caliper paint... yeah, right. NOT!

[mbouse]

Duplicolor sells what it calls caliper paint with ceramic

in a rattle can.

says that it "designed to take the daily torture that brake calipers endure." and it says "ideal for use on calipers, rotors, drums, and springs."

let me clue you about brakes... sometimes brake fluid is involved...sometimes brake parts cleaner is involved.

the only thing that i found that took off Duplicolor Caliper Paint faster than brake fluid from my caliper was brake parts cleaner.

stay clear of this stuff....unless you have no intention of using or cleaning your brakes.

[manoa matt]

Mike,

I never knew duplicolor made caliper crinkle paint. Now if you went with those plastic "brembo/willwood" caliper covers I told you about months ago you wouldn't be ranting like this.

Seriously though, I bet a two component epoxy type paint would work, something that cures by chemical reaction, insetead of air dry. Powder coating might also resist brake fluid. Save the brake parts cleaner for the rotors and pads, clean the calipers with something less harsh, ie... simple green/fantastic/409,etc.

Matt

[ga.spyder]

Eastwood sells a caliper painting kit.Has anyone ever used it? All the products I have ever bought from them have been top notch.
http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search? ... ubmit.y=18
Craig

[mbouse]

right, Craig.. that is what we wanna talk about. What works? What else does not?

i knew that rattle can paint was too good to be true, but i thought i'd give it a try anyway. i lodged a complaint at their website...who knows, maybe i will get some coupons for more caliper paint?

and, the crackle finish smooths right out when you drip brake fluid on it while you bleed the system, so ... go figure. Yes, i saw those plastic covers, they were out of neon green when i tried to order.

[manoa matt]

Well.... if you put a clear vinyl hose over the bleed screw then you wouldn't have brake fluid all over you caliper. On the other hand Harbor Freight has a vacume bleeder for $18. Attaches to the bleed screw and pulls the fluid through the lines. And for $18 it sure beats having to drag you wife out to pump the pedal. The best part is not having to shcedule brake work around someone elses' schedule. You just have to make sure no air gets pulled past the bleed screw threads, Remove them first and wrap with a generous amount of teflon tape. Works a lot better than a pressure bleeder that attaches to the resivior, less mess too.

I'm sure you already know and are just about fet up with it, but.. whenever you name and paint are used in the same sentence you can bet someone is going to drop in the crackle/crinkel line.

[mbouse]

purchases made at HF only promote the sales of our precious jobs to China.

I for one, am tired of selling jobs to China. I am tired of losing jobs to Chinese ex-farmers. Ger-ahead...sell your job, but leave MINE alone.

as far as paint goes....if it crackles, it's a good thing.

[kristoj]

Here we go again Did you HAVE to mention Harbor Freight around Mike???!!! I bought a vacuum pump at HF, but just to make Mike happy, I literally paid twice as much ($36) to get the one from MityVac (based in St. Louis). http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=39522

POR15 sells a caliper paint kit http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=CK&dept=11. I have never used it, but have had very good luck with their other products.

[manoa matt]

I hear that, I recently had a change of heart/mind within the last two months about those chinese products, and wished I bought more us made products. Its tough, especially in our current economic situation when you compare two very similar products side by side and the only major difference, is the U.S. made one costs three times as much. I know.. I know.. buying the cheaper one only fans the flames. But a large portion of that blame about loosing jobs to cheaper countries rests on the shoulders of the American unions. Late 80's and through the 90's americans got lazy and greedy.

It is slowly starting to happen, but will take more drastic measures for the American sheeple to wake up and realize where the money they spend actually goes. Remember a few years ago when "Everything was good" Everyone was buying big SUV's and not feeling the least bit guilty about driving them, big houses, gas was cheap, products and food were cheap. Global warming or "green" were not even buzzwords yet. Home Depot was where you went on Saturday to drop $300 on misc. home improvements. Ohh and glorious wal-mart, the "all American company" with american workers and every product they sell made in china. Everyone was living in a state of ignorance is bliss.

I think the American people need to wake up and realize where their money is going. There are two things I'd love to start. The first is big billboards in every single us city right next to gas stations with the skyline or austentatious/gaudy images of Dubai. I'm sure you've seen "the world" or all those man made islands in the ocean, how about the revolving skyscraper did you see that? Anyway, the billboard says at the bottom "look what your gas mony is helping to build" They are building that shit to spite us,I hope a tidle wave just wipes that whole city off the map.

The second is a rejuvination of the "Buy American" slogan. Basically just a bunch of bumper stickers that say "Buy American...or just send your money to China" Its kind of hard to put a buy american bumper sticker on a Fiat and not feel guilty, guess I'll have to put it on my jeep.

Sorry for the long rant, just my $.02

Matt

[mdrburchette]

Buy American...awfully hard to do in today's society. It saddens me to realize America is not the self sufficient country it used to be and we can blame it on greed. But you have to be careful about buying American too. Case in point: I went to Walmart to buy Ron some socks. I always buy Hanes brand since they're made right here in Winston-Salem. Hell, Michael Jordan wears Hanes and he was born and bred right here in NC. Well, they didn't last but a couple of months, so I went to the Hanes outlet store and bought some. The quality was unbelievable compared to the Walmart ones. Nice and thick with reinforced toes and heels. It seems our American companies can also be bought. Remember, you get what you pay for.

[pope]

I have not tried the Eastwood Caliper paint, but it says that it is 2-part epoxy. That will almost guarantee that it will be a great product as long as the surface is prepared correctly. 2K epoxy is about the best paint you can get for sealing out rust and moisture. Not so good on Hanes socks though.
I know this happens all the time, but I find it crazy that a wife shops for a husbands socks, or any article of his clothing except for a gift. When was the last time he came home with a pair of pantyhose for you!
Thats crazy man...just crazy! LOL

[mdrburchette]

I know this happens all the time, but I find it crazy that a wife shops for a husbands socks, or any article of his clothing except for a gift. When was the last time he came home with a pair of pantyhose for you!
Thats crazy man...just crazy! LOL

Uh-oh. I guess we're not the typical husband and wife. Who'da thunk? Since I don't shop unless I'm made to, Ron does buy my clothing, so I return the favor by picking up what he asks for.

[So Cal Mark]

AND, he lets you collect Fiats.

[kristoj]

I haven't purchased a single article of clothing in ten years. If it weren't for my wife, I'd be walking around in rags!

[pope]

I haven't purchased a single article of clothing in ten years. If it weren't for my wife, I'd be walking around in rags!

I told you..it happens all the time. It drives me crazy when I'm shopping for clothes and there are a gaggle o' women in the mens department buying for their boyfriends or husbands. I have to look up to make sure that I'm in the men's section!

Women should be home, barefoot, pregnant and possibly working on the Spider.

[mdrburchette]

Women should be home, barefoot, pregnant and possibly working on the Spider.

Oh good grief, Pope! I can tell you the hazards of working on a Fiat while being pregnant. I rolled under mine to replace the fuel pump and got stuck. Ron had a hell of a time pulling me out from under the car. And I draw the line about being barefoot in the shop.