wish: never painted calipers

[derrick1623]

as a few of you guys may remember, when i painted my calipers, i took them all the way off and apart. fine. well, i had a post on here about my bolt coming out while driving. LISTEN TO THIS SHIT! today, while driving...i hear this loud ass POP sounded like a flat tire(which i wish it was!), i pull over only to find out that i've lost yet another bolt.this time front drivers side,bottom...anyways, when the caliper few back, it gouged the shit out of the inside of my racing hart. i am so fucking pissed off, i had to drive 20 miles with my caliper flappin in the breeze. i think that the hole the bolt threads into on the caliper is stripped out...dammit! i should have either taped them off, or not painted them at all! i hate my luck!


not only do i need a new rim, i also need another bolt(which this dealership took FOREVER to get last time)...and a show in a week and a half...geez:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Sir Nuke]

Derrick...if you check and the hole where the bolt threads in is NOT stripped....sounds to me like its just backing out from vibration.....so if you find that its NOT stripped....NEXT time clean the hole real good with some brake/contact cleaner.....and clean the bolt with the same.....then apply some light grade of LOCKTITE, the BLUE stuff (242), its good up to about 30 ft-lbs and won't make it imposible to get out next time...but will certainly keep it in there......might not hurt to do the same to the others before THEY decide to back out on you too. Just something to think about.

[02ProtegeES]

I can relate. It seems like everytime I do something to the car something has to go wrong even when it is very simple to do. When I installed the rear sway bar, one of the nuts that hold the stock rear sway bar to the shock did not want to come off. It welded itself to the bolt for some darn reason. I used air tools and a breaker bar and nothing. I stripped the nut so bad it was round and then there was nothing I could do so I had to cut the endlink using a dremmel tool. Since I cut the endlink, I could not install the new 19 mm rear sway bar. I had to order a new endlink from Mazda which took for ever to get. All that time I was driving without a rear sway bar! the car handled like ass. Once I got the new endlink I was very happy..

[derrick1623]

but that's the whole thing...when i did the cals, i DID use locktite. i used red, whats the difference...anyhow, good thing mazda screwed up last time and gave me the "wrong" bolt, cause i had the replacement in my bedroom.:mad: but, that don't take the gouge outta my rim.geez.

[02ProtegeES]

I have owned Hondas and Acura. I never had any problems ordering parts. The people that works for Honda/Acura seemed some what intelligent.
On the other hand, the people that work for Mazda seem all retards.

[Sir Nuke]

Originally posted by derrick1623
but that's the whole thing...when i did the cals, i DID use locktite. i used red, whats the difference...anyhow, good thing mazda screwed up last time and gave me the "wrong" bolt, cause i had the replacement in my bedroom.:mad: but, that don't take the gouge outta my rim.geez.

geeez, if you used 271 (high strength, the red stuff) there is no way that bolt should have backed out....you better look into this really good. there is evidently something else going on with your breaks.

[cjstringer]

1) did you torque it right?
2) what are the torque specs? (I plan on doing mine soon)
I just bought a nice new torque wrench and now I want everything done right. :)

[derrick1623]

no, didn't use a torque wrench, just tightened as much as i could. man, i hope my caliper itself isn't stripped...looks like i'll need a loan for the stop tech big brake kit. man this blows. TO ANYONE GOING TO PAINT CALIPERS: take the time to tape shit off, do not remove them. i want nobody else to have to go through this shit. now when i go somewhere, i have to make sure the bolt is tight...b.s.


derrick

[big_ben]

You people have some bad luck. Why didn't you just tape off the wheel well. That's what I did to mine, and it looks really good. It's been that way for the past 8 months. I also just used the high temp paint from walmart, and guess what, it looks just as good as a friends that used the $40 shit. So what's the use. I spent $3.50, plus money for the masking tape and .50 for the newspaper. Damn,....., you guys must be pissed!

[JcsMP3]

I kept mine on and used a paint brush. It worked real well. Even if the things come a spray can. Spray of fo that shit in a container and paint it. The brush never misses a spot... but hte can seems to get everything I don't want... LOL I learned my lesson real fast....

