Painting Car Brake Calipers

[richlist]

My lad want to paint the brake calipers on his car.

We saw a program on TV last week.....I think it was 'Wheeler Dealers Trading Up'......where they masked the surrounding areas and sprayed the calipers in situ. It seemed to work and they looked good.

My concern is that his calipers are plated.....zinc phosphate or something..... so presumably need to be primed first.

Anyone got any tips or advice on the best way to do it ?

[staffordian]

I did some a while ago, my SEAT Ibiza had alloy wheels and the unpainted calipers, which with alloys tend to be very visible, let down the appearance of what was then a new car.

I simply removed the front wheels, cleaned the calipers with a wire brush then washed them, and after they were dry, I brush painted the visible parts with one coat of a smooth silver Hammerite paint.

I traded the car in three years later and they still looked fine then, so I wouldn't personally go to the trouble of masking and spraying. I guess it depends on the degree of finish. Mine would not have won any concours prizes, but was more than adequate.