Is it too late to paint my rusted rotor hats?
09-13-2005, 10:08 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: Port Charlotte FL
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it too late to paint my rusted rotor hats?
About 6 months ago I bought a set of drilled and slotted rotors from napa, never painted the hats, and now they are rusted bad! Not only the hats are rusted but also the "cooling fins" on the outside... Is there any way to paint them without removing the rotors, if so what should I do?
09-13-2005, 10:15 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
i did this to my stock rotors. With the help of the FL leghumpers we took off the calipers and rotors and painted them. First u have to clean off as much of the rust as possible. Its never too late 
(you dont have to remove the rotors, but since we spray painted them, it was easier than masking off half the car...
red
(you dont have to remove the rotors, but since we spray painted them, it was easier than masking off half the car...red
09-13-2005, 10:17 PM
#4
Team Owner
They do sell covers, you can try that. I forget what vendors have them, someone may know.
09-13-2005, 10:20 PM
#5
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,590
Received 19,187 Likes
on
13,911 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Ecklers has the aluminum hat covers but they are kind of expensive. You can try and get as much rust off as possible, then maybe use a primer from a company like Krylon that seals off rust. Then paint the hats.
09-13-2005, 10:21 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
Just painted mine about a month ago. Three days after install of my zinc wash D&S Brembo's they looked horrible 
! I decided to tape off the caliper, bust rust, cover the body of the car to prevent overspray and they look amazing! Honestly they look professionally done. I have no pics to show (to dark outside) but trust me, just use some VHT Header paint(I used 2000 degree) and give them at least two good coats on the hats and you will love the look. Don't worry about getting a little paint on the rotor face, just don't intentionally paint the face. 
As far as painting the fins, I have tried it before and it is a PITA and you will get paint EVERYWHERE! I would'nt worry about the fins, you can't see them unless you have the wheels off anyway but the choice is yours. Good luck. 
! I decided to tape off the caliper, bust rust, cover the body of the car to prevent overspray and they look amazing! Honestly they look professionally done. I have no pics to show (to dark outside) but trust me, just use some VHT Header paint(I used 2000 degree) and give them at least two good coats on the hats and you will love the look. Don't worry about getting a little paint on the rotor face, just don't intentionally paint the face. As far as painting the fins, I have tried it before and it is a PITA and you will get paint EVERYWHERE! I would'nt worry about the fins, you can't see them unless you have the wheels off anyway but the choice is yours. Good luck.
09-13-2005, 10:30 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: Port Charlotte FL
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cool thanks for the info! One more question, I noticed that there are actually areas on the rotor itself that have dark (almost black spots) that makes it look almost burned or something? Any idea what might cause that, they looked so nice when I first got them too grrrrr.....
.JPG)
09-14-2005, 03:44 PM
#12
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: small town in S.E Pa. PA
Posts: 21,325
Received 3,812 Likes
on
1,925 Posts
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I too want to know how to keep my drilled and slotted rotors clean.... is there any magic?
My rotors have 60,000 miles on them...
My rotors have 60,000 miles on them...
09-15-2005, 09:29 PM
#14
Racer
Member Since: Dec 2002
Location: Ambler PA
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Same story. I painted mine on the car. Cleaned rust with steel wool and sand paper then used rustoleum and a throw-away foam pad type brush. Lasted well over two years. Just refreshed this year and it looks great.
09-15-2005, 09:50 PM
#15
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: small town in S.E Pa. PA
Posts: 21,325
Received 3,812 Likes
on
1,925 Posts
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by connecticut
icemanskis painted the rotors w/ clear paint to protect the holes, send him a pm and he'll give you the link
Hey icemanskis
09-15-2005, 10:19 PM
#16
Racer
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
I too want to know how to keep my drilled and slotted rotors clean.... is there any magic?
My rotors have 60,000 miles on them...
My rotors have 60,000 miles on them...
I used POR 20 brilliant aluminum on my eradispeeds (zinc lasted a week) http://www.por15.com/product.asp?productid=128 used a q tip on drilled holes and slots and the smallest disposable sponge brush at Home Depot to get in the vanes, this POR 20 is holding up great. Brake dust will collect in the slots but it brushes right off to reveal the paint. They say rust acts as a primer for this stuff.
Jeff
09-15-2005, 10:46 PM
#18
Melting Slicks
If your brakes just see routine duty (i.e., not tracked), you can paint the hats and cooling fins with this stuff, which is good up to 800°F:
It chemically bonds to the rusty metal and stops further rust permanently.
As someone else mentioned, there are also rotor hat covers available. I have a set of these (front only - unused) in black powder coat. PM me if interested.
It chemically bonds to the rusty metal and stops further rust permanently.
As someone else mentioned, there are also rotor hat covers available. I have a set of these (front only - unused) in black powder coat. PM me if interested.
