let's say you paint them yellow or any other bright color. What do you have to do to keep them really clean. I was thinking that they might get really dirty from brake dust etc... Please let me know.

Painting calipers is probably OK for show cars, but, unless you want to be washing them all the time, it's a waste of energy and time. Why paint them yellow? BTW what kind of a car again??

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Jeff L
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

Engine enamel works well for caliper paint.
The color called "Cadillac Gold"(older Cadillac block paint) works well and looks like yellow zinc plating.We used to use it on vintage race Porsche stuff. It looked good enough to win the Peter Gregg Award for car preparation in the SVRA Grand Prix 1984 at Road Atlanta. Way better than the "Ginsu-Rollerskate" look that is so popular these days. Once they are painted,since the painted surface is smoother than rough cast, they stay clean without too much fuss.
Regards,
Randy D.

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W.R.Durrance
ASE Master Tech
Mercedes Tech 20 Years
68 250SE
68 SAAB 96 Ice Racer
69 300SEL 6.3
70 300SEL 3.5
81 300TDT

Getting ready to paint the calipers on my 1986 2.3-16V. I did paint the calipers on my 1984 190E with great success. I used Rustoleum (brush on, not spray), and cleaned the calipers really well with solvent and wire brush. The painted finish was very smooth and easy to clean. The trick is to NOT let the brake dust build up. If nothing else, wash just the wheels and calipers once every couple of weeks. One thing I can't stand is to see any nice car with "brake-dusty" wheels. Kinda like seeing a gentleman in a business suit wearing raggedy dress shoes :)

Brian
* 1986 190E 2.3-16V
* Pearl Black
* 16" AMG rims; Pearl Black and polished
* White-faced gauges
* K&N air filter
* Euro headlights, clear blinkers, smoked taillights

You probably can not use wheel cleaners after painting. Two kits on the market:

1. www.foliatec.de found at many import/custom shops for about $50.00 and www.asylumms.com

2. www.legendfive.com about $20.00

I have never used them, but want to paint my E430 calipers either black or blue.