stands
6. Wheel wrench
7. Safety glasses and gloves
8. Degreaser or brake cleaner
9. Brush or scrub pad
10. Old rags or newspaper

Step-by-step guide to painting brake calipers

1. Preparation

Safety always comes first. Make sure your car is on a flat surface and use the handbrake. Then remove the wheels and place old rags or newspaper under the brake calipers to catch any dripping paint. Ensure good ventilation and wear a face mask.

2. Cleaning

Degrease the brake calipers with degreaser or brake cleaner. Use a (wire) brush to remove rust, dirt, grease and brake dust from the brake calipers. Let the brake caliper dry thoroughly.

Once the brake calipers are dry, you can start sanding. Use sandpaper to lightly sand the surface of the brake calipers. This ensures better adhesion of the paint. Then clean it with a rag.

3. Masking

Protect surrounding areas. Use masking tape to cover the brake discs, brake pads and other parts that you do not want to paint. Pay particular attention to masking off rubbers, brake hoses and bleed nipples. Otherwise, you’ll have a caliper to overhaul in no time.

4. Painting

Start by applying a primer. If your kit includes a primer, apply it and let it dry completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then you can apply the paint. Apply the caliper paint with a brush or spray can, depending on the type of paint you have. Apply thin coats to prevent drips. Let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next. This can usually take 15-30 minutes per coat. Depending on the coverage, apply 2 to 3 coats.

5. Finishing

Let the paint dry completely. This can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight. This depends on the paint and the ambient temperature. Carefully remove the masking tape before the paint has fully cured. This is to prevent the paint from coming off.

Once the paint has dried, you can reassemble the wheels.

6. Curing

Allow the paint to cure. Avoid heavy braking and exposure to water for the first 24-48 hours to allow the paint to fully cure. It is best not to drive the car for the first 24 hours.

Tips for best results:

• Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes. Wear a face mask if necessary.
• Make sure the brake calipers are completely dry before you start painting.
• Choose a paint that is resistant to high temperatures and chemicals such as brake fluid. Our favorite is the brake caliper paint from Foliatec or VHT.

Good luck painting your brake calipers! With patience and care, you can achieve a professional-looking result. Nice result? Share your photo with us and earn, in addition to eternal fame, an AKR Performance voucher worth €5 per photo.