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Brake Caliper Painting


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#1 BeachRat

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 07:52 PM

So I decided the best color for my calipers would be black: too many people have red (not that I don't like it biggrin.gif ) and yellow wouldn't have matched the way I wanted it too. Silver? Nah, the wheels are silver. Gold? Bling! Black would give it a clean, simple look which is exactly what I wanted. However, I was severely discouraged by many people because "You just don't see black that much, no one will be able to tell unless they're looking for it!"
What could I put on there that would give the calipers a little POP without falling off or hindering brake performance? My first idea was a yellow racing stripe, but I hesitated all the way through taping up the first caliper, and decided not to do it. I played around in MSPaint a little while, and a few hours later I had the perfect idea! Without further ado, my brakes:



I apologize for the dirty wheels, I set them in the grass and the sprinklers went off!

I need to get a picture of the back ones, the only difference is that the emblem is oriented right side up, as opposed to sideways on the front calipers. If you'd like the .gif I used as a pattern as well as how I did it just ask. Enjoy! smile.gif

Edited by BeachRat, 17 January 2005 - 06:29 AM.




#2 PyROZen

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 07:56 PM

i painted my calpiers black also. I think it looks really clean and you won't have to repaint them for a looong time. i did mine last summer and they come clean with wheel cleaner everytime. As for people who think they won't be noticed, if someone isn't looking then their opinion probably doesn't mean too much.

btw, did you cut out little squares of paper and stickem to the wet paint or did you use a tiny brush to paint that design?

Happy thanksgiving all!!
Lee

97' Volvo 850 T-5-----R.I.P.------Bullshit...
96' Volvo 850 T-5-----R.I.P.------I'm Sorry!!!

#3 BeachRat

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 08:09 PM

Okay, here are some more pictures:

This is the right side from a distance, you can't really see exactly what it is unless you know what it is...



And one of the rear calipers. I apologize for the crappy angle, the spokes were right over the emblem on both sides, I'm not moving the car for that!



It's fingernail polish! I used this image I made in Paint as a pattern:



First I put masking tape over the area I wanted them painted on. I rubbed it on really well, then taped the printed out emblem over it. Using an X-acto knife, I cut out each square and then pulled the stencil off. The squares were marked on the masking tape, and I just had to go back and finish cutting them out. About 6-7 coats of nail polish in each square, with one bottom coat of white first in the red square. Once the polish had dried, I cut out the squares again with an X-acto knife so when I peeled the tape away it wouldn't flake off the squares. I touched up with more red, white, or even black fingernail polish in spots I'd missed or f*d up. Then I did 2-3 coats of nail laminate over the whole thing to keep it spiffy. I've driven the car for about 3 weeks now and there is no sign of wear or flaking/chipping on any of the four. Just take your time.

Edited by BeachRat, 17 January 2005 - 06:31 AM.


#4 Veneficus

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 08:17 PM

Did you make the decals? Looks good. I'm doing black in the spring when I throw the rims back on...


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#5 Veneficus

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 08:19 PM

QUOTE(Veneficus @ Nov 25 2004, 03:17 PM)
Did you make the decals?  Looks good.  I'm doing black in the spring when I throw the rims back on...
View Post

Posted while he replied... blink.gif

Edited by Veneficus, 25 November 2004 - 08:19 PM.



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#6 BeachRat

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 08:20 PM

QUOTE(Veneficus @ Nov 25 2004, 01:17 PM)
Did you make the decals?  Looks good.  I'm doing black in the spring when I throw the rims back on...
View Post


Initially I had considered the Volvo decals in a creme yellow from www.xenonmods.com but I wasn't sure how long they'd last. I think a few people here have them. I wanted something really unique and something I'd know would last. I've been on the brakes really hard lately (Snowbird season in Arizona) and they haven't worn off yet!!

