Painted my rusty crusty HP2 brake calipers today!!!

Boston Driver · 05-21-2005, 03:13 PM

Met up with Grapeking and A4AdMan for our "paint-a-palooza” today at Grapeking's house (same location as the sway-bar-a-palooza last month when we installed the H-sports!). We did all 3 cars today, my fronts, Grapeking's fronts (he did his rears a couple of years ago), and A4AdMan's front and rears. I might follow up later and do the rears, but for now, I was focused on the fronts only. I was very tired of looking at those rusty HP2 brake calipers up front, so I decided on gloss black caliper spray paint. I used Plasti-kote brand brake enamel that I got at my local auto parts store, rated for 900 degrees.

Step one was to jack the car up and set it on jack stands. Wheels came off, and it was time to scrub the rust and debris off the calipers. We used wire brushes and steel wool for this task. Normally, this is a good time to hit it with brake cleaner, but we had access to a BIG compressor and a blower, so we did not bother with the cleaning spray.

This is what it looked like after several minutes of scrubbing and after we blew off the debris. Clean, but still brownish.

Now, time to mask off what I did not want to paint. I decided to only paint the outer portion of the caliper, since everything else was essentially hidden once the wheel is on. Key here is to use copious amounts of tape!

After a couple of light coats of the gloss black spray, it started to look good.

Once I got five light coats of the gloss black spray, I affixed silver Audi rings decals to the calipers. Got those from eBay. Then I protected them with three light coats of clear enamel. Shiny…and you know how I like shiny things! Grapeking and A4AdMan both used white logo decals on their calipers.

And now, the final product!!!

Now, I am not so ashamed of the rusty calipers, but the rust on the rotor hats distracts me. Once these OEM rotors need replacing, I will get Zimmerman or Brembo rotors with cadmium coating!!!

Thanks Grapeking and A4AdMan for the help today. Special thanks to Grapeking again for the hospitality! I think we need to get one of those Audi banners to hang up in the official Audi mod garage!!!

ThreeTTwo · 05-21-2005, 03:23 PM

Boston Driver · 05-21-2005, 03:41 PM

ThreeTTwo · 05-21-2005, 04:01 PM

Closest thing we got to "you're welcome" in the patois!

rc51rydr · 05-21-2005, 04:20 PM

2.7Twin · 05-21-2005, 04:40 PM

A4AdMan · 05-21-2005, 04:50 PM

My tinted side markers turned out pretty good. Can't wait for you to see them

Many thanks to GrapeKing for hosting the day and for lunch. We lucked out with the weather guys.

Eric 2.7 · 05-21-2005, 04:58 PM

the paint on the hats shows some rust spots through. Calipers held up, though.

I'm looking to do the same to improve the looks of things when I replace rotors soon.

Rings look great on black.

jarvis · 05-21-2005, 05:18 PM

what type of paint did you use

Boston Driver · 05-21-2005, 05:25 PM

05-21-2005, 03:13 PM	#1
Boston Driver AudiWorld Expert Account #: 69482 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 26,765	Painted my rusty crusty HP2 brake calipers today!!! Met up with Grapeking and A4AdMan for our "paint-a-palooza” today at Grapeking's house (same location as the sway-bar-a-palooza last month when we installed the H-sports!). We did all 3 cars today, my fronts, Grapeking's fronts (he did his rears a couple of years ago), and A4AdMan's front and rears. I might follow up later and do the rears, but for now, I was focused on the fronts only. I was very tired of looking at those rusty HP2 brake calipers up front, so I decided on gloss black caliper spray paint. I used Plasti-kote brand brake enamel that I got at my local auto parts store, rated for 900 degrees. Step one was to jack the car up and set it on jack stands. Wheels came off, and it was time to scrub the rust and debris off the calipers. We used wire brushes and steel wool for this task. Normally, this is a good time to hit it with brake cleaner, but we had access to a BIG compressor and a blower, so we did not bother with the cleaning spray. This is what it looked like after several minutes of scrubbing and after we blew off the debris. Clean, but still brownish. Now, time to mask off what I did not want to paint. I decided to only paint the outer portion of the caliper, since everything else was essentially hidden once the wheel is on. Key here is to use copious amounts of tape! After a couple of light coats of the gloss black spray, it started to look good. Once I got five light coats of the gloss black spray, I affixed silver Audi rings decals to the calipers. Got those from eBay. Then I protected them with three light coats of clear enamel. Shiny…and you know how I like shiny things! Grapeking and A4AdMan both used white logo decals on their calipers. And now, the final product!!! Now, I am not so ashamed of the rusty calipers, but the rust on the rotor hats distracts me. Once these OEM rotors need replacing, I will get Zimmerman or Brembo rotors with cadmium coating!!! Thanks Grapeking and A4AdMan for the help today. Special thanks to Grapeking again for the hospitality! I think we need to get one of those Audi banners to hang up in the official Audi mod garage!!! __________________ 2002 A6 4.2 Sport...with a few things added

