Opinions on painted calipers

[SactoJim]

Part of me wants to paint these things Red (calipers) cuz I think it looks kinda cool (primarily on true sports cars).

The other part of me says leave em like they are because they shouldn't be painted to stand out unless they (brakes) are truly a high performance big brake setup (which they'de be already painted anyway). Kinda like having a fake supercharger.

Does anyone else out there feel like they're cursed with this "over thinking everything crap"!?

[cstm68]

do it!!!!!!!!

it WONT look fake with thoes cross drilled rotors you have on the front!!

i painted the calipers on my toyota
4x4 and i plan on doing it on my 68 !

[herb101]

I am similarly cursed and have painted mine red. Of course I have nothing to paint on the rear yet and I won't paint my drums - LOL

Herb

[SCOTI]

Compromise . . ....

I painted the calipers on mine w/high gloss black caliper paint. It wouldn't scream 'look @ me.... I'm a stock GM caliper trying to look like a high-end Wilwood'; but would make things look much nicer (much more subtle).

[wibilly]

i painted mine because i painted every thing, but you can't see them with my stock steeles. you can't just leave them to rust, i say paint thembut myself i would paint them a dull aluminum or cast color to blend them in rather than highlight them but thats just my way

[Dingfodgy]

I, personally would get some Eastwood "Detail Grey" paint and give them a very subtle color. Wait! Eastwood also makes a Gold or Red Cadmium look kit that might look totally sweet!! They are very muted and subdued hue of gold or red....not shiny and overly obvious. IMO- please oh please don't paint them bright red or yellow.....there are way too many "ricer" boys around here that do this to their stock Civic's with nothing more than shiny rims and a dorkey lookin' fart-cans.

[SactoJim]

Don't know if you all noticed but they already are painted with a stainless coating.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by SactoJim

Don't know if you all noticed but they already are painted with a stainless coating.

I noticed, I just thought you were considering something different. If that's the case, black would be better on the truck than the red.

[corn]

Myself, I think they look like they have just the right amount of bling as is...

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

X2 .... I agree with Corn.

esll.

[Andy4639]

They look nice just like they are. There is just enough shine to make them noticable. Leave them alone!

[way2lo2]

They look fine the way they are but if you decided to painted them red, smooth the rough casting first. will have much better result. Here are some red calipers on my 58 Chevy, of course they were red when I bought them.

[SactoJim]

Originally Posted by way2lo2

They look fine the way they are but if you decided to painted them red, smooth the rough casting first. will have much better result. Here are some red calipers on my 58 Chevy, of course they were red when I bought them.

Please give me those calipers.....those are serious looking!

[70c10]

Charcoal gray or black. Not red!

[Alvin]

I painted my calipers black, but I also took the time to grind the face of the caliper smooth. I'm hoping they look as good as I think they will once they're on the truck behind some nice wheels.

[Yukon Jack]

I'm thinking either black or the color of your truck would look great.

[Shock_Me]

I'm of the opinion that brake calipers need some kind of paint or coating to prevent them from rusting. With the larger, modern open spoke type rims you can really see what's happening back there with your rotors and calipers.

As far as color, well that's a matter of personal taste. I painted my brother's calipers red because he liked the look on his medium olive stepside, (I'd post a pic, but I can't from work). I painted my orange 68's calipers gloss black, simply because the red would most likely clash with the body color.
I don't think it looks "fake", it's a real caliper, just with a little detail added.

Yours looks great the way they are though Jim. It's a clean look that doesn't distract from the rim.

Cheers,
Pete

[SactoJim]

Originally Posted by Shock_Me

I'm of the opinion that brake calipers need some kind of paint or coating to prevent them from rusting. With the larger, modern open spoke type rims you can really see what's happening back there with your rotors and calipers.

As far as color, well that's a matter of personal taste. I painted my brother's calipers red because he liked the look on his medium olive stepside, (I'd post a pic, but I can't from work). I painted my orange 68's calipers gloss black, simply because the red would most likely clash with the body color.
I don't think it looks "fake", it's a real caliper, just with a little detail added.

Yours looks great the way they are though Jim. It's a clean look that doesn't distract from the rim.

Cheers,
Pete

You're right about not being distracted from the rim Pete....especially for a lame stock caliper. Now those Z06 calipers would be a good distraction from the rim.

The painted calipers on your Green truck with the cast Torq's looked really good though.

[67ChevyRedneck]

They look great as is