[TenSeven]

I apologize in advance if this is common knowledge or has been discussed before, but I didn't know.

This weekend I painted my brake calipers Garnet Red using a kit from G2:





Yep, it doesn't match. In the can the paint looked to be a spot-on match, but as I was applying it I thought it looked too dark. Then I thought it would lighten up after more coats were applied. Then I thought it would lighten up as it dried.

It didn't.

What I believe happened is Garnet Red is not a "solid" color, it is translucent (I think that's the right word) which means it is sensitive to what color it is be applied to. Since my car's calipers are very dark grey in stock form, the GR paint picked up the very dark base color, causing it to be darker in appearance.

Solution: Paint the calipers with an appropriate silver base coat before applying the Garnet Red.

I tested this solution by painting a strip of plastic half very dark gray, and half silver. I then painted the entire strip of plastic Garnet Red using paint from a DupliColor touch-up kit.

The result of the test was the strip of plastic had 2 different shades of red, exactly like the above pics.

I'm trying to decide if I'm going to just leave them as they are or if metallic black calipers are in my future...

[Camaro_QC]

I would leave them as is. I personally think that calipers matching the car's color are not as good looking as a set that doesn't match.

[BoostedX2]

Hi, just out of curiosity did you have to remove the calipers when painting? Thank you!

T

[TenSeven]

Originally Posted by Camaro_QC

I would leave them as is. I personally think that calipers matching the car's color are not as good looking as a set that doesn't match.

I'm probably going to leave them as they are for now and see how I feel about them later.

Originally Posted by BoostedX2

Hi, just out of curiosity did you have to remove the calipers when painting? Thank you!

T

While I did remove the calipers to install the new rotors, I bolted them back on to paint them. Having them bolted in place made them much stable for brush painting. If they were being spray painted, I probably would have left them off the car.

Also, don't use the brush G2 includes in their kits as it is not the best quality. Go to a craft store or home center and get a 1" foam brush and a couple of small regular brushes. They will do the job much better.

[parbreak]

If those are PowerStop rotors, be aware the hubs will probably rust as they are not zinc coated. Ask me how I know. I'll be pulling mine soon to paint the hubs.

[overdriv]

I realize this is an old thread, but I had the same thing happen to mine two days ago.

The color match was way off and I had to put at least 4 coats of the paint on to cover the silver lettering on the calipers.

Also, very disappointed that the paint did not flow level. You can see all the paint brush strokes, not smooth at all.

Followed all the instructions to the tee. Even the advice to get a different brush.

Oh well, I'll leave it like this till winter and pull them off and have them powder coated.

[BOYD3800SII]

Same thing happened to me! Wish I had used the black kit instead of the blue kit. Mine came out very light powder blue in the light even with multiple coats with the G2 kit. I had to get buy a can of VHT caliper blue and sprayed over it to correct the color difference.