Brake caliper painting

Pairs well with

Calipers often go with a wrap, a chrome delete or powder-coated wheels, so the whole car changes in one visit.

Caliper painting cost: what changes the price

Caliper painting cost depends on how many calipers you paint, how big they are and what shape they are in. Most people do all four so the color shows at every wheel. Fronts only is an option, especially when the rear calipers sit mostly hidden behind the spokes. Large multi-piston calipers have more surface and more edges to mask than a small single-piston caliper. Rust, flaking factory paint or caked brake dust means more cleaning and prep before any paint goes on. Calipers that already wear an old aftermarket color need that paint taken off or sanded back first. Wheels with tight spokes or locking lug nuts can add a little time too. Send a photo of each wheel with the caliper visible, and we will price your car exactly.

How we paint calipers, step by step

The wheels come off first. Each caliper is sprayed with brake cleaner and degreaser, then scrubbed until the surface is clean, because paint will not hold over brake dust or grease. Loose rust and flaking paint are taken down, and the surface is scuffed so the new coating can grip. Everything that must stay paint-free is masked off. The heat-resistant paint goes on in several thin coats rather than one heavy one, with time to flash between coats so it does not run or trap solvent. Once it has cured, the wheels go back on and the lug nuts are torqued to your car's spec. Most jobs take 1–2 days; we confirm timing when we book you.

Choosing a caliper color

Red, yellow and blue are the classic performance colors and show up from across a parking lot. Black or dark grey calipers look clean and hide brake dust between washes. Silver or gunmetal gives a clean, near-factory look if you want subtle over loud. Matching the calipers to the body color or wrap ties the car together, while a contrasting color makes the wheels the focus. Look at your wheels when you decide: thin-spoke designs show the whole caliper, while busy multi-spoke designs show only a slice of it. Brake dust darkens light colors fastest, so yellow and white need the most frequent cleaning. Gloss is the usual finish because it wipes clean easily and keeps its color behind dark wheels.

Painted calipers vs caliper covers

Caliper covers are plastic or metal shells that clip or bolt over the caliper. They have to fit your exact brakes, and if one loosens it can rattle or rub against the wheel. Paint follows the real caliper, so there is nothing extra to come loose and nothing to block the view of the brakes. Painted calipers need nothing more than a gentle wheel wash to stay bright. If your pads or rotors are due soon, have that done before painting, since a brake job can scuff fresh paint. If you are also planning new wheels or wheel powder coating, book them together. The wheels only come off once, and you can pick the wheel and caliper colors side by side so they work as a set.

What's included

• Color choice to match or contrast your car
• Degrease and clean before paint
• Masking of rotors, pads, hoses and bleeders
• Heat-resistant coating