How to modify your Tesla’s brake calipers to red?

It’s a fact: all Tesla versions look quite similar. Take the Tesla Model 3, for example. Aside from a slight lowering, the Performance version is only distinguished by its discreet carbon spoiler and its red brake calipers.

Previously, we talked about installing the Performance spoiler on a Long Range Model 3. This time, let’s see how to modify your Tesla’s brake calipers to red!

Why modify the brake calipers?

For several decades, manufacturers no longer seek to hide their cars’ brakes. These have become an integral part of a car’s overall aesthetics. Among the most common codes are colored brake calipers.

As a reminder, calipers are large metal jaws that press the pads against the disc in order to slow down your Tesla.

Always with the aim of symbolically accentuating the sporty aspect of the Performance range, our favorite brand has opted for red. And naturally, it can be quite tempting to change your Tesla’s calipers to this same shade, whether they are originally gray or black. Two solutions exist, which I invite you to discover.

Caliper Covers for Tesla Model 3

The first solution is to use brake caliper covers. Here I offer you two products from a French supplier A-C-C.fr and the other well-known Chinese one, Aliexpress.

Brake caliper covers are metal or plastic parts that are positioned over the original brake calipers.

These elements fulfill a purely aesthetic mission, and the illusion is quite good. The result is elegant and quite streamlined, while closely resembling the original look.

As a bonus, the covers tend to get dirty less quickly than the calipers themselves. It’s a quick and effective solution for changing the color of your brake calipers. However, they are still covers, and the finish is slightly less premium.

As for maintenance, it is more tedious since it is necessary to remove the covers before the calipers to replace the brake pads, for example. Note that the covers do not heat up, so the “Tesla” lettering is not at risk of being altered by high temperatures.

Painting your brake calipers red

The second option is to repaint your Tesla’s original calipers. For this, kits exist that include both paint, a varnish, a sanding brush, an application brush, and gloves.

The cost of these kits is modest, around thirty euros. The application also doesn’t require great DIY skills. The result is satisfactory overall since you retain the look of the original calipers.

However, be sure to protect the hoses, the disc, the screws, and the pads for a clean result. It is quite difficult to achieve smooth, even coats.

However, this solution has the advantage of not requiring you to “hide” the original calipers. You will then need to find the “Tesla” lettering to apply to the discs. This can be found without too much difficulty on specialized or general websites.

Our tip for painting your calipers

Varnish your freshly painted calipers after applying the Tesla decals for better durability. Of course, the finish will not be as high quality as the calipers of a Tesla Model 3 Performance…

But from more than thirty centimeters away, the visual is good. Especially for such a modest cost, it would be wrong to deprive oneself.

The only drawback, unlike covers, is that this time the result is permanent, or sanding and repainting will be necessary to change the color of your calipers.

What is the best solution for modifying the brake calipers?

The two solutions mentioned in this article lead to the same result: you will be able to change the color of your brake calipers. The implementation of these two solutions, however, is very different.

With covers, you will have a practical and removable solution in a few seconds, which will complicate maintenance and comes at a high price. On the other hand, painting the calipers is particularly economical, but the finish will never equal that of a car fresh from the dealership.

What if there was a third solution?

As a last resort, you can also contact a body shop! These professionals can perform a professional quality paint job, capable of withstanding high temperatures and which will ensure good durability.

Even better, the finish will be similar to that of Tesla Performance. The cost, around €200 for all four calipers, remains slightly lower than that of caliper covers.

With these three solutions, you have all the information you need to make your choice. Do you want to decide between them? See if you are sure about the modification!

Indeed, only caliper covers have the advantage of being removable without too much trouble… And if you were to get tired of them, you could always resell them to limit the costs incurred. It’s up to you!