I am considering painting my stock calipers red with paint designed for use on them. I was wondering if anyone has already done this? If so how did they come out? I figure this would at a minimum add a 15% performance increase :P

Sounds like the old Aerosol Overhaul.

Just did mine today. Since I had to get new ones I figured I'd paint them to help them from rusting. Here's a pic.

Looks good! I assume you removed the calipers to paint them?

Just finished mine tonight.

First, there are two options: Spray can or brush on paint. Both are by Duplicolor and I picked up both (along with a vacuum bleeder kit).

If you're going to go with the spray can, you're going to need to either remove the calipers or do a lot of masking. Aerosol cans in an enclosed space is not something you're going to want to do. However, the coverage is pretty good. And it's cheap.

After fighting with the top most bolt on the front caliper, I decided to go with plan b, the brush on package.

The package comes with a spray on brake cleaner and 8 fl. oz of paint. Just spray the brakes and wipe them down with a towel. They're pretty clean due to the protection of the wheel, but the inside of the rear's do get sand and dirt. This cost $34 or $43 (I can't remember) from Pep Boys.

Next, decide how much you want to do. If you go whole hog, you'll use roughly 1/8'th of the paint. Yeah, not much. This includes 3-5 coats (about 5 min per coat) for all 4 calipers.

The rears are a little trickier than the fronts due to the three components and the rubber things that stick protrude. Getting the inside may be prudent as paint does protect and you can see the inside of the rear calipers from the rear of the vehicle.

Ultimately, you use very little paint. So if you miss a spot or get bored, just close it down and get back to it later.

...and another small piece of me dies. This "upgrade" says, I can't afford to replace my calipers, but I can afford to paint them. Please, Please, do your drums next.

ya ive been wanting to do this for a while now but wasnt exactly sure the best way to do it... looks like ill prob try to take it off and spray.

what?

Painted calipers look good, whats the problem with that?

All show, no go.

If you want to draw attention to something that isn't there, or feel the need to "accessorize" your car, go for it. It's a matter of preference. I've just never heard of anyone saying their caliper rusted in half. I'm not a fan of spoilers on front wheel drive cars, hood scoops on non-blown cars, or painted calipers that don't say brembo, wilwood, or AMG.

It's called "Rice".

I think he is saying that these are necessary to put on when your done. BREMBO EXTREME HI-TEMP CALIPER DECALS STICKERS : eBay Motors (item 110499471476 end time Apr-25-10 18:31:16 PDT)
Personally I like red calipers on the 4runner, but everyone is allowed to have different opinions.

Well, I don't mind saying that I just painted mine with the Duplicolor Caliper silver. I have a new custom bumper, then added a new budbuilt skid plate, then new Rancho Quiklift shocks, which are the liquid metallic color, and one can see all of it very well all nice and new looking right next to my old rusty looking calipers. So, that is why I painted mine.

Exactly. It's called the Pimp Zone for a reason.

Personally, I have painted the calipers on every vehicle that I have owned IF i could see them clearly behind the wheel. I usually go with black, (though my GTI's were red). I hate looking at ugly rusted calipers after I have spent hours detailing my vehicle...Go ahead and paint the things!!

i'd paint them a less protruding color than red, because yes, if you're trying to get them to stand out, that can be a bit "ricey", because theyres nothing special about our brakes really... Try out a more neutral color like black or silver, that way they still look good and professional like the rest of the car, and you don't get the occasional hater wondering why you didn't spend 6 grand on some nice and shiny cross-drilled rotors and Brembo calipers...