Caliper paint can be an expensive optional extra when purchasing a car but painting them yourself could potentially save you a fortune and there is a variety of colors that you can choose from. If you choose a bright color such as red or yellow, painting your calipers can also transform the appearance of your wheels.
If you require a quick answer, the best caliper paint is the G2 High Temperature Paint System, which comes as a complete easy to use kit and is available in 15 different colors. However, if you would prefer to spray the paint straight onto the calipers, the Rust-Oleum 251592 is the best alternative.
In order to rate the caliper paints within this article, we based our recommendations upon plenty of research and a number of factors. The factors we considered included the contents supplied with the kit, colors available, durability, ease of application, temperature resistance and value for money.
Table of Contents
Brake Caliper Paint Comparison
| Caliper Paint | Complete Kit? | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Paint System Set | Yes | 15 |
| Dupli-Color EBCP40200 | Yes | 6 |
| POR-15 42806 | No | 5 |
| Rust-Oleum 251592 | No | 4 |
| VHT SP731 | No | 10 |
| Eastwood Heat Resistant | No | 3 |
When it comes to adding a personal touch to your brakes, you can’t exactly paint your brake rotors or pads. Therefore the calipers are the only component that’s worth painting and you have the choice of painting them whilst they are still installed or removed from the car.
It’s important to note that regular paints wouldn’t be suitable for painting the calipers. The paint used for a brake caliper must be able to withstand heat, dirt and other chemicals. Using other types of paint can result in flaking, which won’t look aesthetically pleasing and is simply a waste of your time.
Below is a list of the best caliper paints that are available in a range of colors and are able to withstand high temperatures.
The Best Caliper Paint
1. G2 Brake Caliper Paint Kit
By far the most popular paint for brake calipers is the G2 High Temperature Paint System. According to the brand, their paint has the highest heat resistance when compared to the any of the alternatives on the market. This is a desirable feature for those using performance brake pads that produce excess heat.
Although the G2 paint system comes with an expensive price tag, it’s completely worth paying the extra when you consider the complete package. Included within the kit is a brake cleaner, reactor, paint and other accessories designed to help with the application of the paint.
Other features of the G2 Brake Caliper Paint System Set include:
- Available in 15 different high gloss colors
- Wear resistant and dries much harder than alternatives
- Easily brushed onto the brake calipers
- Complete easy to use kit
- Withstand temperatures up to 980 degrees
- Made in the USA
Overall, the G2 paint system is the best caliper paint you can buy that’s wear-resistant and available in a range of colors to best suit your requirements. Compared to other caliper paints, its able to handle far higher temperatures, which is an added bonus and worth the added cost of the kit.
Check it Out2. Dupli-Color EBCP40200 Caliper Paint
Dupli-Color is another popular paint brand and they also produce a complete kit similar to the G2 system above. Included within the kit is an aerosol cleaner to prepare the calipers, stir stick, paint brush, masking tape, detailed instructions and a brush on brake caliper paint that’s easy to apply to the calipers.
Other features of the Dupli-Color EBCP40200 include:
- Ceramic resins that withstands temperatures of 500 degrees
- Dries within 30 minutes and can be handled within 1 hour
- Resistant to chipping, chemicals and brake dust
- Available in 6 different colors
- Can also be used on drums
- Easy to use conical nozzle on the aerosol
Overall, the Dupli-Color Paint Kit is an excellent all-round caliper paint that offers excellent value for money and is able to paint up to 4 calipers with ease.
Check it Out3. Rust-Oleum Brake Caliper Paint
Rust-Oleum are a brand well-known for their rust prevention paint and their caliper paint follows that great reputation by being an affordable yet highly rated paint. Compared to similar priced caliper paints, this formula is able to handle temperatures up to 900 degrees, which is very impressive.
Other features of the Rust Oleum Brake Caliper Paint include:
- Temperature resistance of 900 degrees
- Brake dust resistant
- Available in 4 different gloss colors
- 12 oz aerosol can be sprayed at any angle
- Can also be used on springs
Overall, the Rust Oleum formula is a highly rated caliper paint that’s developed by a reputable brand for peace of mind. Although it’s only a 12 oz aerosol, it’s able to paint up to 4 calipers. However, we would recommend buying an extra aerosol can for applying thicker coats for additional durability.
Check it Out4. POR-15 42806 Paint For Brake Calipers
POR-15 is another big brand in the rust prevention industry and their caliper paint is designed to be brushed onto the caliper. As you can apply this formula using a brush, there is no need to remove the caliper, which certainly makes the application much easier.
Other features of the POR-15 42806 Paint include:
- Withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees
- Excellent coverage that is long lasting
- Available in 5 different colors
- One can will paint 4 calipers
- Can apply multiple coats for additional durability
Overall, the POR-15 42806 is a great caliper paint to consider that offers excellent value for money and is also produced by a reputable brand. The only main drawback of this paint is that it takes much longer to dry when compared to the alternatives.
Check it Out5. VHT SP731 Brake Caliper Paint
One of cheapest brake caliper paints is the VHT formula, which can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees. The brand state that it’s best used with a primer and a clear coat process but this is reflected in the price.
