If you are either low in funds, bored, or just want an easy mod, caliper and drum painting is just for you. I'd like to begin with stating that this tutorial may cause bodily harm, harm to your vehicle, or any type of other problem. I won't be held accountable for any of these misgivings, nor do i recommend that you do this if you are shakey at hand.

First of all, you'll need caliper paint. I suggest going to walmart and buying Duplicolor's pack for 15 dollars, which consists of paint, a brush, caliper cleaner, and masking tape. You'll also need a jack and a toothbrush to clean the caliper.


Make sure you can accomodate a sturdy area which you can properly set up the jack; i suggest some sort of garage for optimal ventilation and lack of dust particles.


The first step is to clean the caliper. To do this i suggest you lay down newspaper, find a toothbrush, and clean according to your respective package. make sure you scrub vigorously, cleaning everything as if you were cleaning a pair of sneakers. A clean caliper is an obvious necessity to a good finish.


Secondly, begin painting. You can mask off the areas which shouldn't be painted if necessary, unless you trust your hand. You're going to want to thinly paint this area, let it dry, and repeat the steps atleast three times; or whenever it looks thick to you.

Let it dry.


Great, you're done with your first caliper. Head over to the other side and repeat the steps. After that, you WILL (if you bought duplicolor's pack) have AMPLE paint to do the drums. I even spilled nearly a fourth of the can and i still had enough.

To prep the drums is the same as the calipers. Just make sure you don't paint the studs, and the area your wheel will be resting (in my opinion, you shouldn't paint this area, so you wheel wont get paint on it etc).


After you prep it (by cleaning with the caliper spray and brush) begin to paint. Like aforementioned, try to avoid the palce your wheels will be placed. This should be a little more difficult for free-handers. You may want to mask this area off.


Finally, let the drum dry. It may take longer for the drum to dry since it's larger. I used a fan to speed up the process.

After, repeat the steps to do the other side. Allow one hour to dry before putting on wheels, and make sure you let it dry for ATLEAST 3-4 hours prior vehicle use. I just left it in the garage for the night before i used it.

Congragulations, your finished (hopefully )
I hope this helped anyone who wants to do a inexpensive, good looking modification which will keep on pleasing you

Finished Product:


Copyright Andrew Smith

 

Good tutorial.
Thanks.

 

Feel free to add this to the tech section.

 

WOW! very bice how to. tech section please

 

may i see a shot of the drums and side shot please, maybe a close up too?

 

rear drum:

 

please say no to painted to rear drums!

 

heres mine, same kit and everything, i am about to get some yellow and red, and get a orange color and redo it though.......... make sure you build up a couple of layers, i did a thick single and the rear is chipping a little here and there...... but anyways..... my darn rim is in the way, but u get the jist of it......

 

To each their own. Personally, i could care less what you like, but i'd have to say it goes well with my color scheme.

 

Now added to tech section.. feel free to amuse yourselves.

 

Nice! I'd love to see some pics of painted calipers on tCs

 

Why don't you do it? :D

 

Why would you want to paint your drums? If anything i'd try to avert attention away from drums; they look bad enough without paint.

 

why would paint your drums? seriously....its really not a "perfomance part"....

 

Why wouldnt someone? Not even going to waste my time with SL forum complainers

 

Awww, some people don't like the drums painted and you throw a hissy fit.

 

Could you not read this? Guess not, because i've already addressed those who oppose what i like. Thanks for your time though?

 

is it just me or does that paint job look really shotty ? ... i mean u can clearly tell it was BRUSHED ON .. you can see paint strokes in the paint ...

im giving you 2 thumbs up for the effort... but wouldnt it have been better to soray them rather then brush them ? ... i assume you would have gotten a much cleaner look

 

Im sure this is a reference pic....... of course he put on another coat....

 

wouldn't u think he would have then posted it then ?? if there is another pic id like to see ,,,as would others to see actually how clean it comes out because those pics arent very flattering