Can anyone give me the pros and cons between powder coating or painting calipers?

 

Powdercoating gives your a perfectly smooth surface with absolutly consistant colour. But it takes time and costs more money as the calipers will need to be rebuilt.

Painting will look good in a picture and from 5 feet away, but will never be perfect or look factory up close. Depending on your wheels only you and your mechanic might now.

But for me it would bug me to no end.

 

As I understand Porsche doesn't sell caliper rebuild seal kits. That pretty much leaves powder coating out of the question, since I wouldn't trust the old seals.

 

I think brembo sells the kits....

 

FWIW, if you do paint be sure to use hi-temp paint. I've painted calipers before but also they were completely disassembled as I was rebuilding them. Yet, as noted earlier, they'll never look as good (or be as durable) as a powder coated finish.

 

I have painted calipers on 2 of my cars...here is my 996...




This was my Boxster:




If done right...it will look about 90% as good as powder coating....BUT cost is $40 vs. $300...Also you will be without the car for a week or 2 waiting for powder coateding, while the painting took an afternoon...

 

Is this a caliper paint kit such as one of these?

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/caliper.html

I totally forgot about these and have heard people having good results (as shown in your pics...looks good).

 

One other thing....I THOUGHT my calipers before painting were perfect...they looked it to me...once i got the wheels off and actually cleaned them, they were peeling, color was coming off in lots of areas, and they were far from perfect. Once yo get some brake dust on them, you wont be able to tell the difference between paint and powder coat...if the paint was a good job...I used the G2 caliper paint system which is not just paint but it has a hardener in the paint which makes it extremely durable..you must use it quick or it all hardens to cement. I thought about powder coating, but it was just too much hassle...besides, if i didnt like the paint, I could always powder coat....never thought about it again...I am very happy with the paint....I have also seen some VERY bad paint jobs though so get a good paint system, and take your time and you will be ok...

 

The first time on the Boxster (the red calipers) it was the duplicolor spray can, not sure they make it anymore....The 2nd time, the yellow, was the G2 caliper paint, which is probably the same as the duplicolor paint system as it comes with the paint and hardener you mix then brush on.

 

Now thats what I call big reds!

 

LOL....!!!!!!!!!!

 

HEY! where did you find my pics!

 

Powder coating is cool too....

 

[QUOTE=John Romano]Powder coating is cool too....



Offtopic:
How was the installation on the SS brake hose? Anything off the hook?

 

Love the SS brake lines but I read that SS lines on a street car was not the best idea. For a race car they are great as they are examined and replaced more frequently. Rubber is more felixible and durable....this may have changed in the past few years....discuss.....or maybe we should start a new thread.