I brought this question up as an add on in a thread on the diesel forum but I think it will be better addressed to the body experts:

I am rebuilding the rear brake calipers on my 300D. While I have them out, I am thinking of painting them. I could take them to a local shop and have them sandblasted and professionally painted, but this is not a show car and I think that would be expanding the scope of the caliper rebuild way beyond what I want to spend. I have wire brushed off the rust but because of all the curves and crevices, I cannot get the metal down to shiny everywhere. I am wondering if I use Por-15, then an etching primer then a topcoat, if the paint will stay on. Or should I just use the etching primer? Or will this all be a waste of time? Do calipers come from the factory painted or do they just develop a layer of oxidation and stay that way? Thanks for any suggestions.

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

I painted mine just because I could. I used ceramic caliper paint from Eastwood.

I would advise cleaning the exterior thoroughly, masking carefully and then giving them several coats, as thin as you can make them. The caliper paint makes the calipers smooth and adds a nice feel.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-s-urethane-caliper-paints.html

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I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]