Brake Performance Blogs

Brake calipers are exposed to constant heat cycles, brake dust and various environmental substances all the time. Because of this, they have a notorious reputation for looking aged rather quickly. It's a good idea to refinish your calipers as you will not only have a chance to make them look new again, but you will be able to protect them against any further corrosion and rust.

First, we want to prepare the brake caliper for paint. With road dirt and grime, start by using a degreaser and a brush to clean the brake caliper.

To begin with, we want to make sure we have a clean surface so that the new coating will adhere to the brake caliper. If you have surface rust or corrosion, use a wire brush and or a light sanding paper of 500-1000 grit. Scuff up the surface of the brake caliper so it has a dull sheen to it.

Next step, using a brake cleaner, spray your calipers so get rid of any last bits of dirt, grime or grease that may still be left on the caliper.

Note: You can remove the calipers to paint them, but you can also paint the calipers while still installed. You will need to mask off everything around the caliper that isn't getting painted.

Using a high-temperature primer, apply 1-2 coats of primer. Light and even coats are the key to success here and you want to wait about 10 minutes between each coat.

Once the primer is applied, wait another 10 minutes and apply the paint you are going to use for the calipers. We suggest 3 coats evenly and lightly applied also with 10-minute intervals.

Finally, wait another 10 minutes after the last color coating, and apply 2 coats of high-temperature clear coating. This provides further protection to the paint and you also have the choice of a glossy finish or a satin variant to make your brake calipers more subtle.

The main benefit of loaded caliper assemblies is to restore the brakes to new condition. A loaded caliper will have a new brake pad pre-installed in a professionally re-manufactured caliper with matching hardware all included. This complete package reduces the risk of leaks, uneven brake pad wear, and many other potential problems.

Caliper hardware and piston seals do not last forever, and once a leak starts to develop, the caliper needs to be replaced or rebuilt. Brake fluid leaking from the caliper can contaminate the brake pads reducing performance or can even lead to a loss of hydraulic pressure that may cause the brakes to completely fail.

Internal rust can cause the caliper pistons to become sticky, jam, or even lock up. External corrosion of the bushings or slides can also become a problem by preventing normal movement resulting in uneven braking, dragging or pulling.

Attempting to rebuild an old caliper can be a messy and difficult job if not impossible if the old calipers pistons are stuck or badly corroded. After all the trouble of disassembling and replacing the seals and boots, the calipers may still leak if the caliper bore is corroded or damaged. Loaded calipers also reduce the chances of improperly fitting shims or clips. Everything that needs to be replaced is included!

Whenever a new caliper is installed the brake lines should be flushed and refilled with clean brake fluid. Caliper slides and bushings should also be lubricated with brake grease. All related brake components including brake rotors, brake lines, wheel cylinders, and the master cylinder should be inspected to be in good condition. Both calipers should be replaced at the same time on both sides of the vehicle, otherwise the mismatch of friction could cause uneven braking.