The E34 BMW 5 Series is the third procreation of this public German sedan. The E34 is a giant character luxury machine with impressive performance. One alteration that can be done on the automobile (and any van for that complication) is picture the brake calipers. Brake caliper paint can be found at any auto parts store and is available in a variety of shades, including sporty colors like red and yellow. Calipers can be painted in a weekend.
Instructions
1. Park the BMW on a level surface. Loosen the lug nuts on the front and rear wheels. Lift the car with a floor jack and lower it onto jack stands at all four corners, working on one side at a time. Remove the wheels and set them aside.
2. Clean the brake calipers and nearby areas at all four corners with degreaser and a rag. Loosen and remove the large bolts that hold the brake caliper in place. These are located on the top and bottom of the caliper facing the wheel well. Slide the caliper off of the rotor.
3. Support the caliper on a box or a platform or tie it to a nearby suspension component so that the weight of it does not drag on the brake line.5. Spray on a light dusting of the caliper paint. Let the paint dry for minute or so to provide an adhesive surface for the thicker coat.
4. Remove the brake pads from the caliper. Tape off the pistons and the rubber seals around he pistons inside the caliper so that they don't get any paint on them. Mask off the everything around the caliper with paper and masking tape. Wrap masking tape around the bleeder valve on the caliper as well as the brake line where it bolts to the caliper. You only want paint on the caliper. You will also want to cover the wheel arch and nearby bodywork (fenders, doors, etc.) so they do not get any overspray on them.
Paint one caliper at a time. Wipe the caliper down with mineral spirits and a clean, dry rag so that it is completely free of oil and grease. Ensure that the caliper is dry. Spray on a thicker coat of paint, holding the can 6 to 8 inches from the caliper and moving the can back and forth in a smooth motion. Let the paint dry for 10 minutes and then apply another coat. Continue applying coats until the caliper has solid paint coverage. Repeat the above steps for the remaining calipers.
6. Let the calipers dry for at least four or five hours or even overnight. Make sure they are completely dry to the touch before installing them to avoid damaging the paint. Remove all of the paper and masking tape. Install the brake pads back in the caliper. Slide the caliper over the rotor. Install and tighten the caliper bolts. Reinstall the wheels and lower the vehicle to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts by hand.
