Caliper Painting

[mmont0]

Well, after getting the new rims I got crap from my bro about how ugly it looks behind the rims with the rust and ugly looking calipers. I decided to paint the calipers and remove as much of the rust off the rear disc's as I could. Of course I had a hard time choosing between black and silver. Of course crazy would have guessed I chose boring SILVER.

Next was what to pick for the application - spray or brush on. I was leaning toward brush when I found out that the store only carried yellow, red, and ugly looking blue (Not ABP blue crazy!). I looked some more and finally found the silver at another auto store (Duplicolor caliper paint kit).

Anyways, I'll post before and after shots if you guys are interested. There's much improvement in looks from just painting one caliper.

[paulkramer]

Originally Posted by mmont0

Well, after getting the new rims I got crap from my bro about how ugly it looks behind the rims with the rust and ugly looking calipers. I decided to paint the calipers and remove as much of the rust off the rear disc's as I could. Of course I had a hard time choosing between black and silver. Of course crazy would have guessed I chose boring SILVER.

Next was what to pick for the application - spray or brush on. I was leaning toward brush when I found out that the store only carried yellow, red, and ugly looking blue (Not ABP blue crazy!). I looked some more and finally found the silver at another auto store (Duplicolor caliper paint kit).

Anyways, I'll post before and after shots if you guys are interested. There's much improvement in looks from just painting one caliper.

Sure, let's see 'em! I would like to clean mine up, but I'm too lazy to do this job. Especially since it involves bleeding brakes, a job I despise more than almost any other.

[RSX-S777]

Nothing beats silver......except maybe a more "deserty" shade. Yes- let's see pics.

[mmont0]

Is the gallery down? I can't seem to upload any pics!

Paul - with the brush on, you don't even have to take off the calipers. You only have to mask off areas and brush around the caliper. It's not too hard after you jack the car up and you have a couple of feet to work with. That's why I didn't want to get the spray. It seems to take just a little while ~1.5 hours per caliper. Coats dry within 10 minutes so you can put another on right afterwards. I'm putting 4 coats on the fronts and 3 on the rears with only one coat on the parts where you can't really see after the wheel is on.

[mmont0]

Pics. They are a bit pixelated when I resized the jpg. Ignore the red areas. They look better with a whole car shot which I haven't taken yet and the flash makes them look brighter than they are.

Before


After

[crazy_canuck]

Hmmm I can't see the pics....


Cool though, silver, black or gunmetal are the best choices, the other colours like red, blue and yellow highlight our puny brakes.

[mmont0]

You should be able to see them. I think they're upgrading this website, so it's intermittent.

Just keep me in line and let me know when I cross over the rice line!

[crazy_canuck]

Nice, looks good.

[paulkramer]

Yes, they look good. A brush.....ahh, good idea! Maybe the next time I do my brakes I will paint the calipers too. Mine look pretty shabby, like yours did in the before shots.

Next time I do my brakes.......that may never happen. I'm getting really sick of this lemon and am thinking of dumping it. Just don't want to take a bath and don't know what to get. I like the car - but it has so many damn issues!

[mmont0]

Originally Posted by paulkramer

Yes, they look good. A brush.....ahh, good idea! Maybe the next time I do my brakes I will paint the calipers too. Mine look pretty shabby, like yours did in the before shots.

Next time I do my brakes.......that may never happen. I'm getting really sick of this lemon and am thinking of dumping it. Just don't want to take a bath and don't know what to get. I like the car - but it has so many damn issues!

Whenever I do the breaks I'll probably paint the rear rotor hubs. What issues are you having besides the 3rd gear problem? Which apparently I'm having now as well! Along with the dash rattling like crazy which I've isolated to the right corner above the stereo!

[paulkramer]

Originally Posted by mmont0

Whenever I do the breaks I'll probably paint the rear rotor hubs. What issues are you having besides the 3rd gear problem? Which apparently I'm having now as well! Along with the dash rattling like crazy which I've isolated to the right corner above the stereo!

2nd gear (mostly) for me. And the tranny's been rebuilt!

The maplight that was replaced is sticking again. The other day I came out of the store - the car wasn't even cold - and the engine wouldn't start! Cranked and cranked, but no start. It finally started after removing the key from the ignition and re-inserting. Seems like intermittent immobilizer/key issue. Who knows.

My dash - oh lord - they did a boatload of work to eliminate the rattling, which made a big improvement. For a couple of weeks. And in the process of removing rattles they removed and shimmed the fender which now rubs against the door when opening and closing. Now it rattles as much as it did before the work.

The seatbelt doesn't retract. I have to step out and yank it and guide it back in to the retractor.

Strange popping noises from the suspension.

Did I forget anything.........this car has 51,000 miles on it. My last car was an Olds Intrigue with over 70,000 - I got rid of it because of the headlight flickering issue (known alternator problem) and the intermittently functioning power door locks. I wish those were the only problems I had now!

Oh - and the closest dealer is 80 miles away. The last time I took it there it was there for two weeks and they did absolutely nothing while it was there. Then they tell me they will order some more parts (for tranny problem), it will only take a couple of days - but that I should take my car (instead of the loaner) all the way 80 miles home. So I can go back in a couple of days to drop it off again. Another round trip for no reason.

[crazy_canuck]

Muahahahaha. Muahahaha. Muahaha.


Around 60,000 KM after almost 4.5 years later....:
-My hatch has twice had problems where it wouldn't open. Turns out one time the switch was off, the other time it needed to get grease and a new part, warrantied both times.
-The hatch privacy screen had a plastic clip that broken which rattled, fixed under warranty.
-2 nails in my tires, warrantied.
-No gear grind, rattles, or cracking leather.

Muahahahaha.

Oh and its about a 40 minute walk to one dealer, I can take public transit to get to at least 4 or 5 of them. 30 minute drive to the dealer that I like though. The other 4 or 5 dealers are a bit far away, an hour or so.

Muahahahaha.

[paulkramer]

I'm glad - really glad - that you're amused. I am anything but.

[mmont0]

I know what you mean about the seat belt. I've slammed my door quite a few times on the buckle and even broke a piece of the black plastic on the door.

As far as the rattles, I'm amazed that my old Neon had less rattles than the RSX, but I'll never go back to a Neon again!

The popping noises might be from the shocks if you're in a very cold climate. I used to get those noises from the Neon when it was outside overnight in the wintertime and when I went over large bumps.

Crazy - you have hatch problems.

[paulkramer]

Originally Posted by mmont0

I know what you mean about the seat belt. I've slammed my door quite a few times on the buckle and even broke a piece of the black plastic on the door.

As far as the rattles, I'm amazed that my old Neon had less rattles than the RSX, but I'll never go back to a Neon again!

The popping noises might be from the shocks if you're in a very cold climate. I used to get those noises from the Neon when it was outside overnight in the wintertime and when I went over large bumps.

Crazy - you have hatch problems.

Did you get the seatbelt problem resolved? I know there is a TSB on it, and my dealer had the car for two weeks and did nothing about it.

Those strut noises - do you know what causes them? I mean, is it something to be concerned about or just something that makes the car sound like an old junker? I am in a cold climate, for sure.

Yes, it is sad that an old Neon has fewer rattles than an allegedly upscale Honda.