Powder coating calipers.

[Deputy61]

I have a 2018 GT350 and I want to have the calipers powder coated to match the stripes (lightning blue) or as close as I can get to it. I guess my question is is it worth 800 to have them done and how easy is it to remove and reinstall. I’m worried about air getting into the system. Any pointers would be appreciated.

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[Inthehighdesert]

Nothing wrong with powder coating, just not necessary to get a nice durable finish. Remove them, strip them and paint them. A quality automotive line will get you where you want to be. The color match will be better to.

 

[sk47]

Hello; There was a similar thread recently from another member. A partial consensus was reached that it is not a good idea to powder coat. The main reasons being two-fold but ultimately related.
The main reason, for me, was that the manufacturer says no to powder coating. That OP had aftermarket calipers. The reason being the coating is more insulating that paint. Holding heat in too much which can affect performance.

The partial consensus was to use paint. A high temperature paint. Some are available specifically for calipers.

As for getting air into the system there appears to be limited ways to avoid such. For powder coating it was posted that not only do the calipers need to be removed from the car but also that the calipers need to be taken apart.
Not the hardest job to do but the sort best done by someone with experience. Back a few decades I rebuilt the brakes on an old Porsche 911 which had sat too long. The owner did not want to spring for new parts. Had to make a set of metal plates so as to get the multiple pistons out of the caliper bore. .
The other concern with cars having a modern antilock system is getting air into that system. I do not know if Fords system prevents this but found out the hard way on a GM vehicle. Too much fluid drained out of the lines before I could plug it.

But good luck with whatever you do.

 

[MAGS1]

G2 has Mustang specific colors (can’t remember if Lightning is one of them) and they also do custom colors. Easy to apply as well and way less expensive than powder coating.

 

[FUN2RIDEFAST]

I have a 2018 GT350 and I want to have the calipers powder coated to match the stripes (lightning blue) or as close as I can get to it. I guess my question is is it worth 800 to have them done and how easy is it to remove and reinstall. I’m worried about air getting into the system. Any pointers would be appreciated.

I've done this several times. After removing the brakes you have to disassemble the calipers and remove the internals prior to giving it to the powder coater. Basically you're going to rebuild the brakes.

 

[galaxy]

I’ll try to find the article, but Brembo actually says do not powder coat. It’s on their website somewhere.

 

[sk47]

So uh just something to consider, I know some people like to claim they know more than the manufacturer but brembo themselves have said NOT to powdercoat their calipers because it affects heat.

Hello; Here is a quote from another thread.

 

[Skye]

Curious, I began searching for any Brembo recommendations on painting or coating.

While I could not find a reference related to powder coating, I did find one related to paint.

https://www.brembo.com/en/news-archive/5-reasons-not-to-use-repainted-brake-calipers-brembo

Brembo's suggestion, and I understand this would not be available to everyone and their model: the BM-8 caliper, which is produced in different colors.

https://www.brembo.com/en/solutions/for-your-car/gt-bm8-kit

Does any coating affect the heat retention and shedding capabilities of that unit? Yes. But how much, I cannot say. My garage is not that sophisticated to test. People may be doing something fine for the street that would fail at the track, possibly contaminating the surface of the pad, causing them to behave poorly. Or, applying coatings which begin deteriorating in a short period of time, street or track.

I'm left feeling what Brembo is attempting to do is maintain a safety and appearance standard associated with its product. How many failures (in looks or performance) have occurred with a Brembo-branded caliper, which, during investigation, technicians determine the integrity of that caliper has in some way been compromised? There's probably a small office within Brembo that has the answer.

YMMV.

 

[sk47]

After removing the brakes you have to disassemble the calipers and remove the internals prior to giving it to the powder coater. Basically you're going to rebuild the brakes.

I'm left feeling what Brembo is attempting to do is maintain a level of safety and appearance standard associated with its product. How many failures (appearance or performance) have occurred with a Brembo-branded caliper, which, during investigation, technicians determine the integrity of that caliper has in some way been compromised?

Hello; My guess is since powder coating a caliper appears to require complete disassembly of the caliper, that then Brembo will no longer be liable. disassembly ought to void any warranty or safety liability. (just a guess)

I also figure Brembo and other brake parts makers have evidence to back up any claims they make whatever those turn out to be.

In the end a painted or powder coated caliper is a cosmetic sort of thing. Not a performance thing. I get the appeal as i have seen nice looking calipers behind nice wheels. We will pretty much have to hope that colored calipers from a factory have taken heat retention into account.
Back in the old days I drove drum brake cars way too fast. To the point of serious brake fade. Coming from the top of Pine Mountain out of Bledsoe down into Harlan KY I would be out of brakes by the bottom of the hill. Not a comfortable feeling. So, for me ant thing which has the potential to affect performance id something to avoid.

I hope someone finds a more definitive answer.

 

[Mikepol2]

Painted mine without removing from the car... still looks new.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/painting-brake-calipers-red.175705/

 

[FUN2RIDEFAST]

Painted mine without removing from the car... still looks new.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/painting-brake-calipers-red.175705/

Here's mine.

 

[TonyNJ]

Just paint them while they're on the car. G2 will match your color. Save $750 and move on.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

I'm confused, Brembo says not to powder coat their calipers, but yet there are plenty of car manufactures selling cars with colored Brembo calipers on them. Is there some secret sauce that car manufactures use to color there calipers? Just saying.

 

[SheepDog]

I did mine with the G2 product. Ford "Gotta have it" Green. Car still stops. I think Brembo is just making sure the lawyers are happy, so that when someone gets paint into the caliper, or on the pad etc. and then tries to blame Brembo, they can point to that fine print.

 

[TonyNJ]

I'm confused, Brembo says not to powder coat their calipers, but yet there are plenty of car manufactures selling cars with colored Brembo calipers on them. Is there some secret sauce that car manufactures use to color there calipers? Just saying.

Yea, 2 part epoxy paint.

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