Old Library

Dudes, I finished my caliper painting a few days ago, and it was pretty easy.
 Thanks to all who did this before and to the Administrator for archiving
advice.  A few impressions and advice follows, since there was another lister
who wanted my inputs, but I have lost his address:

  This is pretty good paint.  It goes on real well, and the second coat
completes the job.  I painted mine red, which accents my white paint well.
They are pretty damn bright right now, but after a month of VW brake pad
dust, I'm sure they will look a bit more natural.  There is al ot of paint
with the kit, enough to do two cars.  Do NOT mix the paint in a plastic
container.  (See big red spot on garage floor).  It is powerful stuff.
  Spare no expense or time in getting the brakes as clean as possible.  I
bought another can of brake cleaner and wire-brushed them good.  The kit
comes with some cleaner, but you will probably need another can.
  I took off the rattle clips from the front calipers and experimented with
putting them back on, and found that I would probably scratch the paint all
to shit, so I painted them, too....but now I'm thinking that looks a little
cheesy.  I plan to take them off and remove the paint, and then reinstall,
now that the paint is hard as rock...I think I can do it without any
scratching.
  The paint is thick enough that it barely drips after application. I didn't
mask anything off, and didn't drip on anything vital at all.  The whole job
took about 4 hours, including wheel removal.  Definately plan on raising the
entire car and doing all 4 at one time.  I still have enough paint left to
touch them up for years to come.
Not much new information here, but I thought I would pass it on anyway.
 Just for the hell of it, I put the Hemholtz Resonator back into my airbox.
It dulls the intake sound a bit, but makes absolutely no difference in power.
 I got tired of looking at it in my tool chest.
 Question:  Does anyone know if anyone sells front stress bars in a red
color?  Painted or powder-coated...does not matter.    Later,

Chris Kramer
98 GTI VR6
Vacaville CA

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I also got the Calipers painted on the GTI this week, I used the Folia Tech
kit in Red

After getting wheels off (no small feet after the #!(!# bastards from the
dealer used the torque wrench to put them on,  I am amazed that the dude at
Sears used a Torque wrench when fixing a flat for me, where the dealer
monkeys use an air wrench, seem backwards to me but I digress)

I removed one of the front calipers feeling I could clean and paint it
better, then I decided to put it back on, I think it turned out to be the
easiest way of getting it done,

I obsessed in cleaning the first one (also the one I removed and put back
on) then decided this kit was designed for bigger idiots than me and didn't
go as nuts with the others

In Retrospect I wish I took advice from the archives and saved half the
paint for touch up or other applications, as I had tons left over.  But at
the time with the wheels off and being rather impatient I didn't have
suitable containers to hold said paint.  alas no other calipers to paint
that day.

I masked everything pretty well, as I am a clutz with a paint brush, but
like others pointed out the paint is very thick and with a little care it
could be done without a detailed masking job

I made the mistake of trying to put the rattle clips back on too early, (boy
those things are a pain in the ass)  and luckily had some paint to touch up
where I scratched, so now the clips are in my tool box till another weekend
with the wheels off and some harder paint.   interestingly enough I don't
get any rattles without the clips, must be for when they get a bit older
(20k on them so far)

Over all I am happy with the results, I think the Epoxy based paint is the
way to go, although I think the 50 bucks I spent was a bit steep I would do
it again and defiantly urge anyone who has been thinking about it go ahead
and do it.   Now all we need is a VR6 logo to put on the calipers like on
the Porsche red ones I saw the other day (new 911)

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Jon T. Miller  &#106;ontmiller&#64;email.msn<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>, &#118;enr122&#64;aol<img src=/i/dc.gif border=0 width=35 height=15>, AOL Instant
Messenger jontmiller
Captain ATR 42 / 72
1998 VW GTI VR6  -- Tornado Red, Red Caliper looking like a Drivers
Edition --  edition
"If only life was as cool as a Calvin and Hobbs cartoon"
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