CUlookin

Hey guys, my buddy just bought some rotors from sportbrakes for his '99 and I told him that he should paint the hats to prevent eventual rusting... guess who is gunna do them now?? So I have a few questiong for you guys on this before we install the rotors on saturday...

First, I'm going to use some high temp paint (he doesn't have the funds to buy the colored hats from Eckler's ect.) so is there any prep work I should do to the zinc coated rotors?

Second, What is the easiest way to tape them off to get a good circular pattern... and what type of tape should I use?

Third, and most importantly, how many light coats do you guys recommend, 2-3, 3-4?

Anything I'm missing? Thanks!

DidntSettle

I used acetone on the hat area, and masked them off carefully. I bought 1500 degree paint from NAPA (black) and put on about 4 meduim coats (about 1/2 hour between coats), and let then dry overnight. This picture is not as good as I'd like, but I hope it helps.

6 Kids

Here is what i did. If you look in your kitchen cabinet for a plate, i can almost guarantee you will find one the same size as the rotor hat. get some heavy paper or cardboard (thin) and with a using the plate as the guide, cut out your pattern, tape the patter to the rotor and spray away. it saves alot of time with taping. my .02

TEXASCOUPE

I did mine by hand with a brush with just plain old Rustoleum Gloss Black. Didn't worry about getting any outside the circle because the pads will take care of that with normal braking. Been on for a year now without any problems.

CUlookin

thanks guys for the advice... I was actually debating before about going over slightly into the brake path area and let it do the "perfect circle" thing for me but was afraid it would chip off and look like crap... I guess I'll try the plate thingy... any other suggestions?

Z0SLIK

Thanks for the info!!

indy300

Does painting the hats prevent heat dissapation...I assume the reduction in surface area in free air is very small. Just a thought.

av8rdavid

I realized this thread is about 6 years old...But I would like to make a suggestion I did when painting my rotors...Not the safest, but worked very precise in my case..
I mounted the rotors on the rear hubs while the car was raised on jack stands without the calipers bolted on.
Installed lug nuts so the calipers are secure to the hubs.
used painters tape roughly all over the surface of the rotor that will be in contact with the pads.
A friend started the car and SLOWLY put it in 1st gear to "turn" the rotors.
With a sharp blade I cut the perfect circle and just peeled the tape off after stopping the car.
Brilliant results.....Not so safe procedure but worked for me.

RLYSLO

You're right... that's not safe at all.