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Old 20 February 2011 | 01:03 PM
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Default Painting Calipers?

Hello all

I'm set to paint them next weekend. I have a version 4 sti. 4 pots front, single on the rear.
I'm intending to remove them, brush them off, steam them and paint them with this stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Savage-RED-Bra...#ht_1407wt_905

My questions are: -

Is this the right stuff to use?
I want to paint the subaru sign white, can anyone recommend what paint and from where.

Thanks in advance.
Old 20 February 2011 | 01:06 PM
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I found hammerite smooth does about the best job.
Old 20 February 2011 | 01:09 PM
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Spraying or brushing?
Old 20 February 2011 | 01:13 PM
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Well i brushed mine on. In my opinion hammerite is thicker than the caliper paint and covers better.
Old 20 February 2011 | 01:49 PM
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I had my mate spray mine with 2pac paint and the finish is quite nice.

Whilst their off may be worth changing the seals,I've recently refurbed a set with stainless steel pistons from Godpseed Brakes and a new seal set.

As for painting the Subaru bit you either get a sponge and lightly dip it in to some white paint then gently press against the Subaru bit,or if you have a steady hand and use something like Holts touch up paint which comes in what looks like a Tippex bottle.
Old 20 February 2011 | 01:59 PM
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If you use Smoothrite, (Hammerite smooth), you can brush paint it and it leaves few, if any, brush marks.

Painting the letters is easy if you have a steady hand. If not, cut a block of wood a bit bigger than the letters, paint with Hammerite smooth and press onto letters. Repeat if it doesn't cover in one.
Old 20 February 2011 | 02:04 PM
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Cheers all, much appreciated.

Just bought a 15 piece artist brush set and white smooth of the bay. Just looking for the red for the calipers and black for the hubs.

This could be the cheapest mod ever

I've bought a set of kevlar pads off Bob at Aztec with fluid so i shall update you all with how i get on with some pics if any one is interested?
Old 20 February 2011 | 02:07 PM
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Hammerite smooth can be had in 500ml tins from B&Q, Homebase, Tesco, Halfords carshops etc etc.

Ranges in price though, so shop around
Old 20 February 2011 | 02:07 PM
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I used hammerite smooth (about 4coats) and got some stickers off ebay,but I do like the idea with a block of wood
Old 20 February 2011 | 02:10 PM
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It does work, but TBH, too many people faff around trying to get them perfect. They worry about tiny imperfections you can see in good light in your kitchen from 600mm away.

Put them back on the car, under the wheel and view from 2000mm and they look perfect.
And after a few miles they look filthy again
Old 20 February 2011 | 03:26 PM
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On my last Scoob I painted all the calipers (carefully as I couldn't be arsed to taken them off ) red again with Hammerite smooth. Thick brush and a thin brush for fiddly parts, steady hand and 24 hours to dry - looked fine. I preferred the full red look opposed to red/white lettering. Looked simpler IMO underneath the P1 wheels I had on at the time
Old 20 February 2011 | 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by chocolate_o_brian
On my last Scoob I painted all the calipers (carefully as I couldn't be arsed to taken them off ) red again with Hammerite smooth. Thick brush and a thin brush for fiddly parts, steady hand and 24 hours to dry - looked fine. I preferred the full red look opposed to red/white lettering. Looked simpler IMO underneath the P1 wheels I had on at the time
Dont suppose you have any photos?
Old 20 February 2011 | 04:10 PM
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Before & after. I used hammarite smooth spray & paint with a steady hand for the lettering.








Last edited by Paul&bon; 20 February 2011 at 04:12 PM.
Old 20 February 2011 | 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Markfey
Dont suppose you have any photos?
Erm, just scour Photobucket...


Ah...








