Miata Mailing List: December 1998, Message #368

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I just painted mine with some Foliatec Brake Caliper Laquer.  Some
will say that the stuff is overpriced and the same results can be
achieved through less expensive means.  They are probably right, but I
didn't want to chance it.  At $50 bucks the stuff is expensive for one
person to buy, but for 2 it's more than worth the results.  I think
mine turned out excellent.  There is definitely enough paint to do two
cars from the same kit.  If you want I could take a couple of quick
pics and E-mail them to you.  I don't have any vested interest in
Foliatec, just satisfied with the results.  My calipers now have a
"rubbery" look to them that's very cool.  Since I have a white Miata,
I decided to go with red on mine to make them stand out.  Yellow looks
great on darker cars it's just a little more difficult to make it look
good since it doesn't tend to cover as well as the darker colors.  I
painted mine with a brush without masking or taking the pads out
because I was being very careful.  I did however take the calipers off
to do it.  A less expensive enamel paint from a local hardware store
can be used, but you might have to do a couple of coats to get them to
look the way you want them to.

As far as prepping them for painting, I used the brake cleaner that
came with the kit and a steel bristle brush to remove the rust.  You
could probably use pretty much any brake cleaner out there as long as
it doesn't leave a nasty residue on the brakes.  If it does a little
Simple Green and water would take care of it.

Good luck....I'm sure you'll love the way the look when you're finished.

===
Derek Engelhaupt
Customer Engineer
Hewlett Packard
'97 White Mazda Miata with RB intake(U), Koni's, driving lights, 
15" Konig GT-Rs, Toyo T-1s, and Hard Core Bar.
Odenton, MD

If you understand, things are as they are.  If you do not understand,
things are as they are.
-- Gensha, Zen Master



---John Seymour <jseymour@lgc.edu> wrote:
>
> I would like to paint the brake calipers on my 94 Black/Tan.  I
searched in
> the archives, but didn't find a step by step how-to of what to do. 
I want
> to do it right, and need some help.
> 
> Question #1 - Have considered getting bright yellow to match my Team
Voodoo
> window decals on both sides, but Red or Black might be nice too.  Any
> suggestions.  Never seen a black with painted calipers for comparison.
> 
> Question #2 - Exactly how do I do I prepare them for painting?
> 
> Appreciate it very much.  Hope to advance the timing this month
also.  Just
> got to figure out what I am goin to ask santa to bring me for
> Christmas....Exhaust?, Chrome Style bar?, or new speakers?  
> 
> Thanks for your help in advance, list as always has been helpful.
> Cya,
> John Seymour
> 1994 Black/Tan
> 
> 
> 
> 
 

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