X-Power Caliper Vinyls and Brake Paint Refurb

Due to the impending refurb of my spare set of alloys, I wanted to tidy up the brake/wheel area.

Using some Halfords Brake Cleaner I got most of the crap off the calipers, then took a wire brush to them, and finally sanded the main face. I sanded the main face ready for the white X-Power vinyl decals I acquired to go there.

I got the vinyls from a member of theMGZR.co.uk (Dazzer) who runs his own custom vinyl business, very nice chap. Got them specially made up the right size for the 1.4 calipers.


I repainted the calipers in the same Hammerite smooth red as before.

The calipers needed two coats of paint to get them looking as good as they could be, wanted to give them a good going over so they last a fair while.

Whilst I was there I noticed my new mintex discs had gone rusty in the non contact areas. This was making the wheel area look very untidy. So I painted them with black engine enamel, which not only covers up the rust but should prevent any more rusting.

All in all the wheel/brake area looks a treat now, makes it look very fresh and a bit sportier/newer.

(Note: In the pictures the before shots are of the opposite side to the finished shots as I forgot to take pictures of the process on just one side.)

Before 

Painted

Applying the Vinyl

Finished

Finished - Wheels On

Exhaust Manifold Heatshield Refurbished

Was a nice day today so decided to get some spraying done. Went to halfords and picked up some Halfords Very High Temperature Paint - Aluminium and set about removing the exhaust manifold heatshield.

The heatshield was fairly rusty and looked very scruffy in the engine bay. So it was about time it had a bit of a freshen up.

Removing it was simple enough once I figured out the best way to get at the bolts, of which there were two bolts and one nut. Then it just came away.

To get some of the surface rust off I used a wire brush, I didn't go at it too hard as the thing isn't all that strong. Not to mention the bottom fixing looked dubiously weak. So after a quick scrub up I sprayed it, gave it two coats just to make sure.

I will be adding a guide on how to remove this part and what tools you will need, for my service guide.

In the mean time check out the photos below of the outcome.

Before (left) and After (right)