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Audi: How to Paint Brake Calipers

To give your Audi a little extra pop and sizzle, consider painting the brake calipers. It’s relatively inexpensive and super simple to do.

By Jeffrey Bausch - March 25, 2016

This article applies to the Audi A3, A4 B7/B8, A6 C5/C6, Q5, and Q7.

Give your Audi a fresh new look by painting its brake calipers. The open design and larger size of most Audi wheels really shows off colored calipers well. The task is a relatively simple one, and it’s also fairly cheap. Simply remove the wheels, paint, put the wheels back on, and your prized vehicle has a fresh new look that’ll make it stand out on the roads. Okay, there are a few more steps than that—to learn more, read on.

Red calipers look great, and are faster than other colors
Figure 1. Red calipers look great, and are faster than other colors.
Audi Q5/Q7: How to Paint Brake Calipers

Materials Needed

  • Car jack
  • Brake cleaner
  • Hard-bristle brush
  • 500-degree paint
  • Painter's tape
  • Garbage bags

This article applies to pretty much painting the calipers on any Audi, though the caliper designs may be different. Some of these pictures may not look like your brakes, but they still apply.

Step 1 – Remove wheels and clean calipers

To access the calipers, you need to lift your car and remove its wheels, one at a time. Jack up your car and set it safely on jack stands, then set the wheels aside so they don't get over-spray on them.

With the wheels off, clean as much dust and dirt off the caliper as you can using brake cleaner and bristle brush. You may want to wear gloves and safety glasses, as brake cleaner will irritate your skin and burn your eyes. Clean thoroughly and make sure they’re dry before moving on to the next step.

Clean, but rather boring normal colored caliper
Figure 2. Clean the rather boring normal-colored caliper.

Step 2 – Mask the car

Garbage bags make a good, durable, impervious masking material to keep over-spray off the shock, control arms and inner fender of the car. Depending on how bad you are at panting, you may want to mask around the wheel well on the outside surface of the car as well. This is honestly the most time consuming step of the whole project.

Overspray in the wheel well is an easy to spot sign of a quick and dirty DIY mod
Figure 3. Over-spray in the wheel well is an easy to spot sign of a quick and dirty DIY mod.

Step 3 – Mask the rotor

Take a rag and put it under the car’s caliper bracket to protect the back of the rotor near the caliper from paint. Apply a plastic bag or paper around the remaining area of the rotor to protect it, too.

Masking the round rotor is a little tricky, but necessary
Figure 4. Masking the round rotor is a little tricky, but necessary.

Step 4 – Paint the calipers

Using special caliper paint, or other high temperature rating paint (the caliper gets hot), apply a light coat of paint to the calipers. When dry, add another, and another. A several of light coat will look better than one thick layer of paint. A good look will require about three to four coats of paint. If you mask all of them, you can work your way around the car, and by the time you paint the last wheel, the first one should be dry enough for a second or third coat.

After spraying everything, use the time waiting for the paint to fully dry to clean your car’s wheels and rims (this’ll give the whole area a really nice final look).

  • Spray several light coats
    Figure 5. Spray several light coats.
  • Looks faster all ready
    Figure 6. Looks faster already.

Step 5 – Clean up and put wheels back on

Now’s the time to remove any extra accidental splashes of paint and over-spray. Paint thinner can be used to wipe off dried spray paint, but be careful you don't use anything that will soften the factory paint. Now's a good time to wash and wax the car as well.

Reattach the wheels and lower car, then you are ready to roll with your snazzy new brakes.

Red calipers on a white or silver Audi really look great
Figure 7. Red calipers on a white or silver Audi really look great.

Featured Videos: Painting Calipers

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