05-21-2005, 03:23 PM	#2
ThreeTTwo Junior Member Account #: 51356 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 975	Bravo! Looks just right! __________________

05-21-2005, 03:41 PM	#3
Boston Driver AudiWorld Expert Account #: 69482 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 26,765	Mahalo! __________________ 2002 A6 4.2 Sport...with a few things added

05-21-2005, 04:01 PM	#4
ThreeTTwo Junior Member Account #: 51356 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 975	Eh, no boddah! Closest thing we got to "you're welcome" in the patois! __________________

05-21-2005, 04:20 PM	#5
rc51rydr Junior Member Account #: 88851 Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 758	Very very nice..... __________________ '01 A6 2.7tQ Tip Navi+ (Euro) w/TMC installed Phatbox XM Commander (BlitzSafe adapter) OEM 17" w/Kuhmo ECSTA ASX 235/45WR17 BBS CH 19x8.5 (Summer) Falken Azenis ST115 235/35/19 (Summer) Eibach Pro-kit springs H-Sport sways front and rear Hella smoked tails Lip spoiler MagnaFlow SS Muffler 6" Round #14615 MagnaFlow SS Tip Oval Rolled #35158

05-21-2005, 04:40 PM	#6
2.7Twin Elder Member Account #: 47246 Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 10,967	Nice work! __________________ <big>03 2.7t</big> Current Mods Include: H&R Coil Overs - H-sport sway bars - AWE's DTS- Miltek Catback Exhaust - Tanoga Short Shifter - Tinting at 50% - SSR Comp's Rims w/Toyo T1-S Tires - Hella Smoked taillights - Smoked Side Markers

05-21-2005, 04:50 PM	#7
A4AdMan AudiWorld Super User Account #: 75826 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mansfield, MA Posts: 11,479	Hey you missed a spot. :p j/k Nice work. Thanks for helping this noobie. My tinted side markers turned out pretty good. Can't wait for you to see them Many thanks to GrapeKing for hosting the day and for lunch. We lucked out with the weather guys. __________________ 2002 3.0 Quattro \| Dolphin Grey \| Platinum \| Premium \| Xenon \| Heated Seats \| Owner since June 29, 2002 What I've done to it: Limited Edition 25th Anniversary S4 18" Wheels \| Milltek Exhaust \| H-Sport S4 Sway Bars \| Bilstein Sport Shocks \| Eibach Pro Kit Springs \| S4 Front Bumper \| S4 Upper and Lower Grilles \| S4 Polished Aluminum Mirrors \| S4 Door Blades \| S4 Replica Spoiler \| Zimmerman Rotors \| Hawk HPS Pads \| 3M Carbon Black 50% Tint \| Hoen H-11 Xeonmatch Fog Bulbs \| Tinted Side Markers Miles: 98,500 B6 A4 3.0 AudiWorld Member Database

05-21-2005, 04:58 PM	#8
Eric 2.7 Member Account #: 61325 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,808	Looks excellent! I actually painted my rotor hats when I did my calipers in silver, but the paint on the hats shows some rust spots through. Calipers held up, though. I'm looking to do the same to improve the looks of things when I replace rotors soon. Rings look great on black. __________________ Eric 2000 A6 2.7T DIY Mule: Full Timing Belt Replacement, Cam Seals & Cam Tensioner Gaskets, Engine Mounts (TWICE! Thanks Hamburg-Technic/ECS), O2 Sensors, 2ndary Coolant Pump, '03 OEM Sport Suspension, H-Sport Sway Bars, Control Arms, Tie Rod Ends, CV Joint Boots & All Kinds of Maintenance Stuff. Retired: 1996 A4 2.8 2wd 12v 1987 4000CS Quattro 1980 4000 2door (not even an "S")

05-21-2005, 05:18 PM	#9
jarvis New Member Account #: 92019 Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 5	Re: Painted my rusty crusty HP2 brake calipers today!!! what type of paint did you use

05-21-2005, 05:25 PM	#10
Boston Driver AudiWorld Expert Account #: 69482 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 26,765	Did you bother to read the original post? Look again please __________________ 2002 A6 4.2 Sport...with a few things added

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode


Discussion Forums:	Advanced Search