This is a cheap yet effective upgrade (especially if you have alloy wheels which make the callipers highly visible).
There's two ways of doing this job (without removing the callipers and having them re-sprayed) these are:
1) Quick, Easy - Average Finish. (Will need re-painting every 6-12months)
Shopping List.
Brake dust cleaner
Small Wire Brush
Masking Tape
1 x CAR Paint Touch Up Stick (this is enough to do all 4 callipers)
Small artist type paint brush (Humbrol Senator no.4)
Remove the road wheel and clean the brake calliper with a good quality brake dust remover and a small wire brush
(The size of a toothbrush). Allow to dry (30 mins). If you're not too good at painting (unsteady) then use masking
Tape to cover the brake pads and other areas that don't need painting. Apply an even thin coat of 'touch up'
Paint to the calliper and leave to dry for 30-40 mins. Now apply a 2nd coat of paint and allow to dry. Re-fit the
Wheel and move on to next calliper.
2) Big Job - Takes AGES - Superb Finish - Long Lasting (preferable)
Shopping List.
Brake dust cleaner
Small Wire Brush
Masking Tape
2 x Pots of 12ml Humbrol Enamel Paint (from Model shop - the kind used to paint airfix models!)
1 x Pot of Hammerite Smooth (for base coat)
Small artist type paint brush (Humbrol Senator no.4)
This method provides the best finish and lasts the longest on the calliper. Choose a base coat that best suits your
Top coat i.e. Red callipers = Grey base, Silver callipers = White base etc...
Remove the road wheel and clean the brake calliper with a good quality brake dust remover and a small wire brush
(The size of a toothbrush). Allow to dry (30 mins). If you're not too good at painting (unsteady) then use masking
Tape to cover the brake pads and other areas that don't need painting.
Next, paint the calliper with the base coat of hammerite and allow to dry for 30 mins and then apply a second
coat. This should be done on all four callipers and then left for 7 days to cure (sorry - but it's worth the wait!)
Now the surface should be smooth (if not, rub down with 'wet and dry' paper first soaked in a warm water\washing
up liquid solution and allow to dry). Now use the Enamel paint on the callipers - this is very thin and won't begin to
cover properly until around the 3rd coat. A great finish requires 5-6 coats minimum and you'll need to wait around
an hour between each coat - needless to say this is a 'weekend' job!! This whole job is very time consuming but
the overall finish is superb.
