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Caliper paint

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sp53

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Caliper paint, is there an important reason why people use special caliper paint? I am just ignorant to why.
 
Probably because of the heat generated to the calipers. The paint has to withstand that heat.
 
Heat is often listed as a reason for caliper paint. However, there should be no issue with heat on a street car.

Consider the boiling point of brake fluid. The wet boiling point (after it has absorbed moisture from the air) is around 300oF. Almost any paint is going to survive that. If your caliper gets hot enough to damage the paint, you have more serious problems to deal with... like boiling brake fluid.
 
There is a 1200 deg engine paint by Dupli-Color that will work for less money, but for it to last it needs to be baked at 300 deg for 30 min. or so. I'ved used it on brake drums with very good results without baking.
 
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After sending my calipers out to be rebuilt, The paint I used was from Plasticoat # CP-251 Bright Red.
 
I think that just like fishing lures are marketed to catch fishermen the same is true with many car products. It has to be better, after all it is "caliper" paint and it does cost more. And the biggest reason is that I bit and used it! ;)
 
Who paints their calipers?
 
Brake fluid will attack regular paint. Caliper paint is resistant to Dot 3 brake fluid.
 
TR6BILL said:
Brake fluid will attack regular paint. Caliper paint is resistant to Dot 3 brake fluid.
Click to expand...

I sincerely hope you don't have brake fluid on the outside of your calipers. If you do, you... as with heat damaged paint... you have other things to worry about than paint.
 
dklawson said:
I sincerely hope you don't have brake fluid on the outside of your calipers. If you do, you... as with heat damaged paint... you have other things to worry about than paint.
Click to expand...


Only when they occasionally got bled......
 
I have used rustoleum silver or "aluminum" colored spray paint on brake calipers and discs, no problems whatsoever with heat even with occasional autocrosses and one track day. I did have to touch up the calipers when I got brake fluid on them when rebuilding though.
 
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