Jc

[big_ben]

What kind of brush on paint did you use? I might put another coat on mine if it's cheap. Brush on would be easier. You wouldn't even have to tape anything off.

[JcsMP3]

Originally posted by big_ben
What kind of brush on paint did you use? I might put another coat on mine if it's cheap. Brush on would be easier. You wouldn't even have to tape anything off.

I used Folia Tec caliper paint. $34 US. I used Folia tec on the inside of my car ( interior paint) and the shit worked wonders, best stuff I ever used. I just use a regular 1/2 inch brush.

Jc

[Kooldino]

derrek, what show is in a week and a half? Carlisle custom nationals? I'm going to be there...are you?

[Sir Nuke]

Ben, you want CHEEP brush on ? and it even EXACTLY match your current paint? just buy the same spray on you got at wally world....get a clear plastic bag....put the can inside of it....use a REALLY sharply pointed punch and put a small hole in the top of the spray can and allow the presure to relieve.....once its depresurized....take it out of the bag and put a BIG hole in it and pour it into another container with a good air tight lid....get a brush and go to town.

:D

[derrick1623]

kooldino: yup, thats the one...we'll have to meet up and park next to each other or something...there is like 20-25 proteges going.

[big_ben]

The can won't explode? If not, that's a good idea. I might try that. If I get paint all over my ass I'm gonna come looking for you. haha!

[JcsMP3]

Originally posted by Sir Nuke
Ben, you want CHEEP brush on ? and it even EXACTLY match your current paint? just buy the same spray on you got at wally world....get a clear plastic bag....put the can inside of it....use a REALLY sharply pointed punch and put a small hole in the top of the spray can and allow the presure to relieve.....once its depresurized....take it out of the bag and put a BIG hole in it and pour it into another container with a good air tight lid....get a brush and go to town.

:D

Why not just spray the paint into a jar instead of busting up a can? Then if there are any left overs then you pust it open....

Save a few steps guys and just spray away in a container. Just a suggestion...

Jc

[cjstringer]

I'm with JcsMP3, I'm gonna spray it into a little container and go from there. If I need more, I'll just spray some more in! It's not like it's going to need to be a smooth surface, so the paint doesn't have to be perfect.
I'm gonna leave my calipers on. I'll try it saturday and post pics. I'm also thinking I'm just gonna use a red Krylon and not the high temp stuff. It's not like I kill my brakes, and only running 1 minute autocrosses isn't gonna melt them.
Just my thoughts.

[Sir Nuke]

Originally posted by big_ben
The can won't explode? If not, that's a good idea. I might try that. If I get paint all over my ass I'm gonna come looking for you. haha!

ya DO have go be careful....and keep the can UPRIGHT....the reason you put it in the plastic bag is to KEEP FROM getting paint all over ya!! lol

and you DO need to poke the hole at the top so that you are in the gass pocket and not below the level of the paint....sure SOME paint is going to get intrained in the escaping gass...but not all that much.

OR you can do as JCS suggested....however....you WILL get paint on ya...lol....and go a LONG way away from anything you do NOT want overspray on too!!

[Newf]

my biggest worry with using cheap paint, spray on or not was this:

1. Cheap ass paint always looks good for the first 6 month to a year. It's after that it peels, chips, and starts to look like crap.

2. What if I use something to clean my wheels? will this make the "cheap ass" paint run?

3. What if it does run, and it gets on the racing harts. Now try getting that paint off of the rims....rims that are so god damn sensitive, that even a slightly rough rag can scratch them up

No thanks, I'll buy something proven to last. So what if it takes a little more cash. In the long run, it'll be worth it.

I'll be doing mine in maybe 2 weeks time with g2 paint. I'm just waiting to get to use someone's garage.

[big_ben]

I'm not trying to pursuade anyone to use the cheap paint. It's just my opinion that it is just as good as the expensive stuff. You can think about it this way. Do you really think the calipers are going to look shiny and glossy all the time? They are brakes, they are going to get dust all over them. No one is going to be down there inspecting them with a magnifying glass. They are behind your rims anyway. How do you know it's "proven to last". Just because they said so? They must have magic paint that looks good all the time.

