Mods can you make this thread sticky for a short while so that it gets some airtime, thanks.

DISCLAIMER: I include general tips and precautions but please use your common sense and don't take any safety risks. Use this thread at your own risk and have fun :D

OK this probably one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of big wheels, without splurging on some $$$ Brembos. Take your time and set aside about 4 hours to do a thorough job.

You'll need: (optional items marked with *)

- 1 regular or trolley jack. (trolley jack will let you do all 4 wheels at once and save time).
- 2 Jack stands (3 or 4 will also save time if you don't have a trolley jack).
- Wheel chocks (only required if only using 2 jack stands)
- Wheel nut brace
- Hard long bristle brush
- Liquid Sugar soap + bucket + hot water
- Hose and some sort of water source.
- Mineral Turpentine
- Clean rag
- Spraycan Metal primer&filler
- Spraycan Degreaser
- Spraycan "VHT" Brake caliper paint in your choice of color
- Old newspapers + Masking tape
- Nose/mouth painter's mask + safety glasses
- * Hairdryer (really saves a lot of time)
- * Tyre shine gel/gloss
- * Car wash shampoo + sponge
- * Refreshing beverages + some tunes.

Step 1:

Take off as many wheels as you have jack stands/jacks, observing usual precautions as per your Owner's Manual. If you only have 2 stands it's easiest to jack up one side of the car and then once finished painting do the other side.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1477_IMG.JPG

Step 2:

Spray the whole brake + disc assembly with degreaser and let it soak for a few minutes, then hose it all off. Mix up a concentrated solution of sugar soap with hot water (I doubled the recommended amount of soap). Scrub the calipers with the brush + soap until your arms seize, then rest and go again until the calipers are as close to clean metal as possible. Hose the whole area down. Now's a good time to use the rag to give it a quick wipe and use the hairdryer to get it all bone dry.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1478_IMG.JPG

Step 3:

Mask up the discs, suspension components, the panels around the wheel arch with newspaper + masking tape. Tuck the newspaper under the edge of the calipers but make sure you leave enough gap so you don't miss areas when it comes to paint. Double check everything at this step.

Tip: Tape up the rubber boots on the caliper, and bolt heads, fluid bleed nipple etc as you don't really want to get paint all over these bits.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1480_IMG.JPG

Step 4:

Put on your mask/glasses unless you want to feel ill. Shake up can of primer, just like your young vandal days and give the whole caliper a nice thin coat making sure you cover all areas. Wait about 10mins, then give it a second coat. Now shake up the caliper paint, and give it 3 coats, waiting about 15mins inbetween coats. Unless you are trying to waste time move onto the next wheel whilst you are waiting inbetween layers to dry, or use the hairdryer (halves drying time) if you only have one side of the car jacked up.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1482_IMG.JPGhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1483_IMG.JPG

Step 5:

Now's probably a good time to give your wheels a nice wash with the shampoo + tyre gel treatment, as you give the final layer of paint a chance to air dry. (don't rush this process). Wait about 30mins then gently peel away all the newspaper + tape, careful not to disturb the paint which won't be fully cured yet.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1486_IMG.JPG

Step 6:

Now you need to rotate the brake disc so you can wipe off the overspray which will have gone through all the little gaps that you couldn't mask. For the front wheels you need to put the gearshift into Neutral, for the rear wheels you need to take off the handbrake.

Take a firm grip of the wheel studs and just rotate the hub until you can wipe off all the overspray with the rag + turpentine.

CAUTION: If you only have one side/end of the car jacked up, make sure you use wheel chocks on the wheels which are on the ground. Chocks on the front wheel(s) when you disengage Park, and chocks on rear wheel(s) when you disengage Park. Re-engage Park/Parkbrake once done.

Step 7:

Refit your wheels, lower the car, then repeat all above steps if you have only done one side of the car. Otherwise stand back and admire your work before/after:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1475_IMG.JPGhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/tektrox/brakes/114-1487_IMG.JPG

Note: Don't drive the car for a good 12 hours to give the paint full curing time. Some people say it's good to drive it so the brakes get nice and hot to bake the paint, however the dust from the pads will then get all stuck onto the surface of the paint.


All of the above equipment can be purchased from Repco/Supercheap/Autobarn. So far I have seen paint in Yellow, Red, Blue, Black, Silver. When using the above directions, I have found 1 can primer can do 8 wheels, 1 can paint can do 6 wheels.


Have fun and feel free to ask Qs :D

: teK--

I also just did my brake callipers, and found it easier to take the Calliper off. It's 2 bolts and saves u the hassles of taping and putting newspaper all over the place.....just 1 plastic bag over the disc and sit the calliper on top of it.

If yur going to take the calliper off, make sure u push the brake pads out before u spray, and put a plastic bag the brake cylinder(s) as this is a moving part and u dont want to spray it.

The paint i used specifically stated not to use primer on the callipers as this prevents the paint enamel from fusing with the metal when the callipers heat up. Be sure to read direction on the can before commencing.

http://www.hosting-hub.com/filedeposit/uploads/03072004/side.jpg

Man I love those Holotype rims or whatever they are called, After seeing that I might have to get some like I planned like 3 years ago... And maybe even paint my calipers. :D

that looks shmick man!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Sooo.... what's was that colour called again? I'm definately doing that!

Are red calipers not the best thing ever :D

Looks great mate. thats almost the same as what i did. it is an easy mod and looks great.

good work

Removing the caliper can be easier or harder depending on access to tools. Typically you should use a torque wrench to tighten a new pair of guide pins on, so I wanted to make it as simple as possible. I neither had access to a torque wrench today, nor could I be bothered buying new guide pins :D. The pads are being changed in a few weeks so the black pad backing plates will be visible again.

The most thorough job I saw was removing and overhauling the whole caliper assembly, so you get every single angle covered.

what about the central part of the disk/hub? can it be painted aswell. i would have thought it could

what about the central part of the disk/hub? can it be painted aswell. i would have thought it could

Yes, however the best way to do this is to remove the disc and spray it all including the outer edges, then clean the paint off the braking surface using brake cleaner solvent. If you want to do it with the discs on the car then you will have to use a brush as it is very very difficult to mask it sufficiently for spraying.

oh okay thanks, might get to it this weekend

I managed to do the rotors while still on the car, took me forever with masking etc but eventually pulled it off. Remember to let the paint cure for at least 24 hours as it can melt off.

I did mine while on the car, and also did the centre hub gloss black to match my VRX rims.

-Dan

was it hard to paint the hub on the car?

was it hard to paint the hub on the car?

Na, not at all. I just made certain I had masked everything up properly and it was easy.

I tried to do a really good job, so it took me a while.

-Dan

Cant you just use a paintbrush and a tin of the stuff??