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Just wondering if anyone has tried to paint the brake calipers to add a little flare? I know it is aluminum and i am not sure how well paint sticks to it.

Ryan wrote:Just wondering if anyone has tried to paint the brake calipers to add a little flare? I know it is aluminum and i am not sure how well paint sticks to it.

I was tempted when I installed the USDs . . . why would the calipers being aluminum impact paint adhesion? What did the "caliper paint" can directions say?

i know there is special paint that is made to bond better with aluminum than steel so i was wondering if anyone had tried using regular paint. Didnt know if it mattered or not. Can i use regular rattle can paint or do i have to use something else?

IN A WORD, YES... I just used a fairly cheap can of silver spray enamel and it still looks great a year later.

BEFORE...


AFTER...

sweet, sounds like a good idea, although i am not sure it i can bare having to bleed the brakes again. I took me soooooo long last time. Like at least an hour. It took me less time on my car than it did for my bike.

My god, what were you doing that took you that long?! It's incredible simple and shouldnt take more than 10 minutes.

I wonder what it would take to anodize those calipers, would look kind of funky though with a metallic blue finish.

thebleakness wrote:My god, what were you doing that took you that long?! It's incredible simple and shouldnt take more than 10 minutes.

I wonder what it would take to anodize those calipers, would look kind of funky though with a metallic blue finish.

i do not know what took so long... I could not figure it out either but the brakes dont work great. Dont know why, i cant do a front wheelie no matter how hard i try.

i do not know what took so long... I could not figure it out either but the brakes dont work great. Dont know why, i cant do a front wheelie no matter how hard i try.

sounds like you need to bleed your brakes.

Another fine KDXer job! You are the DIY king, and a great one at that!

How'd you "prep" the calipers? I've got like some deposits on mine that don't want to come off. Lots of heat bakes crud on, I suppose.

Ryan wrote:

thebleakness wrote:My god, what were you doing that took you that long?! It's incredible simple and shouldnt take more than 10 minutes.

I wonder what it would take to anodize those calipers, would look kind of funky though with a metallic blue finish.

i do not know what took so long... I could not figure it out either but the brakes dont work great. Dont know why, i cant do a front wheelie no matter how hard i try.

Are you sure it just isn't your front tire and the traction that its getting? I can do a stoppie no problem, just needs to be a place with decent traction e.g. grass.

Jeb wrote:Another fine KDXer job! You are the DIY king, and a great one at that!

How'd you "prep" the calipers? I've got like some deposits on mine that don't want to come off. Lots of heat bakes crud on, I suppose.

Thank you very much for the kind remarks.

I just used some degreaser and wiped it down well, followed my some contact cleaner (not sure if brake cleaner is the same thing but it basically evaporates leaving no residue), then about 3 or so coats of silver. Job done....

BTW everyone should do themselves a favour and buy some speed bleeders for your brakes. They are the best, crack the nipple half a turn, connect some hose and run it into a jar, now just keep pumping until no air bubbles are coming out and nip up the nipple. It takes me 5 miuntes to flush and refresh my brake fluid, quicker to just bleed them.

scheckaet wrote:

i do not know what took so long... I could not figure it out either but the brakes dont work great. Dont know why, i cant do a front wheelie no matter how hard i try.

sounds like you need to bleed your brakes.

thats what i was doing...

I meant: again...
Make sure the reservoir is the highest (I remove it from the handlebar) and you have the least amount of bends in the line. I also tap gently the line while pumping to remove microbubbles. I don't know if it's the correct procedure but it worked. I need to get a brake bleeder like KDXer suggested, make the job much easier and faster. good luck

Buy some speed bleeders or a vaccuum kit if they are giving you that much trouble. Vaccuum pumps/bleeder's come in handy for all sorts of stuff too.

I wonder what it would take to anodize those calipers

Anodizing can be done in all kinds of colors....Including silver. If you were gonns do that it may be worth your trouble to polish the cast material first.

how do i post pics.. I cant get it to work.

1.upload pics in your gallery
2.right clic on your pic in the gallery
3.go to properties
4.select the adress URL
5.copy
6.in your post clic on "IMG"
7.paste
8.clic on "IMG*"
9.voila! done

thanks for the info. Ok here are the pics. Btw does anyone know how to switch the Photo that shows up when browsing through the gallery? thanks

Anyway here are the pics. They look really cool on the bike.





Tell me what you think

Looks nice...

Looks good!

To prep aluminum for painting use Zinc Chromate Primer. The Zinc Chromate adheres to the aluminum.

i put them on the bike and they look pretty cool. I will be curious to see how the paint holds up.