S2K
New member
- Jul 8, 2010
- 990
- 0
This all started as "I want to paint my brake calipers" and one thing led to another and three weeks later I had done a complete detail on the entire wheel wells of my S2K.
Before (this is the front and the rears look pretty much the same) notice the casting lines on the caliper, I want them gone.
After I pulled the wheels they were pretty dirty so I started off trying to clean them up. I forgot to get a pic before I started but here is Sonax HD Wheel Cleaner dwelling on one. They all looked about the same.
After a couple applications of Sonax, some serious scrubbing, even some Bug & Tar remover and mineral spirits they just wouldn't get clean enough for my liking.
So what to do? I can't get them clean so I'll just paint them.
All taped and ready for paint. It took me about 45 minutes a wheel just to tape. Tedious and time consuming. I used Krylon high-temp engine paint because I know wheels will get hot under hard braking.
After paint, I really like the way they came out, the barrels just disappear on the car. (this pic was after I had the new tires mounted, like I said, one thing led to another)
Ok wheels are done time to move to the calipers, Well I can't just paint them with everything else looking like this.
Before I start cleaning, grinding and painting I better protect the rest (thanks for the idea Corey)
After hours of cleaning, lots of Simple Green and various brushes, I got rid of the dirt but I don't like that surface rust on the control arms and hubs.
So I applied Purple Power De-Ruster. This stuff works great, just spray or brush it on and it KILLS rust and leaves a paintable finish. This pic is after the De-Ruster before any paint.
Ok finally on to the calipers. I pulled them off because I want to get rid of the casting marks and other rough spots. Again many hours were spent here, four calipers and four brackets. I used a die grinder with various stones, wire brushes and sanding wheels, also a Dremel with various cutting and sanding bits, and LOTS of brake cleaner.
Here's a 50/50 of the front followed by the rear.
And everything cleaned up ready for the G2 Paint System.
I really liked the G2, I could tell while painting that it was going to be a very durable paint. It went on very easy and I had enough to give four calipers, four brackets and the hats on all four new rotors two coats. But you have to work fast, it says it sets up in 4-6 hours but it was about 90 degrees that day and after 3 hours it was getting thick and I had to stop because I was getting some brush marks. I think if it was cooler I would have had more working time. I also found these high-temp vinyl decals from an S2K forum and purchased on Ebay.
I really need to work on my photo skills because I forgot to get a shot of the calipers before I installed them, but here they are after I painted everything inside the wheel well. I used Krylon Fusion spray paint for plastic, it says you don't need any prep or primer though I did clean everything very well. I painted the mufflers and cooling fins of the rotors with Krylon Grill paint which says it is good up to 1200 degrees.
And here is the final look with wheels and new Dunlop Direzza's installed.
And my favorite pic of my car I have taken so far.
This was a lot of work and very time consuming and most of what I did will never be seen by anyone but guess who knows what it looks like? And who else matters, right? So be careful if you want to paint your calipers, you might end up with new rotors, ceramic pads and new tires along with many many hours of work.
Thanks for looking.
Before (this is the front and the rears look pretty much the same) notice the casting lines on the caliper, I want them gone.
After I pulled the wheels they were pretty dirty so I started off trying to clean them up. I forgot to get a pic before I started but here is Sonax HD Wheel Cleaner dwelling on one. They all looked about the same.
After a couple applications of Sonax, some serious scrubbing, even some Bug & Tar remover and mineral spirits they just wouldn't get clean enough for my liking.
So what to do? I can't get them clean so I'll just paint them.
All taped and ready for paint. It took me about 45 minutes a wheel just to tape. Tedious and time consuming. I used Krylon high-temp engine paint because I know wheels will get hot under hard braking.
After paint, I really like the way they came out, the barrels just disappear on the car. (this pic was after I had the new tires mounted, like I said, one thing led to another)
Ok wheels are done time to move to the calipers, Well I can't just paint them with everything else looking like this.
Before I start cleaning, grinding and painting I better protect the rest (thanks for the idea Corey)
After hours of cleaning, lots of Simple Green and various brushes, I got rid of the dirt but I don't like that surface rust on the control arms and hubs.
So I applied Purple Power De-Ruster. This stuff works great, just spray or brush it on and it KILLS rust and leaves a paintable finish. This pic is after the De-Ruster before any paint.
Ok finally on to the calipers. I pulled them off because I want to get rid of the casting marks and other rough spots. Again many hours were spent here, four calipers and four brackets. I used a die grinder with various stones, wire brushes and sanding wheels, also a Dremel with various cutting and sanding bits, and LOTS of brake cleaner.
Here's a 50/50 of the front followed by the rear.
And everything cleaned up ready for the G2 Paint System.
I really liked the G2, I could tell while painting that it was going to be a very durable paint. It went on very easy and I had enough to give four calipers, four brackets and the hats on all four new rotors two coats. But you have to work fast, it says it sets up in 4-6 hours but it was about 90 degrees that day and after 3 hours it was getting thick and I had to stop because I was getting some brush marks. I think if it was cooler I would have had more working time. I also found these high-temp vinyl decals from an S2K forum and purchased on Ebay.
I really need to work on my photo skills because I forgot to get a shot of the calipers before I installed them, but here they are after I painted everything inside the wheel well. I used Krylon Fusion spray paint for plastic, it says you don't need any prep or primer though I did clean everything very well. I painted the mufflers and cooling fins of the rotors with Krylon Grill paint which says it is good up to 1200 degrees.
And here is the final look with wheels and new Dunlop Direzza's installed.
And my favorite pic of my car I have taken so far.
This was a lot of work and very time consuming and most of what I did will never be seen by anyone but guess who knows what it looks like? And who else matters, right? So be careful if you want to paint your calipers, you might end up with new rotors, ceramic pads and new tires along with many many hours of work.
Thanks for looking.
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