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Home > User Content > DIY / Install Guides > Duplicolor Caliper Paint DIY (Tons of Pics!!)

Duplicolor Caliper Paint DIY (Tons of Pics!!)

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brianc500
Kalamazoo
Michigan, US
  • Master Mechanic
 Well the weather finally got warm enough to pull the cover of the tC and start working on it again. So the 1st thing I wanted to do was to put some new wheels on it and paint the calipers. So here's my 1st go at a DIY... hope it helps someone even though the procedure is pretty straight forward.

You'll Need

I recommend using a different brush than they supply. Basically they suck and the bristles fall out and get stuck in the paint!!!

-17mm wrench or socket
-14mm wrench or socket
-13/16 socket for Lug nuts if factory style. 3/4 if aftermarket tuner
-Flat head screwdriver or pry bar
-Duplicolor Caliper Paint Kit
-Jack & stands
-A nice comfy cinder block to sit on while your working..lol

Front Caliper

-Step 1

Grab a sufficient jack to lift on side of the car. Try to center the jack under the driver side door so when you lift the car it will be balanced evenly.


Place jack on pinch weld seem that runs along the length of the underside of the vehicle. If you feel the need, you can use a 2x4 on the end of the jack so you won't harm the pinch weld.


Break loose the lug nuts on the wheels while the vehicle is on the ground. It's way easier than while it's in the air...lol. Also make sure to pull the E-Brake up so the vehicle can't roll while your applying force to the lug nuts.


Place two jack stands under the vehicle, locating one toward the front and the other toward the rear. You can place these on the front and rear sub-frame for stability. Even if you only have one jack stand, please use it. Nobody wants to see a car fall on your legs


- Step 2

Using supplied brake parts cleaner that comes with kit, spray off caliper thoroughly to remove all dust, grease, dirt and any other debris that have accumulated. I used some higher strength stuff I had laying around the garage.


Proceed to wipe down calipers to remove stuck on debris. Use a wire brush or old toothbrush to get the crusty stuff off.


- Step 3

After cleaning the caliper throughly use a small flathead screw driver or pry bar to push piston of caliper back to relieve some tightness on the pads. It doesn't have to go vary far so just a little force will be required.


Using a 14mm wrench or socket, remove the 2 caliper retaining bolts. These 2 bolts hold the caliper to the caliper bracket.



Once you've removed the caliper, you can hang it from the strut so it's out of the way and not straining the brake hose.


Next, use the flathead screwdriver to pry the pads our of the bracket. Remember the orientation in which they came out so they will be easier to install back in later.



Once pads are removed, pry off caliper hardware. Be careful not to bend them out of shape or they will not clip in properly when it's time to put them back in.



Using the 17mm wrench or socket, remove the 2 bolts holding the caliper bracket on. These guys are really torqued on good so an extra long wrench or ratchet is useful for leverage.



- Step 4

Place a rag over the top of the caliper so there will be no debris or paint contamination on the surface of the rotor. Then place the caliper on the top of the rotor for easy access to start taping off the Banjo fitting and Bleeder valve.


Time to paint!!!

- Step 5

OK so I'm really anal about this so I painted the whole surface area except the piston. But you may paint whatever you feel comfortable with. You should start by painting the back and underside so when it dries you can flip it over and paint the top and do any touch up once it's bolted back on. This stuff dries really quickly so don't worry about putting to much on. The more the better, and it really takes a lot to make the surface look smooth. because it's anything but smooth.



Now let's move onto the caliper brackets. This was a lot easier to do because I could hold them in my hand and paint. So these take no time to paint. I went with black for the brackets. Which is a total different kit if you want 2 tone. Again don't be afraid to coat it with a lot of paint. just make sure you stay away from where the metal hardware clips on. You don't want to make any interference issues by slobbering a bunch of paint on there.


- Step 6

Re-assemble everything after it's dried, in the reverse order of dis-assembly. Touch up any areas that may have been nicked up during installation. Should look pretty decent if you took your time.


Rear Caliper

- Step 1

Clean rear caliper the same as the front, making sure all debris is removed.


- Step 2

Using flathead screwdriver, pry back piston slightly just as you would have done the front caliper. Just a little is sufficient.


Using 17mm wrench or socket, remover caliper slide pin. on bottom of caliper. After pin is removed push up on caliper and slide caliper off upper slide pin. Place caliper on rear trailing arm so it's not in the way while you remove the rear caliper bracket.





Next, use the flathead screwdriver to pry the pads our of the bracket. Remember the orientation in which they came out so they will be easier to install back in later.


