What colour to paint my AP brake calipers & brake upgrade projects

[Rob Bell]

Calipers are painted and the wheels are away for reconditioning. My wheels are ULW and they won't be being painted in the original colour.

Interestingly and unfortunately, all four of my wheels had slight buckles in them. This is despite reasonable care (very minimal curb damage) - likely related to pot holes etc. They are light weight and therefore seemingly more vulnerable to damage. A second-hand set of ULWs I had for Project Shed were far worse - so perhaps there is a moral to this story?

When I get the wheels back, I'll post pictures. I am excited (and nervous!) to see the result!!!

Oh, and I've bought another pair of AP calipers - but that is an altogether different story. That said, they too will also need repainting!

[alect]

Snap......I have just bought a pair also, unused so the red finish is still good and I likethe look

And a pair of discs to match, not had much use but will need a bit of a clean up with a bit of scotchbrite

Just need some wheels and tyres now

[Rob Bell]

The calipers look unused! The rotors should clean up nicely :thumsbu:

You should see the state of the calipers I bought off eBay - I'll post pictures once they arrive

[Rob Bell]

The “new to me” AP calipers arrived! They’re looking rank. And yes, someone has taken a hack saw to one of them...

These are going to take some cleaning and perhaps a complete recondition. We shall see.

These will be painted in one of the suggested colours...

[Rob Bell]

ULWs are ready! Will collect later this morning - super excited - hope they look as good as I think they will!

[MrNatural]

How are you going to use the caliper that's been sawn away Rob?

[Rob Bell]

How are you going to use the caliper that's been sawn away Rob?

The plan is to see whether I can adapt them for use on my BGD 280mm front rotors. These have a completely different top hat offset to the standard 304mm as well as being 12mm smaller in rotor radius. This means that the cast lug mounts would not be suitable. As someone hacked this one I’ll investigate converting to a radial mounting in conjunction with a suitable adapter.

They were cheap a spur of the moment purchase, but aligned with an idea I already had.

Need to find a company who can make mount brackets for me. Anyone have suggestions?

[Rob Bell]

I have my reconditioned ULWs back. They’re looking great

I’ll get them on the car before I upload the pictures and reveal the caliper colour I’ve gone for...

I wonder if anyone can guess what colour combination I’ve gone for?

[Rob Bell]

Apologies! I've been mega busy of late, but the suspense is over...

First, the colour of the wheels:

Shadow chrome!

Super pleased with the way they look - they really "pop" in bright sunlight, and lift the car visually even in subdued light:

The above picture was taken just before I loaded N7 onto a trailer to take to the body shop...

[Rob Bell]

And the calipers? After much consideration and taking everyone's advice (a fairly even match between keeping the standard tomato red colour or going black), I decided to ignore you all and go for burgundy red (because I am just like that )

This colour and luminosity suits the dark BRG of the car, and works really nicely with the shadow chrome of the wheels.

I thought I had a picture of this on my phone, but strangely not. Maybe Steve Jobs nicked it. I'll take a picture when the car returns from all the work that Chris has agreed to take on!

End of the day, it only has to please me, but honestly, I was seriously thinking of making them black.

These calipers will be cleaned up, and once I have found a company able to make suitable brackets, these ones will be going black in colour!

[talkingcars]

Those wheels and that colour look superb.

[Rob Bell]

Thanks James - I am really pleased with the combination. When the car is repainted, it should be looking as good as new for its 25th "birthday"

There are more plans for this car on the engine front - although I am not completely decided which way to go, but both options could see me side-step the ULEZ charges... But first things first - I am desperate to get the old MG back on the road!

[Kasper]

Nice coloured calipers! Stand out from the croud. Guess cream and brown would not be sporty enough in this eara. enjoy!

[Rob Bell]

I remembered that comment Jasper, but I think might look a little odd on a 1990s-era MG, but I think this more 60s inspired colour works pretty well with the shade of BRG and the shadow chrome wheels...

[c13amb]

Can I ask what / how you got the "MG" logo and stripes looking good? Was it just a steady hand?

[MrNatural]

They look great Rob

[mowog73]

I was going to suggest brake-dust gray,but dark red works well too

[Rob Bell]

Can I ask what / how you got the "MG" logo and stripes looking good? Was it just a steady hand?

Almost impossible to keep the paint off the alloy parts and get good coverage on the sides. I took a fine-grit sanding block to remove any excess paint

I may clear coat the alloy, but will see how the alloy bares up to the elements.

BW

R

[Rob Bell]

They look great Rob

Thanks - I am really pleased with the look and should work well with the re-freshed BRG and the shadow chrome alloys

I was going to suggest brake-dust gray,but dark red works well too

Ah! That'd have been a smart move - the stealth look!

[Rob Bell]

A nano update on the "other" AP caliper project and my plan to adapt them for my 280mm BG Developments front brake rotors - I have asked BG Developments if they can machine and make suitable adapter plates. The idea is not quite as crazy as it seems - see below is a very similar AP CP6607 - see the radial mounts - and how this can be adapted to suit the "modified" caliper I purchased:

CP6607 caliper:

"Modified" MG AP caliper:

Will be interesting to hear what the chaps at BGD come back with...