HTH

Andy
Old 20 February 2011 | 05:33 PM
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i used hammerite smooth on my old 4 pots and them a steady hand to do the lettering
Old 20 February 2011 | 06:59 PM
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I used hammerite high temp spray in the end them some high temp vinyl stickers (eBay) and coated them with high temp varnish. Took me ages. Hammerite sounds much easier!
Old 21 February 2011 | 10:35 AM
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To get a good finish you need to take your calipers off. I would definitely use the spray rather than a brush, it gives a far far superior finish. I tried using wood and sponge for the lettering and to be honest it looked rubbish. I just used a steady hand and used a fine, stiff paint brush that was angled at the tip. This is the results.

Old 01 March 2011 | 04:51 PM
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Hello all

I took your advice and bought Hammerite Smooth off ebay. Three different colours, red for the callipers, black for the hubs and white for the lettering.

I spoke to bob at Aztec performance who sorted me out with Kevlar fast road pads, braided hoses and two bottles of dot 4 brake fluid.

I've yet to drive the car but i'll update with my opinion of them.

I didn't get round to doing the hubs as i was told the discs were on their way out. Didn't get the lettering either as it was sooooo cold and wet the paint took for ever to dry.

I'm not giving up though and will return on a warmer day armed with my artist paintbrush set i also got

My neighbour who is a brake specialist did the fitting and removing for me and charged me very little compared to what i was quoted by garages. His name is Rob and can help you out if you have cash waiting and live in the surrey or south london area.

Some pics for people who are interested in doing the same.

P.s SrSport and Paul&bon, you're just showing off

Before



The parts


The painting


Calipers back on but needing one last coat and a bit of touch up


The rears, before



What they look like now, lettering to be finished.


Old 01 March 2011 | 04:58 PM
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That looks really good, well done. Bit of advice when you do the lettering, be patient and have plenty of spare soapy water and sponges at hand as the lettering can easily go wrong. I nearly gave up and just kept it all red but pleased I didnt.
Old 01 March 2011 | 05:01 PM
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Cheers mate, i showed the misses the thread. When she saw your picture her exact words were "Thats how you should have done, his wheels are much nicer than yours".

I would have kicked off but she's taking me out tonight and i don't want to give up a free dinner
Old 01 March 2011 | 05:06 PM
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Looks good mate. I know what you mean about the weather. Pain in the ***. On the spray Hammerite you can put the coats on wet, every 15 Min's or so. I had to leave mine 24 hrs before they dried for me to be able to do the lettering. Top job though. Looks really good behind the wheels.
Old 01 March 2011 | 05:52 PM
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Make sure the Hammerite is the rollable stuff. Otherwise you'll get "hairs" of paint around the lettering.
Old 01 March 2011 | 06:53 PM
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Looks much better.

I've done two front sets and a rear set so far. I fully stripped them down. The Blue set have SS godspeed pistons and the red set have 8 good standard pistons in. All had new seals. I'm glad I did this as the blue set had 2 seized pistons and the red set 1 seized pistons! All painted with normal car paint! Good for another 10 years now......








Old 01 March 2011 | 07:04 PM
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Looks very good. Do the blue ones have painted letters or filed letters?
Old 01 March 2011 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by SRSport
Looks very good. Do the blue ones have painted letters or filed letters?
Painted. The calipers are cast iron so would rust if I just filed them
Old 01 March 2011 | 07:20 PM
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Ive heard of other people filling and then clear lacquering. I think Ferrari does that on the 612.
Old 01 March 2011 | 07:29 PM
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Yeah its been done, but I would imagine Ferrari uses alloy calipers though. Not sure how it'd look/last on a steel caliper tbh
Annoyingly the rear calipers are alloy (so could have done the above!) but the Subaru lettering is printed on insted of raised
Old 01 March 2011 | 07:31 PM
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Did these late last year mark, then i sold them , to get a proper finish that will last i think a strip down and shot blast is the way to go and a nice spray job with 2 pack paint .

I have a very good friend dave who does all my spraying for me top block if interested.

Old 01 March 2011 | 07:51 PM
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Love the blue ones! Any pics of the rest of the car?

Yours look awesome as well Lee. Did you have the calipers sprayed as well or are they new?
Old 01 March 2011 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Markfey
Love the blue ones! Any pics of the rest of the car?


any excuse to pic *****





The whole project thread is in my sig below



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