Brake Caliper Paint

[CloneTommy]

I have a set of brake calipers sitting in a room (indoors mind you) awaiting to convert my front drums,  and they are slowly starting to rust. It looked as though they were painted, but I must have been mistaken. Does anyone here paint their calipers? Does anyone know good paint to use for the "correct" appearing finish. It sems as though they were a dark cast iron look to them.Thanks guys.

While we're at it, What about spindles? They are oxidizing too!
-Tommy
San Diego, CA

[Chryco Psycho]

generally I use Cast Blast paint , it gives them the natural look without rust

[gomangoRT/SE]

I also use the cast iron look finish.    If you can get ahold of some epoxy primer in a spray can it gives it an enduring finish.    As a side note since your converting over.   Use the synthethic brake fluid.    If it leaks it wont ruin your paint or other finishes..

[JS27N0B]

I use eastwoods  grey brake caliper paint on the calipers and rotors as it will handle the heat and looks the same as cast blast.

[CloneTommy]

Yeah, I was thinking of going with the silicone brake fluid but: Do I need to flush the lines etc before I refill?? Maybe just run my air compressor through the lines when they're not attached to anything of course....

Also, I have some high temp motor paint of cast Iron grey, I suppose that'll work.

Do the spindles get painted? It looks like the pieces I have just have a zinc plate but they're oxidizing too.

[Chryco Psycho]

you will need to purge the system to switch to dot 5 silicone brake fluid , blowning air through the lines will work
 paint the spindles too

[gomangoRT/SE]

I would think the spindles and the torsion bars would have the same bare metal type finish.    Each to their own though.    Oftentimes the spindles seem to lose their luster quicker though.

[CloneTommy]

Yeah the spindles were real pretty when I got 'em. They were, Liek I mentioned, I think zinc plated kind of a a clear plate on them.

I'll paint them if I can find something that matches that nickle type finish they had....

The spindle, where the wheel/bearings slide on, leave that bare and greased?

[mrbill426]

What "colors" for the spindles and torsion bars, to look stock?
What about the control arms, were they black from the factory?

[CloneTommy]

If I'm not mistaken the upper control arms are black and the lower were cadmium(irridescent yellowin color) plated??

Most people just powdercoat the lowers gold. That's what I'll be doing.

[mrbill426]

Cadmium, is there a paint chip to duplicate that?  Gold, as in shiny gold paint?
Do you mean gloss black (uppers)?

[CloneTommy]

I think you can get a can of that replicates the cadmium finsih. But a regular size paint can is like $70-80....I think. Last time I saw one.

Anyone else, feel free top step in. I was goign to have the uppers powdercoated black, and the lowers powdercoated gold. Not like shiny gold plating, but like this:



Pics of coatings here:

http://totallyautoinc.com/coatings.html

Totally auto is the only site I could think of that listed all this stuff, I'm not supporting nor slamming their business. I've bought stuff from them before, pretty decent. Never anything like this though.

[JS27N0B]

The yellow gold color is created because the control arms were dipped in Cosmoline to prevent them rusting. some were coated and some were painted.
Torsion bars were dipped in black.

[CloneTommy]

Aaahhhhh, cosmoline!.....

I saved this list that was posted previously on Moparts.


Mopar Chasis Color Chart

Assembly
Front unibody subframe assembly BC
Inner Fenders BC
Firewall BC
Core Support BC*

Transmission Components
Transmission N/CC
Driveshaft N/CC
Transmission and driveshaft yoke N/CC
Differential housing SB
Clutch linkage N

Brake Components
Brake Drums SB/N
Disc brake shields N
Calipers CI
Master cylinder GB or CI

Axle and Suspension Components
Axles N/CC
Third member SB
Upper control arms N/30% GB
Lower control arms N/30% GB
Inner and outer tie rods N/CC
Tie rod adjustment sleeve SB
Center link MP/CC
Idler arm, bracket CI/CC
Strut rods CI/CC
Torsion bars 30% GB/CI/CC
Shocks SB/CC
Rear end U-bolts N/CC
Rear leaf springs N/SB/CC
Backing plates N/30% GB
Spindles CI/CC
Anti-sway bars N/CC

Steering Components
Pitman arm CI/CC
Steering box N/CC
Exhaust Systems
Muffler hangers and clamps N
Exhaust system and mufflers N

Gas Tank Components
Gas tank N
Gas tank straps N
Gas and brake lines N

Legend:
BC = Body color
GB = Gloss black
CI = Cast iron gray
N = Natural steel or aluminum
SB = Semi-gloss black
MP = Manganese phosphate
CC = Color code

(*) = It has been discovered that some Mopar core supports were
body color on the engine side and semi-gloss black on the
grille side.

[Grancoupe]

http://www.duplicolor.com/projects/howto_brake.html

Will this help?