Other features of the VHT SP731 Brake Caliper Paint include:
- Superior heat and chemical resistance
- Available in 10 different colors
- Dry to touch within 30 minutes
- Resistant to peeling, chipping, fading or cracking
- Suitable for multiple coatings
Overall, the VHT SP731 is a cheap caliper paint with multiple uses that includes the ability to use it on your rotors, drums and of course the calipers. For the best results, we strongly recommend taking your time to prepare the surface and applying multiple coats of the paint.
Check it Out6. Eastwood Heat Resistant Paint For Brake Caliper
Eastwood are a brand that are well-known for their engine paints but they also produce a caliper alternative. It utilizes a nano-ceramic technology that allows the paint to withstand temperatures of up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. In terms of the application, it’s an easy to apply brush or spray on formula that doesn’t require the caliper to be removed prior to painting.
Other features of the Eastwood High Temp Caliper Paint include:
- Available in red, silver or black
- Withstands temperatures up to 650 degrees
- Chemical and chip resistant
- Brush or spray on application
- 16 ounce can
Overall, the Eastwood High Temp brake caliper paint is a durable and long lasting option that won’t disappoint. The only main drawback is the lack of colours choices but red, silver and black are the most popular colours that most people require, so this isn’t too much of an issue for most people.
Check it OutHow We Tested & Rated The Caliper Paints
As well as testing a range of caliper paints with the calipers removed and still installed, we also based our recommendations upon plenty of research and multiple factors. The factors we considered included the contents supplied with the kit, colors available, durability, ease of application, temperature resistance and value for money.
Below is a photo that we took after painting our calipers yellow with them still installed to the car.
Brake Caliper Paint Buying Guide
Painting your calipers is a simple modification that can improve the overall appearance of your wheels quite significantly. Some premium vehicles come with painted wheels from factory but requesting this as an extra can be fairly costly in most cases. Painting your brake calipers has been a modification that many people have been doing for years. You can either use an aerosol or a paint that can be brushed on. Depending upon your painting method, you may not even need to remove the caliper too.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding caliper paints.
Caliper On or Off?
In order to paint your brake calipers, you will need to gain access to them by removing the wheel. You then have the choice of whether to remove the caliper or leave it connected and mask up the area surrounding it.
The benefits of leaving the caliper on is of course simplicity. Not everyone will have the experience of removing a caliper, which can make painting them a lengthy process. However, you will have to spend time masking up the area and even with the area fully covered, there is still a possibility of paint getting everywhere. You may also not be able to achieve a thorough job depending upon the style of your calipers.
Removing the caliper will take time but it will allow you to completely coat the caliper without the risk of painting over other components. You will also be able to thoroughly clean all the dirt and grime on the caliper before painting. The choice of removing the caliper or not is dependent upon your preference.
Preparation Process
As with any type of painting, the most important part is the preparation. The calipers would have been subjected to dust, grime and other contaminants, which isn’t the ideal surface to paint.
If you are purchasing a complete painting kit, most will come with a brake cleaner. Therefore, you can use the cleaner to spray the calipers in order to remove all the contaminants.
If you are leaving the caliper on the car, we strongly recommend that you mask up anywhere that could potentially be sprayed by the cleaner. Once the caliper is completely clean, you can even go a step further and use sand paper. However, the majority of calipers won’t require this stage and are ready to paint once cleaned.
Aerosol Spray vs Brush
Most manufacturers of caliper paint will offer both an aerosol spray paint or one that can be brushed onto the caliper. Brush painting kits are the best option as they allow you to have more control as well as precision when using the correct brush.
Using an aerosol spray may be quicker and allow you to paint the hard to reach surfaces. However, the fact that you can’t completely control the spray output means it can get messy if you haven’t masked the area.
Temperature Resistance
During normal driving conditions, your calipers will reach temperatures of around 200 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. However, for those that drive aggressively or take part in track days, some calipers can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Every manufacturer of paint for your calipers will state it’s temperature resistance on the can or aerosol. Most are suited to at least 500 degrees Fahrenheit but the more premium examples can withstand up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choosing a caliper paint that’s not able to withstand the temperature of your brakes can cause them to flake, crack or peel.
Color Choices and Cleaning
The two most popular caliper paint colors you will find are red or yellow. They standout the most when compared to other colors but most brands offer a wide variety of colors choices. We are big fans of bright colors but be warned, they do require regular cleaning to keep them looking shiny. As you can seen below, brake dust covers the brake calipers and they will lose their desirable shine.
When cleaning the calipers, you will want to ensure that they have cooled down. Using a suitable wheel cleaner for removal whilst they are hot can potentially strip the paint. Therefore this is something you want to avoid until the wheels and brakes have had time to cool down.
Durability
The calipers will be subject to constant brake dust as well as all the other dirt and grime that can get picked up whilst driving. Choosing a caliper paint that’s specifically designed for calipers is highly advised. There may be a more versatile paint but it wouldn’t have gone through as much testing as a dedicated brake caliper paint.
During the painting process, using multiple coats will further improve the durability of the paint. Stone chips are fairly common and if you have only applied a thin coat, the damage will be clearly visible.
Conclusion
Painting your calipers is a fairly easy process and by following the proper methods, you can achieve a factory finish with ease. Most manufacturers provide an array of colors to choose from with the most popular being red, yellow or blue. All of our recommendations cover a range of caliper paint kits that can be either sprayed or brushed onto the caliper. We strongly recommend that you take your time with your preparation as this will be key to your success when painting your brake calipers.
