Right i’ve had a look at the detailing F.A.Q. as i really fancy detailing my brake calipers/cam cover etc… with a spot of red paint. Now the thing is the last time i painted…well it was so far back i can’t remember! so really i wondered are there any guides as to what i do? i mean do i need primer or just paint? do i need to lacquer over the top of the paint and what paint do i use? how do i know it’s set and how do i get a glossy finish instead of a matt finish? do i need high temp paint or normal Hammerite etc…?
There is/was a thread on the old forum that I can’t find on the new one about brake caliper painting.
This is from the hammerite web site “For best results and to provide longer lasting protection apply Hammerite No.1 Rust Beater to the surface before painting with Hammerite Paint.” Leave to dry for as long as recommended on the tin. Paint the first coat of hammerite paint onto the calipers and then you must leave it to dry for, I think it is 8 hours, before painting the second coat which must be left for 48 hours. This is from memory so please do check with what it says on the tine and the brochure. Due to the 8 hours between first and second coat you need to start quite early in the morning.
Every part of the caliper and the disc that wasn’t swept by the brake pads were painted as described above including the back guard . I don’t get corrosion on the edge of the brake discs now.
I can’t wait to paint my calipers a lovely shade of Hammerite red!
By the way, the detailing F.A.Q. is superb, have got most of the stuff you mentioned off eBay(wet and dry paper, metal polish kit etc…), and can’t wait to polish my cam cover. Will get some pics up of my detailing adventures and many thanks for your informative advice.
As I had to replace one caliper, I had the problem of 3 red ones and one grey - good old hammerite. It turns out, all of the old ones were painted in the same so I only had to paint the one. Mind you, a small tin goes a long way - I had to get a middle size one and I used virtually none!!
Hi Ianmx5
Is the mazda logo on the caliper stuck on or does it come inbossed and painted.i painted my calipers last year with red hammrite and also have black high gloss wheels but they don't look as neat as yours, maybe the mk1 calipers are different .
This was my attempt at painting calipers, discs & shields…
Firstly I removed all the parts requiring paint with the exception of the shields which were painted in-situ. Then, using a grinding wheel with a wire brush attachment and cordless drill with various shaped wire brushes, I carefully removed all the gunge and rust.
I painted the shields with 2 coats of hammerite smooth in black.
I then masked up all the parts and applied 2 coats of silver hammerite smooth to the discs, and 5 coats of hammerite smooth in red. I left them to hang on an old clothes stand between coats with electric cable (I split some 2.5mm twin & earth for this). Allowed 4-8 hours between coats, putting the stand in front of a radiator to “Bake”
Removed all the masking, and chucked them back on the car resulting in this…