#7 PyROZen

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 08:20 PM

looks great man, using fingernail polish was a great idea, i might put a little design on mine next time i take the wheels off.
Lee

97' Volvo 850 T-5-----R.I.P.------Bullshit...
96' Volvo 850 T-5-----R.I.P.------I'm Sorry!!!

#8 chieffo

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 08:36 PM

thats hott. good work
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#9 beachnut

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 09:06 PM

Props to ya man for the great idea! I've been wondering what I should do with my rear calipers. My new front calipers are going on soon ... just waiting for my 302mm brackets smile.gif


- Scott
'05 S60 T5
'04 S80 2.5T

#10 BeachRat

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Posted 25 November 2004 - 11:53 PM

QUOTE(beachnut @ Nov 25 2004, 02:06 PM)
Props to ya man for the great idea! I've been wondering what I should do with my rear calipers. My new front calipers are going on soon ... just waiting for my 302mm brackets  smile.gif
View Post


That's the other thing I had in mind, I like your calipers as well. I wanted that same look in yellow. Let us know how well those stay on when you get to mount them, I will update mine as well to prevent anyone looking to do this kind of thing from having long-term problems.

#11 theunderlord

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Posted 26 November 2004 - 12:18 AM

QUOTE(BeachRat @ Nov 25 2004, 03:53 PM)
QUOTE(beachnut @ Nov 25 2004, 02:06 PM)
Props to ya man for the great idea! I've been wondering what I should do with my rear calipers. My new front calipers are going on soon ... just waiting for my 302mm brackets  smile.gif
View Post


That's the other thing I had in mind, I like your calipers as well. I wanted that same look in yellow. Let us know how well those stay on when you get to mount them, I will update mine as well to prevent anyone looking to do this kind of thing from having long-term problems.
View Post



Man, keepin beachrat and beachnut straight is really really hard... = ) Both sets of Calipers look great guys!
07.5. 3500HD SRW. LMM. LT. CCLB. 4x4. Pioneer DVD. JL Audio. Rockford Fosgate. Subthump. Katzskin Interior. Fab Fours Front Bumper. Reese Class V. 6K HID. 20% Tint. Bushwacker. Smoked Recon LED Taillights & Third Brake Light. US Speedo Gauge Overlay. Colormatched Vent Visors/AVS Bug Deflector/Door Handles. Black NFab Bars. LineX. 6" Tuff Country Lift. 325/60-20 Nitto Terra Grapplers. KMC XD Black Rockstars. 20"x10" -24 offset 4.56" BS. PCV Re-Route. Banks Boost Tube. AFE PG7. Edge CTS Race. 4" Silverline Downpipe Back Exhaust. 5" MBRP Tip.
To Install/On Order: Banks Intercooler, AirDogII DF-165, Fab Fours Rear Bumper, Diamond Eye Downpipe.

#12 drPheta

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Posted 26 November 2004 - 05:41 AM

Noice!!! I dig the motorsports emblem

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#13 Guest_DougK_*

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Posted 01 December 2004 - 04:24 AM

how'd you paint all those waterspots on your wheels? tongue.gif

looks good!

#14 95 R

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Posted 01 December 2004 - 09:43 PM

QUOTE(beachnut @ Nov 25 2004, 04:06 PM)
Props to ya man for the great idea! I've been wondering what I should do with my rear calipers. My new front calipers are going on soon ... just waiting for my 302mm brackets  smile.gif


View Post


Those calipers look sweet. What are the letters made of, how are they put on? Where did you get them from?
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#15 theunderlord

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Posted 01 December 2004 - 09:53 PM

www.xenonmods.com
07.5. 3500HD SRW. LMM. LT. CCLB. 4x4. Pioneer DVD. JL Audio. Rockford Fosgate. Subthump. Katzskin Interior. Fab Fours Front Bumper. Reese Class V. 6K HID. 20% Tint. Bushwacker. Smoked Recon LED Taillights & Third Brake Light. US Speedo Gauge Overlay. Colormatched Vent Visors/AVS Bug Deflector/Door Handles. Black NFab Bars. LineX. 6" Tuff Country Lift. 325/60-20 Nitto Terra Grapplers. KMC XD Black Rockstars. 20"x10" -24 offset 4.56" BS. PCV Re-Route. Banks Boost Tube. AFE PG7. Edge CTS Race. 4" Silverline Downpipe Back Exhaust. 5" MBRP Tip.
To Install/On Order: Banks Intercooler, AirDogII DF-165, Fab Fours Rear Bumper, Diamond Eye Downpipe.