Using 14mm wrench or socket, remove 2 bolts that hold the caliper bracket on. Again, these guys are pretty tight so some leverage is a useful tool.



- Step 3

Tape off Banjo fitting and Bleeder valve, also tape off rubber grommets for slide pins.



The rear caliper can be painted pretty quickly because it's light and can be held in one hand while painting. Make sure to place a rag over the rotor to keep any paint or debris off of it. Again, a good couple coats of paint will look a lot better than one so take your time and be patient.


The rear caliper bracket is smaller than the front so this one goes even faster than the front. A couple coats and it's done. Just stay away from where the hardware seats in the bracket.


Re-assemble everything after it's dried, in the reverse order of dis-assembly. Touch up any areas that may have been nicked up during installation. Should look pretty decent if you took your time.






"Losing is often a temporary condition, giving up makes it permanent."
[#] Apr 12, 2008 02:06am
tC_vixen
New Jersey, US
great write up! do u have to remove the caliper completely out? this whole time I thought you can paint it with it already on.



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[#] Apr 12, 2008 02:43am
VIP_tC08
Fort Lauderdale
Florida, US
  • Godlike Advisor
tC_vixen wrote:
great write up! do u have to remove the caliper completely out? this whole time I thought you can paint it with it already on.


i agree great write up, very detailed, and nadia to answer your question you don't have to take apart the entire caliper assembly to paint them, its really your call, i did mine with them on, but the benefit of doing it this way, is that you avoid any unwanted parts getting paint on them..and also doing it this way requires much more patience




'08 // Flint Mica // tC
[#] Apr 12, 2008 06:40am
scionteecee
Fairfax
Virginia, US
  • Chief Mechanic
 very nice diy. it would've helped me if you made it earlier lol. i just painted everything with it attached but some paint got on the rotors.

[#] Apr 12, 2008 09:41am
Orin
Auburn
Alabama, US
oh sweet! thanks for the DIY!

[#] Apr 12, 2008 11:12am
FrAnkRYzzO
Perry Hall
Maryland, US
  • $upervillain
    for Hire
 Awesome write up! Thanx :mrgreen:

...............

Search or one of these adorable kittens WILL DIE!
[#] Apr 12, 2008 12:44pm
brianc500
Kalamazoo
Michigan, US
  • Master Mechanic
 No problem guys

"Losing is often a temporary condition, giving up makes it permanent."
[#] Apr 12, 2008 02:12pm
acass05tc
Delaware, US
  • Tech Advisor
 Great write up! This will help me out

[#] Aug 07, 2008 02:51pm
stevegonzalez89
Miami
Florida, US
  • Oil Changer
 im going to do it this weekend!!! lol. stupid question: when youre done and you have the wheels back on, how do you know that you tightened all the lugs good enough to drive again lol.

[#] Aug 07, 2008 03:03pm
Blckdouttc
Trumbull
Connecticut, US
  • Master Mechanic
 i like that 2 tone, u got any pics with the wheels on?


2006 BSP tC

[#] Aug 07, 2008 06:28pm
MrScion07
Rochester
Massachusetts, US
  • Godlike Advisor
 thats how i did it alot easyer to work on just takes more time. I also used a vice clamp and pinched the brake hose and took the whole 9 yard off. Of corse this means bleeding the brakes after and adding more brake fluid.

Good write up man very nice


[#] Aug 07, 2008 06:44pm
brianc500
Kalamazoo
Michigan, US
  • Master Mechanic
stevegonzalez89 wrote:
im going to do it this weekend!!! lol. stupid question: when youre done and you have the wheels back on, how do you know that you tightened all the lugs good enough to drive again lol.



I always use a torque wrench and tighten them in a star pattern to manufactures specification. And re-tighten them after 1 week, and then 1 month to make sure they are staying tight. Aluminum wheels have the tendency to allow the lugs to become loose after tightening.

"Losing is often a temporary condition, giving up makes it permanent."
[#] Aug 08, 2008 05:02am
brianc500
Kalamazoo
Michigan, US
  • Master Mechanic
Blckdouttc wrote:
i like that 2 tone, u got any pics with the wheels on?







"Losing is often a temporary condition, giving up makes it permanent."
[#] Aug 08, 2008 05:04am
Kurisutaira
  • Godlike Advisor
 hey i found your thread lol. and yay for the only 2 red/black 2 tone calipers (as of right now)


"This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object"
[#] Aug 13, 2008 07:06pm

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