[JcsMP3]

Originally posted by newf

2. What if I use something to clean my wheels? will this make the "cheap ass" paint run?



You are only suppose to be using car or dish soap on your rims anyways. Clean your rims really good... then put a few coats of wax... this will help the next time you try and take the brake dust off...

Jc

[derrick1623]

man, the DAMN BOLT came BACK OUT!!! even after red locktite. think i should go to mazda and bitch, i have now lost the drivers rear bolt(december 2001), and the front drivers side bolt twice!(april 2002, and today march 1st 2003)...this is bullshit!!!

and it is all documented on this very board.

[ZG77_OzZ]

paint the cals on the car..

[derrick1623]

http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/derrick1623/04-1117-copy.jpg

[Equinox]

Originally posted by JcsMP3


Why not just spray the paint into a jar instead of busting up a can? Then if there are any left overs then you pust it open....

Save a few steps guys and just spray away in a container. Just a suggestion...

Jc

yeah that's what I did, I just sprayed all the paint into a jar, making sure to be in an outside area because of fumes, and then just dipped my brush into the jar, and whala!

[Newf]

G2 caliper paint. 40 bucks american. Comes with brush and everything. Did mine last year, took some time but it looks great. interested in seeing how they still look after all winter.

[kep0ne]

derrick...

did you thread the bolt onto the caliper by hand first?

if you used a rachet you may have stripped the threads.

check the threads on the caliper...if they ARE stripped, rather than buying new calipers...try a helicoil. any competent shop should be able to do it for you, for maybe 50 bucks.

i always thread all my bolts by hand first...if it wont go in by hand, you're doing something wrong.

[derrick1623]

yeah, i hand threaded it...in april last year, and then tightened it...it held for almost a year, until today.

[LinuxRacr]

Originally posted by big_ben
You people have some bad luck. Why didn't you just tape off the wheel well. That's what I did to mine, and it looks really good. It's been that way for the past 8 months. I also just used the high temp paint from walmart, and guess what, it looks just as good as a friends that used the $40 shit. So what's the use. I spent $3.50, plus money for the masking tape and .50 for the newspaper. Damn,....., you guys must be pissed!

Same here! I got my paint from Autozone. Cost of mod: $4.

[derrick1623]

for everyone that wants to keep saying "leave them on to paint them"...its too fuckin late for that, hindsight is 20/20, and i regretted taking them off in december of 2001, now its three bolts gone, and thats bullshit...is mazda sayin that there bolts are never meant to be taken out, for any reason what so ever?

[kep0ne]

no they're supposed to be taken out...how else would you change brake pads?

i think you may have just crossthreaded them by accident. its not hard to crossthread something...

take the calipers to a shop and have a helicoil put into the stripped hole...make sure you have the bolt with you so they know what size and thread pitch to put in there. it WILL hold.

[Melvin P Nerdly]

Speaking of F#$%ed up rims, I was on the freeway a couple months ago, not very crowded at all.. when I saw a shopping cart sitting there in the right lane. I had more than enough time to avoid it, but the dumbass infront of me drove right into it, and knocked it all the way into the fast lane where I was.

I pulled over praying to god that I didnt have a huge chunk out of the side of my car, and at that time I didn't see a single scratch!!! I found out a while later that it really screwed up one of my rims. Luckily, they were just the stock rims, but I know how you feel. It happens to the best of us. :)

[TXMazdaSpeeder]

when you get your calipers fixed find out the torque specs and use the reccomend torque then about a 1/4 turn extra, chances are you overtightened the bolt

[pingdum]

I just wanted to say when I painted my calipers I took them completly off and sprayed them. I wanted to get every nook and cranny. I was very carefull putting them back on and tightened every thing well. Then I checked all the bolts again a week later to be sure. It's been over 10,000 miles and every thing is just fine. I scrub them with a toothbrush with car soap everytime I wash my car and the Autozone "Ford Red" $3.50 engine paint is holdng up just fine. The only problem was when I took my car to the dealer to have my rotors painted ala TSB, and they chipped the paint a bit. No big deal, they gave me a free oil change and I just touched them up.