#16 Jozone

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Posted 04 December 2004 - 07:25 PM

QUOTE('98S70R @ Dec 1 2004, 03:53 PM)

Seems to me you could do the same thing without the decals. I think when I have the time I will spray mine a white, then print the volvo logo onto labels, spray again w/ red, then remove the labels.

This is me just thinking though, dunno if its practical.
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#17 theunderlord

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Posted 04 December 2004 - 07:34 PM

QUOTE(Jozone @ Dec 4 2004, 11:25 AM)
QUOTE('98S70R @ Dec 1 2004, 03:53 PM)

Seems to me you could do the same thing without the decals. I think when I have the time I will spray mine a white, then print the volvo logo onto labels, spray again w/ red, then remove the labels.

This is me just thinking though, dunno if its practical.
View Post

You get 6 declas for 10 bucks, I put my decals on a looong time ago and they're still there, and they look great... I'm sure you could do it with paint, but for 10 bones...
07.5. 3500HD SRW. LMM. LT. CCLB. 4x4. Pioneer DVD. JL Audio. Rockford Fosgate. Subthump. Katzskin Interior. Fab Fours Front Bumper. Reese Class V. 6K HID. 20% Tint. Bushwacker. Smoked Recon LED Taillights & Third Brake Light. US Speedo Gauge Overlay. Colormatched Vent Visors/AVS Bug Deflector/Door Handles. Black NFab Bars. LineX. 6" Tuff Country Lift. 325/60-20 Nitto Terra Grapplers. KMC XD Black Rockstars. 20"x10" -24 offset 4.56" BS. PCV Re-Route. Banks Boost Tube. AFE PG7. Edge CTS Race. 4" Silverline Downpipe Back Exhaust. 5" MBRP Tip.
To Install/On Order: Banks Intercooler, AirDogII DF-165, Fab Fours Rear Bumper, Diamond Eye Downpipe.

#18 Jozone

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Posted 04 December 2004 - 10:41 PM

QUOTE('98S70R @ Dec 4 2004, 01:34 PM)
You get 6 declas for 10 bucks, I put my decals on a looong time ago and they're still there, and they look great... I'm sure you could do it with paint, but for 10 bones...
View Post

Oh I certainly agree, I just think the painting would be a more permanent option. My only experience with cars + decals in New England was very poor.

Edited by Jozone, 04 December 2004 - 10:42 PM.

1993 945T
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#19 WhiteT5

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Posted 05 December 2004 - 01:25 AM

I took this pic about 2 weeks after I painted my calipers and about a week after I put my decals on. The decals have been on for quite some time now and have been through some crazy weather and they still look brand new.


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-'95 850 T5 White/Tan (SOLD) // '92 244 5-spd White/Blue // '04 Saab 9-5 Aero Sportcombi 5-spd Navy/Black/Carbon

#20 BeachRat

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Posted 05 December 2004 - 08:01 AM

That looks great, and I'm glad people responded who have put decals on their calipers. I wasn't sure if it would be a problem or not, but there you are: seems a-okay. My own job looks as fresh as it did the day I did it. I really like the blue and silver, that looks schweet!

The obvious advantage of the decals: For $10, you save what took me almost 2 hours total prep-work for all four corners. What Jozone suggested would probably work, though I recommend the brush-on caliper paints over the sprays: you have a lot more control. Unless you're planning to remove the calipers for doing that job, then you just have to cover the bleeder screws.




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