So today the goldification of my super awesome brakes began!
First things first, I disassembled the calipers, removed the bridge pin, caliper pins, pads, and clips. Then I removed some stickers that Ford had on them with a razor blade, and took off the residue with paint thinner. Here's what they looked like.
Once that's done, you have to take a deep breath, and start fucking up a perfectly good set of calipers. Don't forget to pull the bleeders. I did the face of the calipers with a sanding block, and the rest of it with red scotchbrite. I got a little overzealous on the edges with the scotchbrite and got down to metal. The paint isn't very thick at all.
Here's both the faces sanded off.
Once they were completely scuffed all over and there was no shiny paint left, I blew them off with my compressor, wiped them down a bit, and started masking off the surfaces that shouldn't get painted. I used my fiberglass tape that I use when I powdercoat because it doesn't leave a reside and it's easy to cut clean with a razor blade. Plus, I'm just used to working with it.
I masked off all the pistons, and portions of the inside of the caliper that nobody will ever see.
Don't forget to mask where the bridge bolt passes through the caliper up top.
The first of many light coats of Ford Sunburst Gold paint, with about seven minutes dry time between coats.
Gold paint complete.
Here's what they look like in the sun.
I had some stencils custom made to be big enough for these things. I found a guy on eBay who made me what I wanted for cheap. Pretty cool.
Then masking...
Started painting the "Brembo" lettering black. I used hi-temp caliper paint, which I later learned would not work. More on that in a minute.
Brembo lettering painted. Time to start on the logo.
Brembo logo is next. I wanted to do this in Race Red to match my car, and have a nice little custom touch.
Here's what it looked like before I peeled off the stencil.
Unfortunately, there is where things went south. The Race Red paint that I had was hi-grade automotive paint that I had aerosolized in a paint store. When I peeled back the stencil, the red logo peeled perfectly and cleanly. However, the black lettering was another story. I didn't take a picture of it, but the black paint was more "rubbery" and peeled up all over the place. It looked terrible. It didn't adhere to the gold base paint AT ALL. It was so bad I was able to peel nearly all of it off just by pulling on the stencil and finishing it off with tweezers.
So, I went to Checker, got some "Perfect Match" black paint, and did an experiment on some scrap metal in the garage. This paint pulls off clear, and should work when I re-do the lettering. (good thing I ordered four stencils) However, the hour was getting late, and I was getting unmotivated, so the finished product will have to wait for another time.
Paul.
First things first, I disassembled the calipers, removed the bridge pin, caliper pins, pads, and clips. Then I removed some stickers that Ford had on them with a razor blade, and took off the residue with paint thinner. Here's what they looked like.
Once that's done, you have to take a deep breath, and start fucking up a perfectly good set of calipers. Don't forget to pull the bleeders. I did the face of the calipers with a sanding block, and the rest of it with red scotchbrite. I got a little overzealous on the edges with the scotchbrite and got down to metal. The paint isn't very thick at all.
Here's both the faces sanded off.
Once they were completely scuffed all over and there was no shiny paint left, I blew them off with my compressor, wiped them down a bit, and started masking off the surfaces that shouldn't get painted. I used my fiberglass tape that I use when I powdercoat because it doesn't leave a reside and it's easy to cut clean with a razor blade. Plus, I'm just used to working with it.
I masked off all the pistons, and portions of the inside of the caliper that nobody will ever see.
Don't forget to mask where the bridge bolt passes through the caliper up top.
The first of many light coats of Ford Sunburst Gold paint, with about seven minutes dry time between coats.
Gold paint complete.
Here's what they look like in the sun.
I had some stencils custom made to be big enough for these things. I found a guy on eBay who made me what I wanted for cheap. Pretty cool.
Then masking...
Started painting the "Brembo" lettering black. I used hi-temp caliper paint, which I later learned would not work. More on that in a minute.
Brembo lettering painted. Time to start on the logo.
Brembo logo is next. I wanted to do this in Race Red to match my car, and have a nice little custom touch.
Here's what it looked like before I peeled off the stencil.
Unfortunately, there is where things went south. The Race Red paint that I had was hi-grade automotive paint that I had aerosolized in a paint store. When I peeled back the stencil, the red logo peeled perfectly and cleanly. However, the black lettering was another story. I didn't take a picture of it, but the black paint was more "rubbery" and peeled up all over the place. It looked terrible. It didn't adhere to the gold base paint AT ALL. It was so bad I was able to peel nearly all of it off just by pulling on the stencil and finishing it off with tweezers.
So, I went to Checker, got some "Perfect Match" black paint, and did an experiment on some scrap metal in the garage. This paint pulls off clear, and should work when I re-do the lettering. (good thing I ordered four stencils) However, the hour was getting late, and I was getting unmotivated, so the finished product will have to wait for another time.
Paul.
. Do you have a link to the guy who made the stencil? I may need to use him to make some stencils for a "Mach 1" theme I want to do.
